Pet Vaccinations in Fair Oaks, CA

Mercy Pet Hospital strongly recommends a distemper vaccination. The distemper vaccination, DHLPP actually protects against six very contagious diseases among dogs and it includes:

• D = Distemper. This is an often fatal respiratory and neurological disease.
• H = Hepatitis. This is a serious liver disease.
• L = Leptospirosis. This is a bacterial disease of the liver and kidneys which can be transmitted to people.
• P = Parainfluenza. This is a respiratory infection causing a serious cough.
• P = Parvovirus. This is an often deadly gastrointestinal disease that causes diarrhea, vomiting, depression, and even death in dogs of all ages.

At eight weeks of age, the first immunization should be given. Up to the age of 16, boosters are necessary every three to four weeks. After that, give your dog a yearly revaccination to stave off these dangerous illnesses. Depending on your pet’s age, a mix of vaccines may be administered.

Bordetella Vaccine

Bordetella vaccines are given to dogs who will be kenneled, groomed, or who will be around other dogs when doing errands, visiting a pet store, playing in a dog park, or traveling to the river or lake. At 8 weeks of age or older, the first vaccination is given. The vaccination is then administered yearly after that. Most kennel cough strains are protected from by this vaccination, but not all of them.

Canine Influenza Vaccine

Canine influenza vaccines are also administered to dogs that will be boarded, groomed, or who will come into contact with other canines. Anorexia, lethargy, sneezing, potential clear to yellow/green discharge from the nose and or eyes, and fever are all symptoms of the canine influenza virus. At 7 weeks of age or older, the first immunization should be administered. For immunization, one booster shot is necessary 2–4 weeks after the first vaccine. The vaccination is then administered yearly after that.

Rabies Vaccine

All dogs are required by law to have rabies pet vaccinations. When a dog is 4 months old or older, the first rabies vaccination can be administered. One year after the initial pet vaccinations, this has to be bolstered. After the one-year booster, you must get vaccinated again every three years.

All four of the following pet vaccinations should be given to adult dogs who have never had them at their first visit. Three weeks later, and then once a year after that, the DHPPL vaccination is routinely boostered.

Additional Pet Vaccinations for Dogs

Rattlesnake Vaccination

We advise administering the initial dosage of the vaccine to your dog, followed by a booster dose about a month later. Then, we advise boosting each succeeding year. Typically, a single dosage of booster would be administered at the beginning of the rattlesnake season in your region. However, there are some situations when, in conjunction with your veterinarian, you may prefer to give your dog this booster two or even three times a year, such as when your dog is expected to be exposed to rattlesnakes or when your dog is a large breed.

Lyme Vaccine

Lyme disease is the most often reported illness brought on by ticks in the United States, thus this immunization is meant to protect against it. A parasite that resembles bacteria is what causes the illness. It is mostly spread by a tiny deer tick. To complete its life cycle, the tick needs several hosts that are animals. The female tick drops off and lays eggs, and adult ticks prefer to feed on deer. The eggs develop into larvae, which eat diseased rats or small animals as food. These diseased tick larvae molt into nymphs, which are active mostly in the late spring, summer, and early fall. They are roughly the size of a pinhead. At 8 weeks of age or older, the first vaccination is administered. There are 2 immunizations in this series, followed by an annual booster.

Vaccination for herpesvirus-1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (Distemper) (HCP) given 3-4 weeks apart through twelve weeks of age. The first set may be given as early as 6-8 weeks of age. Typically kittens get 2-3 of these vaccines during their kitten hood and it is required for surgery and for boarding. This vaccine needs to be boostered annually.

Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

The FeLV vaccination is given 3-4 weeks apart, beginning as early as nine weeks of age. This vaccine is highly recommended because it is a commonly diagnosed and fatal disease in cats. It is boostered annually.

Rabies Vaccine

The Rabies vaccine is given after 4 months of age, many times on the last kitten visit. This vaccine is required by law in California: it is good for one year and subsequent vaccinations are good for one year.

Adult cats who have never been vaccinated should receive all three of the vaccines listed above at their initial visit. The HCP and Leukemia vaccines are typically boostered three weeks later, then on an annual basis.