Annual vaccinations help prevent fatal and debilitating diseases. Prevention can assure quality of life for your pet at a lower cost than treating a disease. All warm-blooded animals (including humans), can be infected with the Rabies virus. Rabies is a fatal disease, caused by a virus, affecting the nervous system which is transmitted by a bite or saliva from an infected animal. By law, all dogs and cats must be inoculated by six months of age.
The first vaccination is given as a puppy, no later than 6 months of age. The next rabies vaccination is given within a year. This builds the level of immunity. Thereafter, your dog can receive a rabies vaccine every three years as long as you remain current on your vaccine schedule.
We use Purevax rabies vaccines for cats. This annual vaccine does not contain the chemical adjuvants included in other brands and virtually eliminates injection site reactions that have been occasionally seen in some cats.
The canine distemper vaccine is an inoculation that protects dogs against diseases including Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvo virus and Parainfluenza. The puppy series is then followed by an individual schedule recommended by your veterinarian based on risk and exposure.
The feline distemper vaccine protects cats against threatening diseases including Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. The kitten series is then followed by an individual schedule recommended by your doctor based on risk and exposure.
Feline leukemia, sometimes a fatal disease, suppresses the cat's immune system, leaving the animal unable to fight off opportunistic infections such as pneumonia. After a negative blood test, a series of two vaccinations are given initially followed by annual boosters.
Heartworms are parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. The parasites damage the pulmonary arteries causing repiratory and cardiac disease. An annual blood test and monthly tablets of Interceptor, a de-wormer, is recommended. In addition to heartworms, monthly Interceptor tablets prevent roundworm, hookworm and whipworm infestations.
Cats are not as commonly infected by heartworms, but because of the increased presence of the disease, we are seeing an increase of cases. Symptoms of heartworm disease in cats occur when the larval heartworms arrive in the lungs or when the adult heartworms die. Monthly applications of Revolution is an effective way to prevent heartworms and round worms as well as control sarcoptic mange and kills fleas, ear mites and ticks.
Lyme is a bacterial disease spread by a variety of ticks. It strikes both dogs and humans and is very prevalent in this area. A series of two vaccinations are given initially followed by annual boosters.
Bordetella, often referred to as "kennel cough", is an infectious organism that causes a severe cough to both puppies and adult dogs. Your dog should be inoculated at least two weeks prior to boarding.