Vaccinations

Keeping Your Pet Protected: A Guide to Vaccinations

From the time they’re puppies or kittens, pets need routine vaccinations to stay healthy and protected from serious diseases. Regular shots during wellness visits help strengthen their immune system and keep them safe as they grow.

Why Are Vaccines Important?

Just like people, pets can catch viruses and diseases from their environment or other animals. Some illnesses, like rabies, can even be passed to humans. Vaccinations help prevent these potentially life-threatening diseases, keeping both your pet and your family safe.

All Life Stages: What They Need

Puppies and kittens need a series of vaccinations starting around 6–8 weeks old to protect them from serious illnesses. These vaccines are given in multiple doses over the first few months of life to build strong immunity.

For Puppies: Core vaccines include distemper, parvovirus, canine hepatitis, and rabies. Depending on lifestyle, they may also need vaccines for kennel cough, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease.

For Kittens: Core vaccines include feline distemper, herpesvirus, calicivirus, and rabies. Outdoor or at-risk cats may also need the feline leukemia vaccine.

As an adult, your pet’s vaccination plan depends on their species, lifestyle, and exposure risks. Some core vaccines are recommended for all pets:

For Cats:

• Feline Distemper
• Feline Herpes
• Feline Calicivirus
• Rabies
• Feline Leukemia (especially for outdoor cats)

For Dogs:

• Parvovirus
• Distemper
• Canine Hepatitis
• Rabies
• Kennel Cough

Not sure what’s right for your pet? We’re here to help! Talk to us about the best vaccination schedule to keep your furry friend happy and healthy.