Preventative Care for Puppies and Kittens

Vaccination Schedule:

• DA2P vaccination (prevention of canine distemper, canine adenovirus type 2, and parvovirus).
  • Administered every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
  • Dogs over 12 weeks of age with an unknown vaccination status will be given two vaccinations 3-4 weeks apart. After the second booster, this vaccination protects for one year.
• Rabies vaccination at 12 weeks of age or older and initially provides one year of protection.
• Leptospirosis and Lyme vaccinations are recommended for all dogs in New England. The initial vaccines for both will be a series of two vaccines given 3-4 weeks apart. Both vaccines will then be updated annually.
• We will discuss additional vaccines, such as Bordetella (kennel cough) or periodontal vaccine, with you, as most dogs need these.

Prevention and Testing:

• We recommend monthly heartworm and intestinal parasite prevention year-round, along with annual testing.
• We recommend testing for heartworm disease. This is a simple blood test performed during your pet’s annual examination and tests for exposure to Lyme, anaplasma, and Ehrlichia.
• Flea and tick preventatives are recommended monthly all year long.

Preventative Care for Kittens

What to Bring to Your Kitten’s First Exam:

• Your kitten in a pet carrier
• Any previous medical history (vaccines, deworming, etc.)
• A fecal sample less than 24 hours old

Exams Will Involve:

• Complete physical exam.
• Educational kitten kit and educational videos along with tips on kitten care and behavioral concerns. (1st exam)
• Recommendations on flea and tick control, heartworm, and intestinal parasite prevention.
• Fecal examination for intestinal parasites and appropriate deworming.
• Necessary vaccine boosters.
• Testing for FeLV/FIV is highly recommended (FeLV, feline leukemia virus, FIV: feline immunodeficiency virus).

Vaccination Schedule:

• FVRCP vaccination (prevention of feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia).
• Administered every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
• Rabies vaccine will be administered at 12 weeks or older and initially provides one year of protection.
• Additional vaccines such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) will be discussed with you and given based on your kitten’s lifestyle and risk.