Dog and Cat Vaccinations- Petaluma Veterinary Hospital

Vaccinations

When to vaccinate?

Puppies and kittens are usually protected from infectious diseases by their mother’s milk provided she has been adequately vaccinated. However this protection only lasts for a short while.

• Puppies and kittens should be vaccinated at about 8 weeks of age, then every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.

• Boosters should be given 12 months after the final vaccinations.

• If you have an older pet your veterinarian will recommend the correct vaccination protocol that you should follow.
  
  

Dogs

• Canine distemper

• Canine parvovirus

• Infectious canine hepatitis

• Leptospirosis

• Rabies virus
  
  

A specific vaccination plan will be developed for your dog based on AAHA guidelines. Factors such as age, breed, health, lifestyle, and location are considered. For example, If your dog will be spending time in kennels or dog parks we will talk with you about vaccination against influenza and Bordetella.
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Cats

Cats should be routinely vaccinated against:

• Feline calicivirus

• Feline herpes virus

• Feline rhinotachectis

• Feline leukemia virus

• Rabies virus

(Current guidelines recommend that only ‘at risk’ cats are vaccinated against feline leukemia virus. Those deemed at risk include kittens and immune-compromised cats).

​​​​​​​If you are unsure about vaccines, talk to one of our veterinarians for advise on the best vaccination protocol to follow for your specific pet.