What vaccinations should my new puppy have and when?
Your new puppy should receive a series of 3 vaccinations for the
Distemper/Parvo ( DA2PP/CCV) combination vaccine. These should
be given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. At 16 weeks your puppy
should also receive a Rabies vaccination. If your dog will be
boarding or be groomed, we recommend a Bordetella (Kennel
Cough) vaccination at 12 and 16 weeks of age. Your dog should
receive a yearly booster.
What vaccinations should my new kitten have and when?
Kittens should receive 2 doses of Distemper vaccine at 8 and 12
weeks of age. If they go outside, they should receive two doses of
Leukemia vaccine at 12 and 16 weeks of age. The Rabies vaccine
can be given at either the 12 week or 16 week visit. Yearly
boosters should be given.
Should my pet have vaccines every year?
Yes, your pet should have yearly vaccinations to prevent
contagious and fatal diseases. Proper preventive care and
vaccinations can minimize the chance of your pet contracting any of
these diseases. If your pet is strictly indoors, has health concerns,
or has limited exposure to other animals, we can discuss a
vaccination protocol specific to your pet.
Should I deworm my pet?
We highly recommend that all puppies and kittens receive
deworming medication. For adult pets, a yearly fecal exam is
recommended to screen for parasites. Cats that eat mice should
be dewormed every 2 to 3 months for tapeworms. Roundworms can
be infectious to people so it is important that your animal is
routinely dewormed.
My pet has diarrhea. Is that serious?
If it continues for more than 24 to 36 hours bring your pet in right
away so the Dr. can help your pet and provide special care so they
can feel better. The risk of dehydration is high when a pet has
diarrhea and there may be a serious cause for the condition.
Please bring a fecal sample with you so we can check for specific
problems.
Should I spay or neuter my pet?
Having your male pet neutered reduces roaming, urine marking,
and reduces the odor of their urine. It can also reduce aggressive
behavior as well as reduce the risk for prostate cancer. Spaying
your female pet eliminates unplanned litters thereby reducing the
pet over population problem. It also eliminates unwanted
behaviors while they are in heat, and reduces risk of breast cancer
and pyometra which is a severe uterine infection.
How old should my pet be to spay or neuter it?
We recommend that an animal should be spayed/neutered
between 4 to 6 months old, but it can be done any time after that.
(If you spay your female before their first heat cycle, the risk of
breast cancer goes significantly down.)
How often should my pet be groomed?
It is safe to bathe all pets at least once a month and their toe
nails should be trimmed regularly if they are indoor pets. Some
breeds require regular hair trimming while others may never need
to be trimmed. Brushing on a regular basis is important to prevent
matting and discomfort. Please contact our professional
groomer, here at the clinic if you have questions or would like to
schedule an appointment.
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