Pet Vaccinations at Our Hospital    Veterinarian holding a puppy: pet vaccinations in Arcata

Part of overseeing the care and well being of our patients is recommending and administering pet vaccinations to protect against certain diseases. These highly contagious viruses and bacterial diseases are spread a number of ways. Some are passed through close contact, contaminated areas, bites from other animals and some are airborne making it important to always vaccinate even an indoor pet. At Arcata Animal Hospital, we make it a point to tailor vaccinations according to the needs and exposure risk of each individual patient. Schedule today to start a vaccine plan for a puppy or kitten, or to update shots for your adult pet.

Tailored Protection For Your Pet

When you bring your four-legged friend in for a wellness visit, we determine what vaccines they may need. Before we start a vaccination plan, we first consider the species, age, activity level, and travel tendencies of your pet. If you have a cat who goes outside, we may recommend additional protection against diseases they may encounter. The same also goes for dogs, and we may recommend additional protection if they visit dog parks or are ever boarded.

The frequency of which vaccines are updated is determined by the age and lifestyle of your pet. Puppies and kittens should receive an initial dose of core vaccines in their first few months of life with two rounds of booster shots afterward. Rabies vaccination is subject to local law and should be first given between 8-12 weeks of age and boosted one year later. These measures avoid incomplete protection and strengthen the immunities of growing pets. For adults, we update vaccines either one or three years depending on their vaccination plan.

Core Pet Vaccines

Core pet vaccinations are ones that are considered integral to the health of pet populations. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have set guidelines on what vaccines are core including how often they should be updated. These vaccines are highly recommended, or required by law if we consider rabies.

Core canine vaccines include:

  • ParvovirusDog running in a park: pet vaccinations in Arcata
  • Distemper virus
  • Adenovirus
  • Rabies

Core feline vaccines include:

  • Herpesvirus 1
  • Calicivirus
  • Panleukopenia virus
  • Leukemia virus for kittens
  • Rabies

Additional Vaccines We May Recommend

We may recommend additional vaccines for your pet if they have sufficient exposure risk to other viruses or bacteria. Bordetella protects dogs against a bacterium affecting the upper respiratory system they may be exposed to in a boarding environment. If you plan on boarding your dog or if they will be in close contact with other dogs, you should have Bordetella administered at least one week beforehand. As of late, canine influenza has been an epidemic and we may recommend vaccination against this virus as well.

For cats, we may recommend feline leukemia (FeLV) for adults and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) depending on their risk of exposure. Only cats who go outside typically need these vaccines but multi-cat households may benefit from protection as well.

For any more information on vaccines and how they protect your four-legged friend, contact us today! We look forward to furthering the health of your pet.