Cat & Dog Vaccines

Prepare your pet's body to fight diseases

Northeast Animal Hospital can help prepare your cat’s body to fight common (and not-so-common) diseases that are contagious and deadly. And we can do even more: A Cat Wellness Exam can help us care for the total health of your pet. Please come in, or call us, to learn more.

Here are some other things to know about vaccinations:

Vaccines have been saving lives for over 200 years, and new vaccines are always in development.
The risk of side effects from vaccination is far less than the risk posed by the disease itself.
Possible reactions to a vaccine include swelling and/or redness around the injection site, malaise, loss of appetite, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or lameness.
If your pet has a history of reactions to vaccination, you may wait at least 30 minutes in the hospital’s reception area after treatment, in case any immediate reaction occurs.
If you think your pet is having an adverse reaction to a vaccine, please call your veterinarian right away.

Very important in preventing disease is a proper vaccination protocol that is designed for each pet. Our vaccination program takes into consideration each pet’s age and lifestyle, so only the needed vaccinations are given.

What vaccinations will you provide my cat?

Vaccinations, properly given, are extremely important in preventing some potential and very serious diseases from occurring in cats and, in some instances, spreading to humans.

Feline Distemper and Respiratory Disease
Feline Leukemia (if needed)
Rabies

Our core vaccinations for felines include those against rabies, feline distemper (panleukopenia), and respiratory disease (rhinotracheitis and calicivirus).

Core vaccinations (except rabies, described below) can be administered once every three years after the initial kitten and one-year boosters, or more frequently depending on the likelihood of exposure to these conditions. Cat owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine the best schedule for vaccinations.

Rabies vaccination of cats is required by law in the state of Florida. Cats should be vaccinated for rabies annually after the initial treatment, or as recommended. The veterinarian will provide the cat owner, and the local animal control authority, with a certificate of rabies vaccination.

Rhinotracheitis and calicivirus are upper respiratory diseases. Feline distemper, or panleukopenia virus, is a very severe disease that attacks the cat’s immune system and causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms, and can be deadly if the cat is not protected.

The other vaccination that may be recommended by our veterinarians for cats of a certain status (such as age, breed, history, lifestyle, and environment) is the feline leukemia virus (FeLV). This vaccination may be suggested for kittens, outdoor cats, and indoor cats who are exposed to outdoor cats.

Which vaccinations will you give my dog?

Vaccinations protect your pets from diseases as well as other problems that could arise. There are numerous vaccines available in the United States; not all are recommended for every pet. We try to tailor vaccines to each pet’s lifestyle and exposure risks, knowing what is more likely to be encountered in our geographic area. These may include:

Canine Distemper, Respiratory Disease, Hepatitis, Parvovirus
Canine Influenza (H3N2/H3N8)
Kennel Cough
Leptospirosis
Lyme Disease
Rabies

Core vaccinations for dogs include canine distemper (paramyxovirus), canine hepatitis, respiratory disease (adenovirus 2), canine parvovirus, and rabies. These vaccinations are recommended for all dogs. Schedules for various vaccinations vary according to the vaccine and the age of your dog. But after initial treatments through the puppy stage, re-vaccinations are generally scheduled every 1 to 3 years.

Both canine distemper and canine parvovirus are commonly encountered and can cause severe suffering and death in unprotected dogs.

Your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccinations depending on your dog’s age, breed, history, lifestyle, and environment. These include canine influenza, kennel cough (bordetella and parainfluenza), leptospirosis, and Lyme disease. As with core vaccinations, re-vaccination schedules vary for these additional vaccinations.

Be aware that rabies vaccinations for dogs are required by law in the state of Florida. Dogs should be vaccinated every 1 to 3 years. The veterinarian will provide the dog owner, and the local animal control authority, with a certificate of rabies vaccination.

Please call us if you have any questions about your pet’s vaccinations.
Northeast (727) 822-8501 | Downtown (727) 755-7387