Veterinary Protocols

Dog Protocols

• According to Texan veterinarian L.K. Knowles, the owner and manager of Veterinary Medical Care, puppies should have their first vaccinations of distemper/parvo at 6 weeks of age. They should receive a booster shot at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. Pups that are boarded or attend grooming salons or that are frequently around other dogs should also have a Bordetella shot at 12 and 16 weeks. Puppies should also receive a rabies vaccination at 12 weeks with no ensuing booster shots.

  Adult dogs need to be revaccinated for distemper/parvo every year until they are 3 or 4 years of age. Then they should be revaccinated every three years up to the age of 8 or 9, at which time the distemper/parvo can be discontinued. Across the United States, local cities and counties have a legal right to require rabies vaccinations more frequently, generally once a year. No harm will come to your pet if you have it vaccinated against rabies every year. According to the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, other vaccines available for dogs are hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, corona virus and Giardia.

Cat Protocols

• Veterinarian L.K. Knowles recommends that kittens receive their three-way distemper vaccinations when they are 9 weeks of age followed by a booster at 12 and 16 weeks of age. Annual boosters are required for three to four years and then every three years until the cat is 8 or 9 years of age. Leukemia vaccines for cats start at 9 weeks and are followed by a booster shot at 12 weeks. Booster shots of the leukemia vaccine is recommended for cats who go outside as they are more likely to come in contact with an infected cat. Rabies shots are the same as for dogs; in Texas, for example, they must be given every three years after two initial vaccinations which are given a year apart. Again, pet regulations may vary from city to county so you will need to check with your local veterinary authority in order to ensure that your pet meets their protocols.

  According to the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, other vaccines for cats include feline calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis, ringworm, Chlamydia, feline infectious peritonitis, Bordatella, FIV, Giardia and Panleukopenia. Consult with your local veterinarian to determine if your cat needs any further vaccines.

Flea Treatment and Heartworm Protocols

• According to Veterinarian L.K. Knowles, you should use a liquid remedy for treating flea infestation and apply it to the back of your pet, either dog or cat, just above its shoulders at the back of its neck; do not bathe your pet for at least two days after application. Apply once a month as needed.

  Adult dogs may have heartworms residing in the right ventricle of their heart. These worms are 4 to 18 inches long and look like thin spaghetti strands. Preventative heartworm medications stop the process of larvae growth so if you treat your dog once a month, you will be able to stop the larval infection. In the event that you miss one or more pill doses, begin the medication again as soon as you can and continue administering it to your dog.