Summit Veterinary Services
(515) 462-3711

Vaccinations

For Dogs

We follow the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommendations for vaccinating dogs. Core vaccines, which are universally recommended for all dogs, include Rabies, Distemper, Adenovirus, and Parvovirus. The core vaccines are actually only comprised of two vaccinations – Rabies and a combination vaccine that includes Distemper, Adenovirus, and Parvovirus.

  • Rabies is given to all puppies at or after 16 weeks of age and again 1 year later. If the vaccination is performed prior to the expiration date, it will have a 3 year duration. However, even if it is 1 day overdue, it will be a 1 year vaccination.
  • All puppies require the Distemper-Parvo-Adenovirus (AKA DHPP) vaccine starting at 6-8 weeks of age. Vaccinations are performed every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is 4 months old. Most puppies will get 3 rounds of this vaccine. Puppies require a series of vaccinations due to the mother’s antibodies that the puppy gets from her milk. These antibodies can counteract the vaccination, making it ineffective. We give puppies shots every 3-4 weeks because we never know when the mother’s antibodies will dissipate. Another reason that we vaccinate frequently is because this vaccine requires a booster to be effective.

Leptospirosis is not considered a core vaccine to some practitioners. Leptospirosis is transmitted through the urine of wildlife and lives in free-standing water such as puddles, ponds, rivers, and lakes – making virtually all dogs exposed. At MCVC, we believe all animals are exposed to this bacteria. Therefore, all dogs do receive Leptospirosis which is incorporated into the combination vaccine and does not require an extra injection.

Non-core vaccines are administered based on the lifestyle of your dog and include Bordetella (kennel cough) and Lyme disease. The decision to vaccinate your dog with a non-core vaccine must be made on an individual basis. If your dog visits areas where there is a large volume of dogs such as the groomer, kennel or boarding facility, dog park, etc., we recommended Bordetella annually. If your dog is in an area with a large tick population (i.e. wooded area, hunting dogs, farm dogs), we recommend an annual Lyme disease vaccination.

For Cats

We follow the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) guidelines on cat vaccinations. The suggested core vaccines for cats are Rabies, feline Panleukopenia (Distemper), feline viral Rhinotracheitis, and feline Calicivirus. The core vaccines for cats are actually only comprised of two vaccinations – Rabies and a combination vaccine that includes Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, and Calicivirus.

  • Rabies is given to all kittens at or after 16 weeks of age and again 1 year later. If the vaccination is performed prior to the expiration date, it will have a 3 year duration. However, even if it is 1 day overdue, it will be a 1 year vaccination.
  • All kittens require the Rhinotracheitis-Calicivirus-Panleukopenia (AKA FVRCP) vaccine starting at 6-8 weeks of age. Vaccinations are performed every 3-4 weeks until the kitten is 4 months old. Most kittens will get 3 rounds of this vaccine. Kittens require a series of vaccinations due to the mother’s antibodies that the kitten gets from her milk. These antibodies can counteract the vaccination, making it ineffective. We give kittens shots every 3-4 weeks because we never know when the mother’s antibodies will dissipate. Another reason that we vaccinate frequently is because this vaccine requires a booster to be effective.

There is one non-core vaccine available for cats which is feline Leukemia virus (FeLV). The decision to vaccinate your cat with FeLV must be made on an individual basis. If your cat has any contact with other cats (other than your other indoor cats, i.e. outside feral cats), we recommend vaccinating for FeLV. This vaccine can be incorporated into the FVRCP vaccine or given separately. FeLV is an annual vaccine. The AAFP suggests that all kittens, because they are most susceptible and their lifestyles may change, shoulder receive an initial FeLV vaccination series.

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