Vaccinations

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2nd shot: exam, weight & temp, broad spectrum wormer

3rd shot: exam, weight & temp, broad spectrum wormer

Parvovirus, distemper, parainfluenza, adenovirus, coronavirus.nWe reserve the vaccination of leptospirosis for pups over 25lbs that will be exposed to the virus. If it is elected, lepto will be given on the third vaccination.

We want to give the rabies vaccine at the appropriate time. It is normally given when the pup is 12 weeks of age but on some occasions, we wait until the pup is more mature. Often, we recommend waiting until the pup is 14-16 weeks of age. The first rabies given at our clinic is the 1-year vaccine.

Often referred to as “kennel cough." Highly recommended for all dogs as this is an aerosol virus that can cause an upper respiratory infection. It’s sister, Parainfluenza, is sometimes given in combination with Bordetella in an intranasal form. At our clinic, we like to start them on an oral form of the vaccine during your puppy shot series and discuss adult control as your pet ages. We recommend giving bordetella at the time of the third vaccination.

There are other vaccinations to consider. Please see descriptions during the discussion of adult vaccination choices.

1st shot, exam, weight & temp, broad spectrum wormer

2nd shot, exam, weight & temp, broad spectrum wormer, rabies 1 year.

There are other vaccinations to consider. Please see description during the discussion of adult vaccine choices.Nit will always be the recommendation to test for the feline viruses prior to vaccination. These tests are recommended at 6 months. That said, we do not consider it unsafe to vaccinate kittens which appear to be healthy and are thriving. If a kitten is suffering from leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus, they will more than likely be symptomatic.

We will not vaccinate a kitten for fip without a prior test as the kitten could easily be asymptomatic for fip.

Your pet needs to go annually for a check up and annual viral vaccinations,
Choose the vaccination combination which suits your pet’s environment and exposure,
Make sure the three year tag that your pet is wearing is legible at all times. We ask a lot of those 3-year tags; the etching often fades so pay attention, ask for a replacement tag if you think you need one.
Be sure and alert a technician if your pet reacts any way to vaccinations.

• Detella bronchiseptica
• One year rabies
• Rattlesnake vaccine

At our clinic, we recommend not vaccinating for any viruses after 14 years of age due to the fact that vaccine-induced renal failure begins to climb rapidly in dogs of this age. The exception to this protocol is rabies due to city ordinance and bordetella. There are many arguments as to when it is appropriate to stop vaccinating. 14 is the age this clinic has chosen and could not be happier for owners as many pets are living to see this ripe old age! You may have specific reasons to follow a different vaccine program and this can be discussed at the time you and you pet are seen in our clinic.

Vaccines that are used in veterinary clinics are manufactured by companies that spend millions of dollars studying the mutation of viruses and ship and control their vaccine under strict guidelines. These companies also stand behind the performance of their vaccine should a patient suffer a failure of vaccine. Sometimes the animal’s immune system will not “recognize” the vaccines and the animal will “break” with the disease regardless of the protocol or vaccine chosen. The quality companies stand behind their vaccine as a good faith gesture to the patient, the client and the clinic that endure this unfortunate experience.

The temperature of the OTC vaccine cannot be guaranteed. You may do your best to keep the vaccine cold as is intended but what about the shopper in front of you?

Example: Mrs. Doe shops and selects an OTC vaccine from the cooler. She tools around the store, gets to the counter and decides she’d rather buy a magazine than pay for a vaccination that day and sets the vaccine on a random counter. The vaccine is restocked and the shot is useless. You, unfortunately, pick the same package and inject your pet with an unstable vaccination.

Is your shot technique up to standards?

If your pet has a vaccine reaction, (they are uncommon but do occur), will you know what to do or will you be able to go to the emergency room?