Your pet is depending on you to make sure that they live their life to the fullest.
Vaccinations for Dogs
Schedule of Vaccines (based on guidelines from the AKC)
Puppy's Age* |
Core Vaccines (recommended) |
Non-core Vaccines (optional depending on your dogs lifestyle) |
6-8 weeks |
Distemper and Parainfluenza |
Bordetella |
10-12 weeks |
DHPP (distemper,adenovirus [Hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus) |
Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Lyme, and Bordetella |
12-24 weeks |
Rabies and DHPP |
Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Lyme, and Bordetella |
Annually |
DHPP |
Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, and Lyme |
Every 1 to 3 years (depending on your state) |
Rabies |
~ |
* Always check with your vet for the appropriate age range for each vaccination!
What each of the vaccines are used for?
- DHPP (Distemper, Adenovirus [Hepatitis], Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus):
- Distemper: a severely contagious disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Distemper is spread by airborne exposure from an infected animal.
- Adenovirus (Hepatitis): a contagious viral infection that targets the kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen, and eyes of the affected dog.
- Parainfluenza: a virus that contributes to kennel cough.
- Parvovirus: a highly contagious virus that affects dogs that are unvaccinated and puppies under 4 months old. Parvo attacks rapidly dividing cells in the gastrointestinal system.
- Rabies: a viral zoonotic disease that invades the central nervous system which is transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal.
- Bordetella: a highly infectious bacterium that causes severe fits of coughing, whooping, and vomiting. This is the primary cause of kennel cough.
- Coronavirus: a virus that attacks the dog's gastrointestinal system.
- Leptospirosis: a disease caused by bacteria from the urine or stool of infected animals. The disease is a zoonotic disease which means it can be transmitted from animals to people.
- Lyme disease: an infectious tick-borne disease that is caused by a bacteria called spirochete. Symptoms can include stiffness, discomfort, pain, loss of appetite, fever, reduced energy, and swelling of the joints. If not taken care of it can progress to kidney failure.
Vaccines for Cats
Kitten's Age* |
Core Vaccines (recommended) |
Non-core Vaccines (optional depending on your cats lifestyle) |
6-8 weeks |
Feline Distemper, Feline Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus |
Chlamydia |
10-12 weeks |
Feline Distemper, Feline Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus |
Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
12-16 weeks |
Feline Distemper, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus, and Rabies |
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
Annually |
Feline Distemper, Feline Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus |
Chlamydia, Feline Leukemia, and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
Every 1 to 3 years (depending on your state) |
Rabies |
~ |
* Always check with your vet for the appropriate age range for each vaccination!
What each vaccine is used for?
- Feline Distemper/Feline Parvovirus: a severe and fatal disease that causes hemorrhagic gastroenteritis which is characterized by bloody diarrhea.
- Feline calicivirus and feline herpes virus type 1 (rhinotracheitis): normally combined because both viruses cause upper respiratory infections which are spread by direct or close contact between infected cats and dogs,
- Rabies: a viral zoonotic disease (which means that it can be spread from animals to humans) that invades the central nervous system which is transmitted by the bite and/or saliva of a rabid animal. This disease could be more common in cats as they tend to catch or fight their prey and can possibly ingest the disease.
- Feline leukemia virus: a disease that causes immunosupression (the body is unable to fight off infections and other diseases), anemia (unhealthy red blood cells), and lymphoma (immune system cancer).
- Bordetella: a bacterial infection that can cause upper respiratory infections
- Chlamydophilia felis: a bacterial infection that causes conjunctivitis which deals with the eyes (Sort of like pink eye for cats)
- Feline immunodeficiency virus: a disease in cats that is similar to AIDS and HIV in humans. Cats become infected if another cat that is infected bites them. The cat remains FIV positive for the rest of its life. The disease is spread by the saliva of the infected cats.
Wellness Exam
A wellness exam is essentially just a physical exam. During a physical exam, a vet will normally include:
- How bright or alert the animal is.
- How the animal walks or stands.
- The general body condition of the animal (their weight).
- Looks at the hair coat for any signs of dryness, lumps or bumps, oiliness, dandruff, and shedding or hair loss.
- The eyes for redness, evidence of excessive tearing, abnormal bumps or lumps, how the eyes close, discharge, and cloudiness.
- The skin for oiliness, areas of abnormal thickness, dandruff, lumps or bumps, and dryness.
- The nose/face for symmetry, discharge, breathing, and any problems with the folds of the skin.
- The ears for thickening, discharge, and hair loss.
- The mouth and teeth for staining around the lips, broken or retained teeth, tartar build-up, excess salivation, and ulcers.
- They will also check their heartbeat and lungs.
- They may also run some tests like heartworm or fecal tests to check for heartworms or other intestinal worms like roundworms or hookworms. Most parasites are zoonotic which mean that they are able to be passed from animals to humans.