Which vaccinations do you recommend for my dog?

We vaccinate dogs less frequently than we did even 5 years ago owing to the great amount of new research in this field.  There are a number of vaccine protocols being used these days, the best being the one recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).  The most comprehensive explanation of this vaccine protocol can be found in their AAHA 2006 Canine Vaccine Guidelines/Recommendations.

In a nutshell, we recommend that all puppies start their vaccination series by 6 to 8 weeks of age, and that they be given DHPP every 3 weeks until 14 weeks of age.  We generally vaccinate for rabies at 12 weeks of age.  In addition, we give Bordetella to those puppies that will be boarded or groomed within the next year.  For adults, after receiving two annual DHPP vaccines, we give this vaccination every 3 years.  Our state law requires that a rabies booster be given within 1 year of the intial vaccination and then every 3 years there after.  We give Bordetella once a year to those adult dogs who require this vaccine.

Which vaccinations do you recommend for my cat?

We vaccinate cats less frequently than we did even 5 years ago owing to the great amount of new research in this field.  There are a number of vaccine protocols being used these days, the best being the one recommended by the American Association of Feline Practioners.  The most comprehensive explanation of this vaccination protocol can be found in a 2006 report by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. 

In a nutshell, we recommend that all kittens start their vaccination series by 6 to 8 weeks of age, and that they be given FVRCP every 3 weeks until 16 weeks of age.  We generally vaccinate for rabies at 12 weeks of age.  In addition, we give two FeLV vaccines, 3 weeks apart, and continue this vaccination on a yearly basis for those cats who will be going outside or are inside-only cats but will be exposed to cats who do go outside.  For adults, after receiving two annual FVRCP vaccines, we give this vaccination every 3 years.  Our state law requires that a rabies booster be given within 1 year of the intial vaccination and then every 3 years there after.

Besides periodic vaccinations, what other things should my dog receive from a vet?

A fecal examination which checks the stool for intestinal parasites, a heartworm test and an examination each year.  Dogs and cats 7 years of age or older should also have a geriatric blood profile screening test.  Most kidney and liver problems in older pets are detectable a number of months to even a couple of years before your pet shows active, and sometimes irreversible, symptoms of disease.  

Why do you recommend yearly heartworm testing if my dog is on heartworm preventative?

That's simple.  No heartworm preventative is 100% effective.  Last year alone, we had at 3 dogs in our practice that developed heartworm disease despite verifiable monthly preventative.  Now, that's a very small percentage of the overall number of dogs that are on preventative, but we were able to treat those dogs for heartworms BEFORE they developed life-threatening disease that may have been irreversible.  Each one of those owners was thankful that their dog had been given a yearly heartworm test!

Why do you recommend once a year fecal examinations?

Because we're trying to head off health problems in our client's dogs and cats and in our clients as well!

Each year thousands of people are infected by the dog or cat hookworm or roundworm.  When a human ingests roundworm eggs, the eggs hatch and release larvae that can migrate anywhere in the body, a condition known as visceral larva migrans.  The signs and symptoms seen in humans are determined by the tissues or organs damaged during larval migration. Organs commonly affected are the eye, brain, liver, and lung, where infections can cause permanent visual, neurologic, or other tissue damage.  When a human ingests hookworms or they penetrate a human's skin, the larvae cause skin eruptions or they migrate deeper and cause intestinal problems.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has more information on Hookworms/Roundworm Infections in People.