Vaccinations

Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent diseases by training your pet’s immune system to recognize and fight dangerous infections before they can cause illness. Many of these infectious diseases can be severe, life-threatening, or difficult to treat.

Preventing zoonotic diseases by vaccination also keeps your family safe and healthy. For example, Rabies and Leptospirosis are two infectious diseases that can be transmitted from pets to people.

Vaccination supports community health by limiting the spread of contagious diseases in local pet populations as well as pets who cannot be vaccinated.

Preventative care is far less costly and stressful than treating severe illness. Vaccines offer a simple, highly affordable way to keep your pet protected.

CORE VACCINATIONS FOR PUPPIES AND DOGS

  • Rabies: A fatal viral disease that affects the nervous system including the brain, and can be transmitted to humans. Any direct exposure to a bat should prompt an urgent rabies vaccination, whether a pet is up-to-date with rabies vaccination or not.

  • DAPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza)

    Distemper (Canine Distemper Virus): A serious viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system and can be life-threatening.

    Adenovirus (Canine hepatitis): A viral infection that can cause severe liver disease, respiratory illness, and other serious complications.

    Parvovirus: Also known as parvo, this highly contagious virus causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, and is especially dangerous in puppies.

CORE VACCINATIONS FOR KITTNES AND CATS

  • Rabies: A fatal viral disease that affects the nervous system including the brain, and can be transmitted to humans. Any direct exposure to a bat should prompt an urgent rabies vaccination, whether a pet is up-to-date with rabies vaccination or not. Even indoor cats are at risk.

  • FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)

    Feline Viral Herpesvirus (Rhinotracheitis): A common and highly contagious cause of upper respiratory infection in cats, leading to sneezing, eye discharge, and nasal congestion.

    Feline Calicivirus: A viral infection that spreads easily and can cause respiratory disease and painful mouth ulcers.

    Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper): A highly contagious virus that suppresses the immune system and causes severe gastrointestinal illness. This virus has a high mortality rate in young kittens.

  • Feline Leukemia Virus: A viral infection that weakens the immune system and can lead to serious illness. It is considered core for kittens, and is recommended for adult cats with outdoor access or exposure to other cats.

Wellness Consultations

Regular full-body checkups are essential for your pet’s lifelong health. Pets instinctively hide pain and illness, so routine preventative care helps catch subtle health and behavior changes before they become serious problems. In addition to a nose-to-tail examination, we will focus these consultations on:

  • lifestyle-directed vaccinations, deworming, and flea/tick prevention

  • nutrition and weight management

  • oral hygiene

  • chronic disease prevention and management

  • health screening tests if warranted

We require an annual wellness consultation to maintain our veterinary-client-patient relationship. A bi-annual (every 6 month) wellness consultation is recommended for senior pets and for pets with complex health needs and monitoring.

Catching health issues early leads to easier treatments, lower heath care costs, and better outcomes. Routine checkups do more than spot problems, they help your pet stay comfortable and thrive for years to come.

NON-CORE VACCINATIONS FOR PUPPIES AND DOGS

  • Kennel cough (Bordetella and Parainfluenza): Contagious respiratory infections that cause coughing and spread easily in places where dogs gather, such as dog parks, boarding facilities, daycare, and grooming salons.

  • Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection spread through contaminated water, soil or wildlife exposure that can cause kidney and liver failure. It can also be transmitted to humans. This bacteria is shed by wildlife (eg. urban rodents, raccoons, skunks, deer) through their urine into the environment. Victoria’s mild, wet climate during the fall and winter creates an ideal breeding ground for this bacteria.

NON-CORE VACCINATIONS FOR KITTNES AND CATS

  • Feline Leukemia Virus: A viral infection that weakens the immune system and can lead to serious illness. It is considered core for kittens, and is recommended for adult cats with outdoor access or exposure to other cats.