For adult pets, we recommend vaccine appointments
ANNUALLY.
Depending on your pet’s age and vaccination history, your veterinarian might recommend a custom vaccination plan.
Cat and dog vaccinations are important for all pets; even the ones that remain indoors most, if not all, of the time because they could still catch an airborne virus from outside at potty time or through an open window or door screen. More often than not, viruses are spread due to contact with other infected animals that are wild or whose owners did not elect to keep their pet vaccinations up to date.
Given the violent and progressive nature of small-animal viruses, it is of the utmost importance to immunize your pet and opt to keep your kitty current with the latest cat vaccinations and your pooch up to date with his or her dog vaccinations.
At our Houston, TX, animal hospital, we offer several cat and dog vaccinations that are administered via the latest, safest and most effective pet vaccine technology and methods available today.
Dog Vaccinations
One of the easiest and most helpful precautions you can take for your dog’s health is to ensure he or she is up to date with the latest dog vaccinations.
There are many illnesses dogs can develop that can malevolently affect various canine body systems and processes. Some are even zoonotic, meaning they can affect human health as well.
Our Houston, TX, veterinarians offer dog vaccines that, in conjunction with routine heartworm testing and prevention, are sure to allow your dog to enjoy a long, healthy and vibrant life. Read more about each of our dog vaccinations below.
The DHPP dog vaccine provides protection against canine distemper, hepatitis, para-influenza and parvo. Dogs should receive this canine immunization when they are puppies between six and eight weeks old.
Our veterinarians suggest continuing this dog vaccination every three to four weeks until our furry friend is 16 weeks old since this will confidently ensure there is not any maternal antibody competition. We administer this dog vaccine one year after the last puppy shot is given and once every three years afterward.
Bordetella, also known as kennel cough, is a very common and contagious illness that affects the canine respiratory system.
The bordetella dog vaccine is administered intranasally during the first puppy visit. An injectable vaccine is given three to four weeks after the intranasal dose, and then the vaccinations rotate between intranasal and injectable doses.
Leptospirosis, also known as lepto, is a bacterial disease that can affect both humans and pets. It occurs all over the world and leads to liver and kidney damage as well as death if left untreated.
Humans and pets can get this bacterial infection by coming into contact with infected wild animals (e.g., possums, skunks, raccoons and rodents), lepto-infested water or infected urine.
Since this disease can harm animals and humans, we encourage dogs to receive this immunization via two initial doses three weeks apart, and then on a yearly basis.
Influenza (CIV or H3N8) – Canine Influenza, or the “dog flu,” is caused by the H3N8 Virus, which is a disease of dogs (not humans).
The virus is spread from sick dogs that may be sneezing or coughing, contaminated objects or people moving between infected to uninfected dogs—this means the dogs don’t ever have to come in direct contact with other sick dogs in order to catch the virus. Symptoms may be mild such as coughing, runny nose and fever or severe such as pneumonia.
Puppies or adult dogs who have not had the vaccine will receive two doses 3 weeks apart after, and then one dose each year after that. For more information, click here.
Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals including dogs and humans. Therefore, it is very important to protect your pet from this virus.
By law, dogs must receive a rabies shot during their initial dog vaccinations they get as puppies. An adult booster shot is given a year later and administered every three years afterward.
Cat Vaccinations
In addition to providing your cat with food, water and affection, it is important to make sure your feline companion is up to date with all the current cat vaccinations to ensure a long and happy life.
Cats are susceptible to various life-threatening diseases that can be easily prevented with the proper cat vaccines.
At our Houston, TX, animal hospital, we offer multiple cat vaccinations that, with the help of regular heartworm testing and prevention, will ensure your cat’s nine lives are as long, healthy and active as possible. Read more about the specific cat vaccines we offer below.
Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of all mammals, including cats and humans. This being the case, it is very important to protect your pet from this virus.
At our animal hospital, kittens receive this cat vaccine one time after they reach 12 weeks of age. Following the initial vaccine, adult pets receive the “pure vax” form of this cat vaccination yearly for the most advanced safety and protection.
The FVRCP cat vaccine is our “feline distemper” vaccination that protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. These diseases are highly contagious among cats and can have devastating effects on their respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.
Our feline patients should receive this cat shot when they are kittens starting at six weeks of age. This cat vaccination should be given every three weeks until the kitten is 16 weeks old, as it will confidently ensure there is not any maternal antibody competition.
After these initial immunizations, we administer this cat vaccination yearly for optimum disease protection.
FeLV (feline leukemia virus) is a deadly viral disease that wreaks havoc on affected cats’ immune systems and can lead to an array of cancerous conditions including leukemia.
Affected cats may show no symptoms of this disease for months, if not years, and infect other cats all the while. For the best protection, our feline friends should start receiving this cat vaccination beginning at nine weeks of age.
After the second set of immunizations is given, a booster is administered one year later, and then every three years afterward.
