Protecting Your Furry Friend's Health
While vaccines are effective at addressing specific and preventable conditions and diseases, vaccinations aren't the end-all and be-all of preventive care.
At Admirals Walk Pet Clinic, vaccinations are one of the core parts of the preventive care programs we run for our patients.
Vaccines are most effective as a healthcare tool for your pet when combined with routinely scheduled wellness exams and parasite prevention.
When all three are used together, they give your pet their best chance at a long and healthy life.
Vaccine Schedule
Current vaccinations are essential when it comes to protecting your furry friend from a range of contagious, often serious, diseases.
Taking the time to consult with your veterinarian about the proper vaccination schedule for your puppy or kitten's first year, as well as when boosters should be administered to maintain their protection, will be critical to your pet's long-term health.
Cat Vaccinations
In their first year, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Rabies
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
While the following are not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your cat from several health issues and therefore fall under the preventive healthcare umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviours such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your cat against various illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted beneath the skin of your pet. Pets with microchips have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they become separated.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
While the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your dog from several health issues and therefore fall under the preventive healthcare umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protect your dog from several serious cancers, helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted beneath the skin of your pet. Pets with microchips have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they become separated.
- 12 to 16 months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)