Vaccines are an important health benefit for our pets, due to the presence of numerous viruses in our area that present a significant risk.  Our veterinarians design their vaccine protocol according to each individual animal and the risks they encounter.

Puppies & Kittens: Generally, a puppy or kitten will receive its first set of vaccines at 8 weeks of age.  At this age they are (hopefully) weaned from their mother’s milk, which had provided immunities up to this point.  They receive a second set of booster vaccines 3-4 weeks after the first, and receive a third vaccine booster at 16 weeks of age.  Their rabies vaccine is required by law, and is given between 4 and 6 months of age. We commonly give it at 6 months along with the spay/neuter for convenience for county licensing.

Adults: Dogs and cats need to be re-vaccinated at 1.5 years of age, 2.5 years of age, and then again every three years thereafter.  Two exceptions exist, and those are for Bordetella and Feline Leukemia vaccines:
Bordetella is only given if the dog is going to be staying at a boarding kennel or is in frequent contact with strange dogs.  Its immunity expires within 1 year, and it should be given at least 2 weeks prior to boarding.
Feline Leukemia is given yearly if a cat is outdoors at all.  This is due to the high risk of transmitting this virus.

If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (541) 896-0044.