Vaccinations
Every dog, cat, and ferret needs some vaccinations. Whether you have indoor cats that never leave the house, a dog that lives outside, or a ferret that lives alone, all of them need to be vaccinated against contagious, life-threatening illnesses that can be prevented with immunization. Proper vaccination can prevent several diseases which cannot be successfully treated and can kill beloved pets. This is the situation with diseases such as feline leukemia, distemper, rabies, and many cases of parvovirus. Happily, the vaccines are so effective that proper vaccination will prevent almost all healthy pets from contracting these illnesses. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that your pet's vaccinations are kept current and that you discuss these vaccinations with the doctors so that your pet can receive the proper vaccines at the proper intervals.
After examining your pet, our doctor will recommend the proper immunization protocol for your specific pet. The schedule will be based on a variety of factors, including your pet's age, health, breed, prior vaccinations, potential exposure to diseases, and lifestyle. A ten year old dog that never leaves the house will require a different vaccine protocol than a two year old show dog. And an indoor cat may require different vaccines than one that lives outside. In addition, all kittens, puppies, and young ferrets must receive a series of vaccines to make sure they are adequately protected. Most adult cats and dogs will receive distemper vaccinations that are good for three years. Some of the vaccines recommended in our area include:
- Dogs
- Distemper
Parvovirus
Parainfluenza
Hepatitis
Leptospirosis
Lyme disease
Kennel cough (Bordetella)
Rabies
Dental disease vaccine (Porphyromonas)
- Cats
- Distemper (feline panleukopenia)
- Feline rhinotracheitis
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline leukemia
- Rabies
- Ferrets
- Distemper
- Rabies
North Hampton Animal Hospital requires that all pets be examined prior to receiving vaccinations in order to assure a proper veterinarian-client-patient relationship. This ensures that your pet is as healthy as possible, so the vaccines will work correctly. Pets with illnesses, organ problems, or parasites may not be able to respond properly to the vaccines and the vaccines may not work as well as needed. Our veterinarian may suggest fecal examinations, blood screening, or other laboratory tests to make sure that your pet is in tiptop shape before being vaccinated.
Many of the vaccines are given as combination injections. So do not be surprised to find that your pet is vaccinated against five or even six contagious illnesses with only one injection! Additionally, some vaccines, such as kennel cough, do not always require an injection. Instead, the vaccine can be simply administered through painless nose drops. Finally, the doctor will let you know if your pet requires boosters of the vaccines. This is a requirement in young pets, as they receive periodic booster injections until they are at least 15-17 weeks old. Boosters are also often needed for older pets with no history of vaccinations. Rescued stray pets may need two injections, approximately 3-4 weeks apart, to ensure proper immunity.
The vaccine needs of adult pets will vary and the doctor will design an individualized vaccine booster program to meet your pet's needs. Some pets will need some vaccines every year, some may have blood tests to check their immunity levels, and some will only need vaccines every three years. Most adult dogs and cats will require boosters at three year intervals. Our doctors understand that you may have many questions about the proper vaccines for your pet. We look forward to answering any questions and developing a vaccine schedule that meets your pet's unique needs.