Vaccine Schedule
Vaccination plays an important role in the control of infectious diseases, both for an individual pet and the general population. Certain vaccinations are required, others are strongly encouraged, and some are only necessary depending on your pet’s lifestyle. Here we provide information to help you decide which vaccines are best for your pet. Please feel welcome to ask any questions during your appointment.
Cat Vaccine Schedule
- Protects against deadly disease rabies, which can spread from pets to humans
- REQUIRED in the Commonwealth of Virginia, strongly encouraged in California
- First dose: 12 weeks of age or older
- Booster shots: requires a booster shot one year after the first shot, then every one to three years (depending on the product used)
- Protects against herpesvirus-1 + calicivirus + panleukopenia
- Strongly recommended to ALL cats
- Minimum age requirement 6-weeks old
- First series – Kittens: one dose every 3–4 weeks until older than 16 weeks of age
- First series – Adults: Administer two doses, 3–4 weeks apart
- Boosters: necessary 1 year after first series of shots, then every 1-3 years depending on the product used
- Protects against deadly feline leukemia
- Strongly recommended to all kittens under 1 year old, and adult cats who spend time outdoors or interact with other cats that spend time outdoors
- Minimum age requirement: 8-weeks old
- First series: 2 doses, 3 – 4 weeks apart
- Boosters: necessary 1 year after the first series of shots, then every 2 years for low-risk cats and 1-year for high-risk cats
Dog Vaccination Schedule
- Protects against the deadly disease rabies, which can spread from pets to humans
- REQUIRED in Virginia and California
- First dose: 12 weeks of age or older
- Booster shots: 1 year after the first series of shots is complete, then repeat every 3 years
- One vaccine that protects against 4 deadly viruses: distemper, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza and parvovirus
- STRONGLY RECOMMENDED for all dogs
- First series: The initial series of this vaccine should be started as soon as your puppy is older than 6 weeks and vaccines are given every 2-4 weeks until your puppy is older than 16 weeks of age.
- Boosters: 1 year after the first series of shots is complete, then repeat every 3 years
- Protects against Bordetella bronchiseptica which is a component of Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis, also known as kennel cough
- Recommended for dogs that visit dog parks, grooming facilities, boarding facilities or doggie daycare. Also recommended if you regularly foster dogs or your dog is frequently around dogs with unknown vaccine history.
- First dose: This vaccine only requires one dose to be initially effective and can be given as early as 3 weeks of age.
- Boosters: Every 6 – 12 months depending on level of risk
- Protects your dog against developing leptospirosis – a serious illness that is often treatable but sometimes deadly. It can permanently damage kidney and liver function. This disease is zoonotic meaning it can be transmitted to people.
- Recommended for dogs that spend time near wildlife. This disease is spread through water and dogs that spend time in lakes, rivers or streams are particularly at risk.
- First dose: This vaccine requires an initial series of two vaccines given 3-4 weeks apart and can be started as early as 8 weeks of age although it is recommended to start after your puppy is older than 12 weeks.
- Boosters: required annually, 1-year after first series
- Protects against Lyme disease, which causes lifelong damage to vital organs
- Recommended for dogs that have high exposure to ticks. Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas or tall grasses. Good tick prevention should be first line for preventing Lyme disease in your dog.
- First series: This vaccine requires an initial series of two vaccines given 3-4 weeks apart and can be started as early as 8 weeks of age although it is recommended to start after your puppy is older than 12 weeks.
- Boosters: required annually, 1-year after first series
- Recommended for dogs that are frequently at boarding facilities or doggie daycare.
- First Series: two vaccines given 3-4 weeks apart and can be started as early as eight weeks of age, although it is recommended to start after your puppy is older than 12 weeks.
- Boosters: required annually, 1-year after first series
