Puppy and Kitten Care
Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your home can be a fun and enjoyable experience for all; however, it is also an important time in your new pet’s life which requires several visits to the veterinarian’s office to ensure that he or she is thriving and receiving the proper care early on in life.
New puppies require a series of several vaccines before they are considered fully vaccinated. At each visit your puppy will receive a full exam and the issues below will be addressed.
- Vaccine Protocol (individualized to the unique lifestyle and risk factors of each patient)
* Please note that our vaccine protocols are based on the recommendations of immunologists (The American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Task Force)
- Diet & Nutrition
- Housebreaking
- Behavior
- Obedience classes
- Monthly heartworm, flea and tick preventatives
- Recommendations on spaying or neutering your pet
- Fecal Exam (checks for any intestinal parasites)
VACCINE PROTOCOL
CORE VACCINATIONS (CANINE)
- DAPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus,)
- Distemper is an acute viral disease that attacks the digestive, respiratory and nervous systems. This disease is extremely contagious and can be fatal in puppies.
- Adenovirus is a viral infection which leads to inflammation of the liver.
- Parvovirus is a common and highly contagious disease which attacks the intestines and bone marrow.
- Parainfluenza is a virus which can cause a contagious respiratory infection, and although is considered a non-core or optional vaccine, we highly recommend this to be part of the puppy vaccine series but due to longevity of immunity, it is not included in our adult, 3 year vaccine).
- DAPP vaccines will be given every 3-4 weeks until a puppy has reached at least 16 weeks of age.
- RABIES
- This vaccine is required by Massachusetts state law.
- Puppies receive a one-year vaccine no earlier than 12 weeks of age. If this vaccine is boostered within a 9-12 month period, the dog will be eligible to receive a three-year Rabies vaccine at the next annual visit.
NON-CORE VACCINATIONS (CANINE)
- LEPTOSPIROSIS
- A bacterial disease in dogs causing internal bleeding, jaundice, and kidney failure. This disease is transmitted by contact with infected animals (i.e. other dogs or wildlife) urine or a contaminated water source.
- Puppies require a series of two vaccines, given two-four weeks apart. This vaccine is then boostered annually.
- LYME
- A tick-borne inflammatory disease in dogs that causes joint swelling, shifting leg lameness, high fever, and in some cases, kidney failure.
- Due to the prevalence of Lyme disease in our area, we recommend that dogs in this area consider vaccination combined with good tick prevention programs.
- Puppies require a series of two vaccines given two-four weeks apart. This vaccine is then boostered annually.
- BORDETELLA
- This vaccine prevents against infectious tracheobronchitis (kennel cough)
- Required by many boarding, grooming, daycare, and training facilities.
- The vaccine is available as a nasal drop, oral solution and an injectable. The nasal and oral vaccines only require a single dose to be administered. The injectable form of this vaccine requires a series of two vaccines given two-four weeks apart.
- Bordetella can be administered at any time during the initial puppy series. It is then boostered at subsequent annual visits.
- CANINE INFLUENZA
- This is an upper respiratory virus with symptoms similar to kennel cough, only more severe.
- Several local boarding, grooming and daycare facilities require this vaccine. Please make sure to inform your veterinarian if you will be bringing your pet to one of these facilities so that the vaccine can be administered.
- Dogs require two doses of this vaccine initially, two-four weeks apart. It is then boostered at subsequent annual visit if still required.
KITTENS
New kittens require a series of several vaccines before they are considered fully vaccinated. At each visit your kitten will receive a full exam and the issues below will be addressed.
- Vaccine Protocol (may vary from patient to patient)
- Feline Aids and Feline Leukemia testing
- Recommendations on spaying or neutering your pet
- Fecal Exam (checks for any intestinal parasites)
- Deworming
- Flea and tick preventatives
- Litter box recommendations
- Play and enrichment activities
- Nail trims and scratching posts
CORE VACCINES (FELINE)
- RABIES
- This vaccine is required by Massachusetts state law.
- Kittens receive a one-year vaccine no earlier than 12 weeks of age. If this vaccine is boostered within a 9-12 month period, the cat will be eligible to receive a three-year Rabies vaccine at the next annual visit.
- FVRCP (Feline Rhinotracheitis Calici Panleukopenia)
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory disease which affects the eyes, mouth and nose.
- Calicivirus is a group of viruses that cause upper respiratory infections.
- Panleukopenia is a viral disease which affects the digestive and immune systems.
- Kittens receive 3 doses of this vaccine every three-four weeks until they are 16 weeks of age.
- This vaccine should always be administered in the right front leg. Due to the association of vaccines and cancer in cats, you should always be aware of where a vaccine is given and check that site periodically for lumps.
- After the initial series is completed, a single dose will be administered at the next annual visit. This vaccine is considered to be good for 3 years.
NON CORE VACCINES (FELINE)
- FELINE LEUKEMIA
- A disease which affects the blood and weakens the immune system.
- This vaccine is only recommended for outdoor cats or any cat that has contact with an outdoor cat.
- Kittens receive a series of two vaccines, given three-four weeks apart. This vaccine is boostered annually when there is risk of exposure.
- This vaccine should always be administered in the left rear leg. Due to the association of vaccines and cancer in cats, you should always be aware of where a vaccine is given and check that site periodically for lumps.
- FELINE AIDS AND LEUKEMIA TESTING
- All kittens and new feline patients without proof of a negative aids and leukemia test will have an in-house feline aids and leukemia test performed at the first visit.
Currently, research is ongoing regarding feline injection site tumors (sarcomas). Recent knowledge has linked an increased risk with vaccines that contain immune stimulates, called adjuvants. As a result, here at East Bridgewater Verterinary, we carry non-adjuvanted vaccines to reduce this risk in our patients. Although more costly, there is evidence to suggest that these vaccines are 10x less likely to cause tumor formation, which is a risk associated with all vaccines in cats and your cat's well-being is our top priority.
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