Vaccines or “shots” are critical to the well-being of our pets, because they protect against infectious diseases caused by viruses or bacteria. The diseases can cause serious illness and even death. Vaccinations stimulate the immune system to detect infection and fight it in the future. The common infections that we vaccinate against in dogs include Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Influenza, and Rabies. In cats, we vaccinate for Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia and Rabies. Some of the viruses like Rabies and Leptospirosis are zoonotic meaning they are transmissible to people. Vaccinating for these viruses protects pets and us!
Before vaccinating any pet, our doctors will work with you to create a vaccination plan based on the following factors:
• Health status
• Age and lifestyle (How likely your pet is to be exposed to the disease)
• How long the particular vaccine provides protection (“duration of immunity”)
• Licensing requirements in our area as well as travel and boarding
Core Vaccines
Rabies Vaccination - Rabies is always fatal (in both animals and humans). Since there is no cure, prevention by vaccination is the only solution. Rabies vaccinations are required by law for all dogs. The interval of vaccination is dependent on local laws.
Canine DA2PP Combination Vaccination (includes Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)- This is commonly referred to as a “5 way” vaccine.
Lifestyle Vaccinations
These vaccinations are determined by health and risk factors. If your dog stays at a boarding facility or doggie daycare, visits dog parks or pet stores, interacts with dogs out on walks or at a friend’s house, hunts and/or travels, some or all of these vaccinations could be recommended for your dog’s safety. The recommended vaccinations may include Leptospirosis, Influenza (H3N8/H3N2), Bordetella (Kennel Cough) and/or Lyme and Rattlesnake.
Core Vaccines
Annual Purevax (adjuvant-free) Rabies Vaccination - Rabies is always fatal (in both animals and humans). Since there is no cure, prevention by vaccination is the only solution. Rabies vaccinations are required by law for all cats. The interval of vaccination is dependent on local laws.
FVRCP Vaccination - (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)
Lifestyle Vaccination
Purevax (adjuvant-free) Feline Leukemia Vaccination - While it is more common in outdoor cats due to fighting with other cats, it is often seen in indoor cats as well. Your cat is considered "at risk" for leukemia if he/she spends ANY time outdoors, supervised or not.
Mothers can also pass the infection on to their kittens so our veterinarians will run a blood test prior to administering the vaccination. We recommend vaccinating all kittens for Feline Leukemia, then again one year later. The vaccine should be administered annually for cats that go outside. Adult indoor-only cats living alone or with uninfected cats may not need to be vaccinated after the first 2 years, but that will depend on risk factors such as whether you plan to add future feline friends to your family, hospital or boarding stays, or if your cat likes to escape for outdoor adventures. Often, we intend for our cats to remain indoors, but they have other plans so we want to make sure they are protected!