ROUTINE PROTOCOLS

VACCINES

  • Vaccines protect against common diseases.
  • For puppies, we recommend a series of vaccines starting at 8 weeks of age and continuing through 16 weeks of age.  We routinely vaccinate for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, bordetella, and rabies. 
  • For kittens, we recommend a series of vaccines starting at 8 weeks of age and continuing through 16 weeks of age.  We routinely vaccinate for feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, chlamydia, leukemia, and rabies.  We advise all kittens be tested for feline leukemia and FIV at or after 11 weeks of age.
  • Adult dogs that have completed all their puppy vaccines, receive boosters at 1 year of age along with a heartworm test.  After that, distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and rabies vaccines are given every 3 years.  Bordetella, leptospirosis, and heartworm check are done yearly.
  • Adult cats that have completed all their kitten vaccines and leukemia/FIV test, receive boosters at 1 year of age.  After that, the distemper and rabies vaccines are given yearly, and the leukemia vaccine is given every 3 years.

HEARTWORM TESTING AND PREVENTION

  • We follow the recommendations of the National Heartworm Symposium.
  • For our geographic region, we recommend all puppies begin monthly heartworm medicine by 16 weeks of age. 
  • Heartworm medications need to be given year round.
  • As added protection, heartworm testing (a simple blood test) is advised annually, even with year-round prevention, at the time of routine vaccinations.                       

FLEA PREVENTION

  • We recommend Frontline® Plus for flea and tick control in dogs and cats.
  • Puppies and kittens can start on Frontline® as early as 8 weeks of age.
  • We advise giving Frontline® monthly starting in April and continuing through November or December, depending on the weather.  If your pet visits a groomer, boards, or attends day care, we encourage you to use this prevention year round.
  • Frontline® Plus kills adult fleas, eggs, and larvae and keeps all stages from developing. Frontline® also kills all stages of ticks.    
  • Comfortis® is a new flea product that comes in a pill form that is also given once a month.                                    
  • Trifexis® is the Comfortis® flea preventative combined with Interceptor heartworm prevention all in one easy to give tablet.         

STOOL CHECKS

  • We recommend stool checks for intestinal parasites every 6-12 months.
  • Puppies and kittens are wormed during their vaccination series.  Bring a stool specimen at your first visit and at the end of the vaccination series.  We will make sure your puppy is free from parasites.

NEUTERING

  • All dogs and cats should be castrated or spayed at 6 months of age. 
  • Older pets can be neutered at any time.  Females are preferably spayed when they are not in heat.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

  • If your dog attends a day care, he or she is more at risk for certain problems.  We recommend stool checks for intestinal parasites and bordetella vaccines for kennel cough every 6 months in these cases.
  • In addition, strict attention to monthly heartworm and flea prevention is very important.  Ask our staff if you have any questions.