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The vaccinations your pet requires represent one of the most important preventive measures you can take for its long-term health. The frequency of inoculation will depend on a variety of factors: age, vaccination history, potential exposures, manufacturer's recommendation and geographic location.
Indoor, Adult Cat
It is recommended that adult, indoor cats be given calicivirus, distemper and rhinotracheitis vaccines every three years and a rabies vaccination every year.
Indoor-Outdoor, Adult Cat
In addition to the vaccines noted above, the cat who enjoys the great outdoors should receive a leukemia virus vaccination as directed by the veterinarian and a yearly parasite treatment or fecal exam to detect internal parasites.
Note: In rare cases, traditional three-year rabies vaccines have been known to cause cancer in cats, caused by chemicals called 'adjuvants' which are added. A new, non-adjuvanted vaccine is now available that is much safer but must be administered yearly.
Vista Veterinary Hospital does not recommend vaccinations against ringworm, feline bordetella, FIP or giardia at this time, although there may be exceptions, depending on changes in a cat's environment.
These recommendations are consistent with the new vaccination guidelines of the American Academy of Feline Practitioners and are designed to give your cat the safest, most complete protection against infectious diseases.
Important: All cats who board at Vista Veterinary Hospital must be current on their rabies and distemper vaccinations.
Adult Dogs
All adult dogs should receive: a rabies booster one year after the first vaccination and every three years thereafter; a DHPP (distemper/adenovirus/parainfluenza/hepatitis) booster one year after the last puppy series; a DHPP booster at two years of age and a DHPP booster in three-year intervals thereafter.
Dogs with extensive exposure to other dogs (boarding, grooming, outdoor or free-roaming dogs) should receive an initial vaccine against kennel cough and then annual boosters (good for one year). It is also recommended that dogs exposed to lakes and rivers when hunting, camping or hiking be vaccinated against leptospirosis every six months.
Parasite treatment or fecal tests to detect internal parasites should be done annually.
Dogs at risk by exposure to tick-borne diseases should be protected with monthly applications of flea-and-tick preventive medication.
Rattlesnake vaccine is available and recommended for dogs at risk for snake bites.
Note: At this time, Vista Veterinary Hospital does not recommend vaccinations against Lyme disease, giardia or corona virus, although there may be exceptions, depending on changes in your dog's environment. Based on new vaccination guidelines by veterinary teaching hospitals, these recommendations are designed to give your dog the safest, most complete protection against diseases to which he or she may be exposed.
Important: Boarding dogs must be current on all vaccinations (rabies, DHPP, kennel cough).
