Protect your pet!
Keeping your pet healthy is very similar to keeping yourself or your children healthy. Proper diet, exercise, and medication are all essential to your pet leading a long, happy life. First-time pet ownership is a lot like first-time parenthood- new family members must be vaccinated to prevent them from contracting infectious diseases.
Pet vaccinations are a basic battery of injections that can be administered early in an animal’s life to help protect against bacterial and viral diseases both in the home and outdoors. Most puppies and kittens receive vaccinations within the first 3 months of their life. Some of these may require follow-up “booster shots” a year or more down the road.
Core Pet Vaccinations address the most common afflictions your pet may encounter, these include:
Rabies – While not common in Oregon, rabies is a nightmare of a disease. The condition is usually spread by bats, making cats the pet most at risk for contracting the disease. Your dog or cat can be vaccinated against rabies as early as 16 weeks of age, ensuring your pet won’t catch this heartbreaking and life-threatening disease. At the First City Veterinary Hospital, we do not take rabies lightly. We offer a “lifetime” vaccination program where once you have paid for your initial rabies vaccine we will booster your pet free for the rest of his life.
Distemper – Both canine and feline version of distemper are caused by an airborne virus that can cause severe health problems and even brain damage. Pet vaccinations for distemper are administered to a kitten or puppy at least three times between 6 and 16 weeks old, with a booster shot between every 1 and 3 years afterward.
Non-Core Pet Vaccinations may be situation-dependent and will be best determined by your local Vet. Many of these are also specific to only cats or dogs, and can include:
Lyme Disease Is spread through tick bites, outdoor dogs are at the most risk of contracting Lyme Disease. Dogs can be vaccinated for Lyme disease early in life, or as adults, can be vaccinated annually or at the beginning of tick season as needed.
Canine Influenza – The “Dog Flu” is a disease new to the US. Like the strains of the human flu, dog flu can mutate easily rendering vaccines ineffective. Currently, there is a vaccine effective against two strains of dog flu. Dogs are vaccinated then boostered 2 to 4 weeks later. As with all vaccines, vaccination is only effective if given before your dog contracts the disease.
Feline Leukemia (FeLV) – A major concern for pet owners, Feline Leukemia is a viral infection spread from the bite of an infected cat. This disease can be a death sentence for cats and is a heartbreaking way to lose a member of your household. Assuming your cat hasn’t already contracted the virus and shows negative on a screening test, the vaccine can be administered as early as 8 weeks old for kittens, with a follow up 3 weeks later.
These are few examples of essential pet vaccinations that any owner should get for a new puppy or kitten, or even an adult dog or cat. First City Veterinary Hospital handles vaccinations on-site and can provide you with the peace-of-mind you need, ensuring that your furred friend is around for a long and healthy life.
If you think your dog or cat could use a check-up or is overdue for one or more vaccinations, don’t hesitate to visit First City Veterinary Hospital or call 503-657-6553 today!
PUREVAX, for the protection of felines.
First City Veterinary Hospital offers PUREVAX vaccines for all cats because they are associated with less risks. Below are some of the benefits of using the PUREVAX line of vaccines for cats:
- PUREVAX vaccines provide the only complete line of nonadjuvanted feline vaccines (An adjuvant is a substance that is added to a vaccine to enhance the body’s immune response to the vaccine. Adjuvants have been associated with injection site reaction, injection site granuloma, and chronic inflammation in cats.)
- PUREVAX offers the only recombinant feline rabies (1 and 3 year duration of immunity products) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccines
Please call us or click here to learn more about using PUREVAX for your cat.
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