How do vaccines work?

Which vaccines does my pet need?

Pet vaccination are divided into two primary categories: Core and Non-c ore.

Core vaccines for dogs include canine parvovirus, canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and rabies. Core inoculations for cats include feline panleukopenia, feline calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis and rabies.

Non-Core vaccines may be recommended and administered based on lifestyle factors. Our skilled veterinarians will help you determine which non-core vaccinations are best for your pet. Keep in mind that some boarding facilities require non-core vaccinations. Our goal is to protect your beloved companion from the diseases they are most likely to encounter without over-vaccinating them.

Below is a general guideline for canine vaccinations:

6-8 Weeks	10-12 weeks	14-16 weeks	Annual	3 Year
CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES
DAP*	DAP*	DAP*	DAP*	DAP*
		Rabies	Rabies	Rabies
NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES
Bordetella	Leptospirosis	Leptospirosis	Leptospirosis	Leptospirosis
Parainfluenza	Lyme	Lyme	Lyme	Lyme
	Canine influenza	Canine influenza	Canine influenza	Canine influenza
			Bordetella

*DAP: Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, Parvovirus. Sometimes referred to as DHP or DHPP if parainfluenza is included.

Your pet is not considered immune to these diseases until 2 weeks after the vaccine series is complete. Please do not take them to public areas until they are fully vaccinated.

Below is a general guideline for feline vaccinations:

6-8 Weeks	10-12 weeks	14-16 weeks	Annual	3 Year
CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES	CORE VACCINES
FVRCP*	FVRCP*	FVRCP*	FVRCP*	FVRCP*
			Rabies	Rabies
NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES	NON-CORE VACCINES
Feline leukemia	Feline leukemia	Feline leukemia	Feline leukemia

*FVRCP: feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia (FVRCP)

Your pet is not considered immune to these diseases until 2 weeks after the vaccine series is complete. Please do not take them to public areas until they are fully vaccinated.

WHAT IS CANINE DISTEMPER?

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease. It affects the respiratory and nervous system and is often fatal.

WHAT IS ADENOVIRUS TYPE 1 and TYPE 2?

Canine Adenovirus Type 1 infection causes infectious hepatitis which may lead to severe kidney damage. Type 2 can be a complicating factor in kennel cough.

WHAT IS PARAINFLUENZA?

Parainfluenza is a viral respiratory disease that is often responsible for "kennel cough" in dogs. Infection can be severe in puppies.

WHAT IS PARVOVIRUS?

Canine parvovirus an extremely contagious viral disease and causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in dogs of all ages, but is especially deadly in puppies.

WHAT IS RABIES?

The rabies virus attacks the brain and is always fatal. Most pets are exposed to rabies by bites from wild animals particularly skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes. The disease can be transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected pet.

WHAT IS BORDETELLA?

Bordetella aka Kennel Cough is caused by bacteria and is spread through airborne contaminants. Bordetella is spread through exposure to infected dogs or the transfer of bacteria in food bowls, cages and water bowls. As bacteria multiply, it destroys the lining of the dog’s trachea, which results in a high pitched cough.

WHAT IS CANINE INFLUENZA?

Canine influenza is caused by the canine influenza virus (CIV). It is highly contagious and easily spread from infected dogs to other dogs by direct contact, nasal secretions, and contaminated objects.

WHAT IS LEPTOSPIROSIS?

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection carried by many wild animals. Dogs become infected by consuming urine contaminated water or coming in contact with infected urine.

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE?

Lyme disease is spread through a tick bite. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, muscle stiffness, depression, and lack of appetite. In more severe cases, lameness occurs as a result of severe musculoskeletal or arthritic type joint pain.

WHAT IS FVRCP?

Feline Panleukopenia, sometimes called "feline distemper," causes severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.. It is the most widespread disease for cats and causes high death loss especially among kitten. The disease is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. Rhinotracheitis is a widespread respiratory disease cause by a virus. It is the most severe in small kittens and can cause profuse discharge from the eyes and nose. Calicivirus causes a variety of symptoms including fever, excess salivation and mouth or tongue ulcers.

WHAT IS FELINE LEUKEMIA?

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats. The virus is shed in saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk of infected cats. It is the most common cause of cancer in cats, may cause various blood disorders, and may lead to a state of immune deficiency that hinders a cat's ability to protect itself against other infections.

Are there side effects to vaccinating?

Usually, no. Vaccines are safe and well-vetted, and we’ve been using the same ones on dogs and cats for years. At most, pets may experience a bit of mild fever or discomfort associated with the low dose of the disease they’ve received. In rare cases, however, you may notice a serious allergic reaction: itching and swelling of the skin and face, vomiting and diarrhea, or difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, please seek veterinary assistance immediately.