Vaccines & Preventive Pet Care

Vaccination is an effective way to prevent certain serious diseases in cats and dogs, which is far easier than trying to treat illnesses. Core vaccinations are recommended for all your pets, while non-core ones are determined based on lifestyle. Our goal is to ensure maximum protection for your furry companions.

It is important to mention that, even though we fully believe in vaccinations, we also strongly believe that these should be administered wisely and should be tailored to different life stages and exposure to different environments, all while keeping in mind the unique background of each patient we see.

How Do Vaccines Work?

Vaccinations work by stimulating an immune response through exposure of the body to weakened, killed, or inactivated parts of specific bacteria or viruses. This strengthens the antibodies, so when your pet is exposed to any of these diseases, their bodies recognize them, and the antibodies fight them off.

Before your furry friend receives vaccinations, we will conduct a thorough physical examination. Pets that are ill or have any problem may need treatment before we proceed with vaccinating them to ensure that they are safe.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the increased use of vaccinations in pets over the last century has been successful in preventing the death and disease of millions of animals. Many diseases are much less prevalent than in the past, such as rabies, parvo, and distemper.

Recommended Vaccinations for Dogs

• Core Vaccines: Certain vaccines are considered core, meaning they must be administered to all dogs. These include rabies and DHPP vaccines. The DHPP vaccine protects your paw-some friends against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus in just one dose. After puppies receive their initial vaccination at around 6-10 weeks of age, they will need a series of boosters to keep them protected, followed by one booster dose every one to three years, based on lifestyle.
  We also recommend lifelong heartworm prevention administered every month, starting as a puppy. If you miss more than one dose, please let us know before you restart the heartworm prevention medication.
• Non-Core Vaccines: Certain vaccinations are administered based on your dog’s lifestyle. If your dog is boarded, has play dates, or goes to dog parks, we may recommend non-core vaccines including the Bordetella vaccine, which protects against kennel cough, the Lepto vaccine, which protects against a bacteria that can cause life-threatening kidney damage, the Lyme vaccine and the canine influenza vaccine.

Recommended Vaccinations for Cats

• Core Vaccines: Just like dogs, cats are vulnerable to infections and illnesses. The feline distemper vaccine protects against feline herpes, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. It is best to start vaccinating at 8 weeks of age and repeat every 3-4 weeks until (16) weeks of age. Your kitty will need boosters one year after the kitten vaccines, then every three years.
  The rabies vaccine is required by state and federal governments. The first vaccination is typically administered at around 3 months of age, with boosters for life.
• Non-Core Vaccinations: The feline leukemia vaccine is recommended for kittens and cats that go outside, or have exposure to other cats that may have the virus.

Potential Risks and Side Effects of Vaccines

Risks may include mild reactions that should subside without intervention including tenderness or swelling at the injection site, decreased activity, fever, or loss of appetite. In some rare instances, your pet may suffer from an allergic reaction characterized by vomiting or diarrhea, swelling, itching, breathing difficulties, or collapse. If you notice any of these symptoms, please contact us immediately.

Protect Your Fur-Ever Friend

At Isla, Dr. Josh will sit down with you to discuss all the important aspects of the different vaccines and which ones are recommended, based on your pet’s unique and individual needs, so that we can develop the best vaccination protocol for your family member.

Contact us at Isla Veterinary Boutique Hospital to learn more about vaccinating your pets. With our unwavering commitment to excellence and our passion for our furry patients, you can always count on paws-itively purr-fect care. Call us today!