Care Recommendation for Cats
While cats do not need the same level of exercise that dogs do, regular play sessions with your cat will provide it with the physical exercise and mental stimulation they need, as well as strengthen the bond you share. Be sure to provide your cat a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant access to fresh water. Ask your veterinarian for advice on what and how often to feed your cat.
See Cat Vaccination Schedule
- FVRCP – Feline Rhinotracheitis Calici Panleukopenia Vaccine given at 6, 12, and 16 weeks of age, then every other year.
- Rabies – Given at 12 weeks of age then yearly
- Feline Leukemia- this is recommended for cats that are indoor/outdoor or always outdoor. It is given once and repeated in 3 to 4 weeks. It is then given yearly.
Care Recommendation for Dogs
Your dog is an additional member of the family and, like children, depend on you for everything – food, water, shelter, medical care, exercise, and of course a loving household. The most basic health care for your dog includes regular health screening by your veterinarian, vaccines, and spay/neuter. Dogs must get exercise, so proper leashes and collars are needed, along with identification. ID tags, microchipping, or tattoos are common forms of dog identification. Dogs also need to wear collars with licenses, and rabies vaccination tags.
See Dog Vaccination Schedule
- Puppies are given DHPP- Distemper Hepatitis Parvo Parainfluenza vaccine at 6, 12, and 16 weeks of age. The following year they are given a booster.
- Rabies is given at 12 weeks of age or older. It is then boostered in one year followed by a booster every three years.
- Additional Vaccines- these are recommended if your pet could potentially come into contact with these diseases.
- Lyme
- Given once then boostered in 2-3 weeks, then yearly
- Lepto
- Given once then boostered in 2-3 weeks, then yearly
- Bordatella Vaccine (Kennel Cough)
- This is an oral vaccination that is boostered yearly
- This is recommended for dogs that are going to be in contact with other pets i.e. dog park, boarding, dog training
- Heartworm: Heartworm is a parasite that is spread by mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites the host it transmits an immature stage of the heartworm that travels through the bloodstream and makes its home in the heart. The continual growth and reproduction of these worms causes its host to become very ill and eventually, without treatment, leads to death.
- Heartworm tests are a necessity before prevention each spring
- Preventative is necessary from May to November
- Pet owner resources
- Heartgard: Heartgard is a monthly chewable
- Proheart: Proheart is the injectable preventative available for pets over 12 months old and for those that have not had previous allergic reactions or issues with vaccinations or other medications. This injection lasts for 6 months.
- Lyme
Flea/Tick Prevention
Fleas are a common pest for indoor/outdoor cats as well as dogs. They have been known to jump up to 350 times their body length making it very easy for them to travel from one pet to another. Once contracted fleas can be very difficult to get rid of as their life cycle is not only on your pet but in their environment as well. It is recommended to use a flea treatment such as Vectra or Nexgard once a month for up to 3 months to kill the fleas and stop the life cycle from reoccurring in the pet’s environment.
What We are Vaccinating for
- Distemper: attacks the nervous system- this virus can develop into pneumonia-most common victims are puppies
- Hepatitis: affects the liver
- Leptospirosis: bacterial disease that attacks the kidneys as well as other organs. It is found near swamps and lakes or any other location that a raccoon or other rodents may have urinated.
- Parvo: affects the intestines- this virus is very contagious to unprotected pets and can live in the area for months- the virus can be transmitted by our shoes and other articles. The main symptoms are depression, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting
- Bordetella: canine bronchitis- very contagious to other dogs and cough can last up to 6 weeks.
- Lyme: This is transmitted by the deer tick. Lyme disease causes lameness and fever, and is the most common tick born disease. It is very treatable with antibiotics. Preventing tick attachment is one of the best ways to prevent this disease.