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At Chapel Hill Veterinary Clinic, we believe that pet vaccinations are an important part of living with a pet. Dog and cat vaccinations will spare your best friend a lot of needless suffering and save you a lot of money on medical treatments.
Pet vaccinations are usually divided into core and non-core type vaccinations. All dogs and cats should receive core vaccines, unless they are sick, allergic to vaccines, or the vaccine cannot be administered due to extenuating circumstances. Veterinarians can determine which vaccines are best for individual cats and dogs during their annual physical exam, depending on their history and lifestyle.
We administer vaccines for both cats and dogs at our Orléans clinic according to standard protocols:
The 2 canine core vaccines are the rabies and DHPP vaccines. These pet vaccinations in Ottawa should be administered every 4 weeks when your dog is still a puppy according to the following schedule:
8 weeks of age: DHPP vaccine
12 weeks of age: DHPP vaccine
16 weeks of age: DHPP and rabies vaccines
Non-core vaccines include Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and Lyme disease vaccines. They are administered if your veterinarian deems that your dog’s lifestyle puts him or her at risk of exposure. Several factors can influence such a decision, such as whether your dog meets other dogs or animals and the area that you live in. Our veterinarians would be happy to discuss these vaccines with you.
Bordetella, also known as infectious canine tracheobronchitis or kennel cough, is a type of cold that dogs can get from other sick dogs. The vaccine should be administered at least 2 weeks before you plan on bringing your dog into contact with other dogs, such as at a dog run, a boarding facility, or a puppy daycare.
Feline Vaccine Protocol
Core Vaccines for Cats
The two core feline vaccines are the FVRCP and rabies vaccines. Cats should be vaccinated every four weeks when they are still kittens according to the following schedule:
8 weeks of age: FVRCP vaccine
12 weeks of age: FVRCP vaccine
16 weeks of age: FVRCP and rabies vaccines
FVRCP
The FVRCP vaccine protects your cat against rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus), calicivirus, and panleukopenia, which are severe and highly contagious respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses. Cats should receive their first FVRCP vaccine when they are 8 weeks old and then every 4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old.
Rabies Vaccine
Both indoor and outdoor cats should be vaccinated against rabies as the disease can easily be transmitted to humans and because there is no way to guarantee that your cat will not accidentally end up outside and possibly meet another animal, cats should be vaccinated starting at 16 weeks of age. Cats should receive a booster shot 1 year after the first vaccine, regardless of how old they were when they got their first shot.
At Chapel Hill Veterinary Clinic, we may recommend the Feline Leukemia vaccine depending on your pet’s lifestyle. Factors that might influence why we recommend this vaccine for your cat would be, if your cat is outdoors or lives in a multiple cat household
*Protocols adapted from:
2011 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines
Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats by Étienne Côté
Not sure if your dog or cat was vaccinated as a puppy or kitten? Don’t worry! It’s never too late to vaccinate a healthy pet. Contact us today to book a vaccination appointment.
Call to Book an Appointment for Cat and Dog Vaccinations in Ottawa and Orleans.