Smart Protection Starts With Vaccines
Vaccines are essential to the health of most pets. Vaccination schedules can vary based on a variety of factors including age, lifestyle and location. One of our veterinarians will discuss these important factors with you to ensure your pet is properly protected.
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Your Puppy’s Vaccination Timeline for the First 6 Months
Based on your puppy’s health history and our veterinarian’s recommendations, we typically schedule exams and vaccinations at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. As your puppy grows, we’ll space out future vaccinations appropriately to protect their health while minimizing the risk of over-vaccination.
Here’s a general timeline for your puppy’s first six months:
- 6 Weeks: Exam, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, and DHPP vaccine (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza)
- 9 Weeks: Exam, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, DHPP and Bordetella vaccines
- 12 Weeks: Exam, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, DHPP and Leptospirosis vaccines
- 16 Weeks: Exam, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, DHPP, Leptospirosis, and Rabies vaccines
Keeping up with this schedule gives your puppy the best protection during their most vulnerable early months. We're here to help guide you through each step of your puppy’s care!
What the DA2PP Vaccine Protects Against?
The DA2PP, often called the "Distemper Combo," is a core vaccine for puppies and dogs, protecting against several serious diseases:
- Distemper: A virus spread through bodily fluids that causes a wide range of symptoms, including seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, and erratic behavior.
- Adenovirus Type 2: This virus leads to liver and kidney failure and is transmitted through bodily fluids such as nasal discharge and urine. It primarily affects the tonsils and larynx, causing sore throat, coughing, and occasionally pneumonia.
- Parainfluenza: A virus responsible for mild respiratory infections and inflammation of the upper airways, which can progress into fatal pneumonia. It spreads quickly in environments where dogs are housed together, transmitted through contact with nasal secretions from infected dogs.
- Parvovirus: A highly contagious and potentially fatal virus affecting unvaccinated dogs. Parvovirus causes fever, lethargy, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and loss of appetite. The virus damages the intestinal lining, making it painful for dogs to eat and rapidly leading to dehydration due to severe vomiting and diarrhea.
The DA2PP vaccine is critical for protecting your pet from these serious and potentially deadly diseases.
The Must-Have Vaccines to Protect Your Pet
- Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects many mammals, including livestock and wildlife. It is spread through the urine of infected animals, contaminating water sources where the bacteria thrive. This disease is common in rural, suburban, and urban areas with wildlife and stagnant water. Leptospirosis is zoonotic, meaning humans can also contract it. The infection can cause severe liver and kidney damage in pets.
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough): The Bordetella vaccine protects against kennel cough, an upper respiratory infection that is highly contagious, especially in environments where many dogs are in close contact, such as kennels or dog parks. Symptoms typically include a hacking cough and clear, foamy vomit. If left untreated, kennel cough can develop into pneumonia, a more serious condition.
- Rabies: Rabies is a core vaccine required by law in Colorado for both dogs and cats. The disease is usually transmitted through bites from infected wildlife. While rabies was previously rare in our area, an outbreak has caused increased cases in both wild and domestic animals. Rabies is always fatal, and once symptoms appear, there is no cure. The only way to definitively diagnose rabies is by sampling the infected animal’s brain.
Your Kitten’s First 6 Months of Vaccinations and Care
Based on your kitten's health history and our veterinarian’s recommendations, we typically perform exams and vaccinations at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. As your kitten grows, we’ll space out vaccinations to ensure they’re protected without over-vaccinating. Here’s a general vaccination schedule for your kitten’s first 6 months:
- 6 Weeks: Exam, combo test, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) and FeLV (Feline Leukemia) vaccines
- 9 Weeks: Exam, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, FVRCP and FeLV vaccines
- 12 Weeks: Exam, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, and FVRCP vaccine
- 16 Weeks: Exam, deworming, intestinal parasite testing, FVRCP and Rabies vaccines
This schedule helps ensure that your kitten is protected from common, serious diseases as they grow and develop.
What the FVRCP Vaccine Does for Your Cat’s Health?
The FVRCP vaccine, often referred to as the “Feline Distemper Combo,” is a core vaccine that protects your cat from three serious diseases:
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR): A leading cause of upper respiratory infections in cats, responsible for approximately 40-50% of these cases. It is spread through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include fever, sneezing, eye irritation or discharge, and difficulty breathing.
- Calicivirus: An upper respiratory virus that causes flu-like symptoms, including loss of appetite, mouth sores, difficulty breathing, runny eyes and nose, fever, and stiffness. This virus spreads through direct contact with the saliva, eye/nasal discharge, or sometimes the feces of infected cats.
- Panleukopenia: Caused by feline parvovirus, this disease is highly contagious, especially among unvaccinated outdoor cats. The virus is shed in all body fluids and feces. Symptoms include vomiting, fever, weight loss, lethargy, eye problems, and, if untreated, sudden death.
The FVRCP vaccine is essential in protecting your cat from these potentially life-threatening illnesses.
Keep Your Cat Safe From FeLV and Rabies With Vaccination
- Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): FeLV is the leading viral cause of death in cats, significantly weakening the immune system. It commonly leads to conditions such as anemia and lymphoma. The virus spreads through bodily fluids, including milk from an infected mother, and outdoor cats are at risk through bites from infected cats. Symptoms include loss of appetite, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, pale or inflamed gums, bacterial infections, seizures, and behavioral changes. Although cats can live with FeLV for several years, there is no cure for this virus.
- Rabies: Rabies is a core vaccine required by law in Colorado for both cats and dogs. The disease is primarily transmitted through bites from infected wildlife. While rabies was once rare in our area, recent outbreaks have resulted in an increase in the number of infected wild and domestic animals. Rabies is 100% fatal once symptoms appear, and there is no cure. The only definitive way to diagnose rabies is by sending the animal’s brain tissue for sampling.
