Your pet’s innate curiosity and need to explore their surroundings using their nose and mouth can put them in the path of a contagious virus or bacterial infection. While exposure to disease is not fatal in most cases for dogs and cats, their risk of severe illness greatly increases if they’re unvaccinated. At Fulton County Veterinary Clinic, we highly recommend vaccinating your dog or cat on a schedule to minimize disease risks and ensure better long-term health. Cat and dog vaccinations can vary based on risk, lifestyle, and other factors, but their importance for all pets cannot be overstated!
Is your pet getting the best protection? Schedule an appointment today to update their vaccines.
What Vaccines Does My Dog or Cat Need?
Pet vaccines are essential to your companion’s care, but not every dog or cat needs to have the same vaccination schedule. Age, lifestyle, geographic location, and medical history all influence which vaccines your pet should get throughout their life. When we meet with you and your pet for their annual checkup, we can discuss any changes to their environment and/or lifestyle, and recommend the vaccines best suited to their health and circumstances. Puppies and kittens usually need 3-4 rounds of vaccines approximately every 3-4 weeks to properly build up their immunity.
We recommend several core vaccines for all pets because certain animal diseases are highly contagious and extremely dangerous. These vaccines include:
Core Vaccines for Puppies and Adult Dogs
Puppies:
- Rabies
- Bordetella
- Lyme (booster at 3-4 weeks)
- Distemper vaccine (protects against Canine Distemper Virus, Adenovirus types 1 & 2, Parainfluenza Virus, & Parvovirus)
Adult Dogs:
- Rabies (3yr)
- Distemper (3yr)
- Leptospirosis (1yr)
- Lyme (1yr)
- Bordetella (1yr)
Core Vaccines for Kittens and Adult Cats
Kittens:
- Rabies
- Feline Leukemia (for outdoor cats or those exposed to outdoor cats)
- Feline Distemper, Calicivirus, Herpesvirus
Adult Cats:
- Rabies (3yr)
- Feline Leukemia (for outdoor cats or those exposed to outdoor cats)
- Feline Distemper, Calicivirus, Herpesvirus
If you’re curious about your pet’s vaccine needs or have to get your puppy or kitten started with their first boosters, contact us for an appointment!