Vaccinations
Vaccinating your pet helps to protect them against preventable, life-threatening disease. They also help to protect people from infections that can be passed from your pet to you.
We tailor our vaccination recommendations specifically for your pet, based on their age, overall health and lifestyle. In general, vaccinations start with puppies and kittens when they are 6 to 8 weeks of age and continue until they are four to five months of age to ensure they are fully protected during this vulnerable part of their development. Adults receive booster vaccinations every 1 to 3 years depending on the vaccinations that are important for their environment and lifestyle.
Which vaccines should my pet receive?
“Core” vaccines are those recommended for most dogs and cats. Core vaccines include:
- Rabies (dogs and cats) – protects against Rabies. This vaccine is legally required in all dogs living in California.
- DA2PP – protects against the viruses that cause Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza (dogs)
- FVRCP – protects against the viruses that cause Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (cats)
Other non-core vaccines are given depending on your pet’s lifestyle and potential exposure. Common non-core vaccines we recommend include:
Dogs:
- Bordetella-protects against the upper respiratory infection known as “Kennel Cough”; recommended for dogs that have regular contact with other dogs in dog parks, daycare, boarding or grooming.
- Canine Influenza-protects against two of the viral strains that cause Canine Flu, a severe upper respiratory infection that has affected dogs throughout the Bay Area in recent years. Similar recommendations to Bordetella.
- Leptospirosis-protects against this waterborne, wildlife transmitted bacterial infection that is found throughout Northern California; recommended for dogs having regular outdoor exposure in areas frequented by wildlife.
Cats:
- Feline Leukemia Virus-protects against this cat virus that is transmitted from cat to cat through close contact, mutual grooming or fighting; recommended for cats that live an indoor/outdoor lifestyle.