Wellness Exams

• Distemper:  This is a highly contagious virus that is easily spread by contact with discharge from the nose or eyes of an infected dog or raccoon.  The virus attacks many organ systems and is often fatal.  Neurologic disease is common, and nerve damage may persist even if the dog survives.
• Adenovirus (CAV) Type 2:  This vaccine protects again both CAV-2 and CAV-1, the causative agents of infectious tracheobronchitis and canine infectious hepatitis, respectively.  CAV-1 attacks many organs, including the liver, eyes, and lungs and is often fatal or results in severe, long-lasting complications from liver failure to blindness.  CAV-2 in another component of canine kennel cough infection. 
• Parvovirus:  Parvovirus is a viral disease of dogs that causes severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration.  Infection is very easily spread from feces of infected dogs, and the virus can survive in the environment for many months.  Parvovirus is often fatal, even with aggressive treatment. 
• Parainfluenza Virus:  Parainfluenza virus is another component of upper respiratory tract infections in dogs.  The virus only causes mild disease by itself, but it also paralyzes the natural process that clears the respiratory tract, allowing the introduction of bacteria such as Bordetella and increasing the risk of developing pneumonia.   

Our veterinarians recommend starting this vaccine at 6 weeks of age and booster every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then booster annually.

• Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterium that is a common component of upper respiratory tract infections (aka kennel cough) in dogs.  It is extremely contagious and causes severe coughing fits, lethargy and inappetence. Vaccination is recommended for dogs that visit obedience classes, dog parks, grooming, boarding or doggy daycare facilities.

Our veterinarians recommend starting this vaccine at 6 weeks of age with a booster at 9 weeks then annual booster.

• This spiral-shaped bacterium is spread in the urine of infected dogs or wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, and rodents.  Dogs are most commonly infected by coming into contact with contaminated water sources, such as lakes or puddles.  Infection causes severe kidney and liver disease.  This bacterium is zoonotic, meaning the disease can also pass to humans and cause similar symptoms.

Our veterinarians recommend starting lepto at 12 weeks of age with a booster at 16 weeks then annual booster. 

• This vaccine is required by law and is the most important vaccination your puppy will receive.  The rabies virus causes a fatal, incurable disease of the neurologic system of all mammals, including humans.  Rabies disease is transmitted by contact with saliva from an infected animal. Rabies vaccination not only protects your pet, but also protects your family by stopping the chain of transmission.

Our veterinarians recommend administering this vaccine at 16 weeks of age then booster in one year. However, after your pets first vaccination this vaccine can be administered every 3 years! 

• Herpesviral Rhinotracheitis:  This virus is the most common cause of upper respiratory disease in cats.  Almost all cats are exposed to the virus at some point in their lives, and the virus remains in their body but is kept at bay by the immune system.  Sick cats may develop a fever, frequent sneezing, ocular and nasal discharge and inflammation around the eyes (conjunctivitis).  Symptoms are often most severe in young kittens and immunosuppressed cats.  Even in healthy adult cats, the virus can cause flare-ups during periods of stress and result in transient upper respiratory infections.
• Calicivirus:  Another respiratory virus, calici causes severe upper respiratory symptoms, oral ulceration, facial swelling, and hair loss around the face and feet.  As with herpesvirus, this virus is spread mainly by direct contact with oral or nasal secretions, but it can also live in the environment for up to one month. 
• Panleukopenia:  Panleukopenia virus is similar to canine parvovirus, causing lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea with a high mortality rate.  If infected in utero, kittens are born with significant neurologic problems.  The virus is shed in the feces, which can contaminate surfaces and remain infective in the environment for up to one year. Treatment is limited and those cats who are infected with this virus often succumb to it. 

Our veterinarians recommend starting this vaccine at 8 weeks of age with a booster every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then booster annually.

• Feline leukemia (FeLV) is a retrovirus, a specific type of virus that causes lifelong infection of a cat.  Other retroviruses include feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  The virus is spread by direct cat-to-cat contact, such as bite wounds, mutual grooming and from infected mothers to kittens in utero or during nursing.  Infected cats either develop regressive infection (where they remain infected but do not shed virus or have any symptoms) or progressive infection (where the virus continues to replicate, be shed, and cause FeLV-associated disease).  Cats with progressive infection can develop lymphoma or other cancers, chronic inflammatory conditions, various eye diseases, recurrent infections and/or persistent fever. 

Our veterinarians recommend this vaccine for all kittens starting at 12 weeks of age with a booster at 16 weeks, however annual boosters are reserved mostly for cats who go outdoors or have contact with other potentially infected cats.

• Rabies vaccination is required by law and is the most important vaccination your kitten will receive.  The rabies virus causes a fatal, incurable disease of the neurologic system of all mammals, including humans. Rabies vaccination protects not only your pet, but also your family by stopping the chain of transmission.  Even indoor-only cats could be exposed if they escape outside or if bats or other wildlife sneak inside your home.

Our veterinarians recommend administering this vaccine at 16 weeks of age then booster annually.