Vaccination in the Healthy Dog and Cat

Vaccines are health products that trigger protective immune responses in pets and prepare them to fight future infections from disease-causing agents. Vaccines can lessen the severity of future diseases and certain vaccines can prevent infection altogether. For these and many other reasons it is important to vaccinate your pet to protect them against many highly contagious and deadly diseases. Experts agree that widespread use of vaccines within the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals.

Our veterinarians can help develop a vaccine protocol best suited to your pet. Generally all pets receive a series of vaccines that are completed by four months of age and are boostered one year later. No matter what vaccine protocol is followed, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) recommends an annual physical examination as the basis for your pet, and twice yearly examinations for your senior (over 7 years of age) pets. More frequent examinations may be needed for pets with special needs or disease conditions.

Puppies

Puppies should receive their first vaccination between 6 and 8 weeks of age, as this is when their maternal antibodies naturally begin to wane. Their second vaccine should be given 3-4 weeks after the initial vaccine (between 10 and 12 weeks of age), where a third booster should be given between 14 and 16 weeks of age. At this third visit, the puppy will also receive their initial rabies vaccine. 

Kittens

Healthy kittens 12 weeks or older should receive two doses of vaccine, administered 3-4 weeks apart. If the kitten is younger than 12 weeks of age upon initial vaccination, a three dose regimen should be followed. At the 16 week old visit the kitten will receive the initial rabies vaccine.