RESOURCES | |
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Pet Microchips Discussion of the benefits to microchipping your pet including pet health insurance |
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Intestinal Parasites Learn about to prevent your pet contacting intestinal parasites |
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Is It An Emergency? Signs of conditions requiring immediate veterinary care |
Your Vet's Pharmacy
Vaccinations
Dogs:
For the health and well-being of your pet, the veterinarians at Gehrman Animal Hospital recommend the following vaccines for your dog:
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Canine Distemper |
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Hepatitis |
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Parvovirus |
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Rabies |
All dogs, regardless of age, should receive vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and rabies. These are known as the
CORE vaccines. Of these, the distemper, hepatitis and parvo combo, also known as the DHP vaccine, is administered three times to a
young puppy starting at 6 to 8 weeks of age, at 12 weeks of age and at 16 weeks of age. The DHP vaccine is then boostered one year later
and then based on lifestyle and exposure, will be given every one to three years. The rabies vaccine is given once as a young puppy at 16
weeks of age, one year later, and every two years thereafter.
The need for additional vaccines will depend on your dog's lifestyle. These are called NonCORE vaccines, and include Lyme, Bordetella, Leptospirosis, Corona, and Parainfluenza vaccines. Speak with us at the time of a routine care visit about our recommendation for your animal. As a general guideline:
* If you board your pet, it is recommended that your pet is vaccinated against Bordetella, a highly contagious Bacterial/Viral disease known as "kennel cough". This vaccination is given on an annual basis.
* If your dog hunts with you or you travel to Northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, you may want to consider vaccinating against Lyme Disease. The vaccination is given in a series of two injections one month apart. It is an annual vaccination thereafter.
* Gehrman Animal Hospital also recommends vaccination against Leptospirosis for most dogs. This bacterial disease has shown significant rise in incidence since 2005 and could result in death or permanent organ damage. This inoculation also needs to be given twice the first year and yearly thereafter.
Because puppies are often infected with intestinal parasites from their mother, multiple doses of worm medication are routinely given. A stool sample should be tested at the time of the first and the third vaccinations. Intestinal parasites can be especially hard on younger animals, so it is important to diagnose and treat any of these infestations.
Cats:
Factors such as whether or not your cat is an indoor or outdoor pet, or whether or not he comes in contact with outdoor cats will determine your pet's recommended vaccinations.
The set of CORE vaccinations that all cats should receive are:
The need for additional vaccines will depend on your dog's lifestyle. These are called NonCORE vaccines, and include Lyme, Bordetella, Leptospirosis, Corona, and Parainfluenza vaccines. Speak with us at the time of a routine care visit about our recommendation for your animal. As a general guideline:
* If you board your pet, it is recommended that your pet is vaccinated against Bordetella, a highly contagious Bacterial/Viral disease known as "kennel cough". This vaccination is given on an annual basis.
* If your dog hunts with you or you travel to Northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, you may want to consider vaccinating against Lyme Disease. The vaccination is given in a series of two injections one month apart. It is an annual vaccination thereafter.
* Gehrman Animal Hospital also recommends vaccination against Leptospirosis for most dogs. This bacterial disease has shown significant rise in incidence since 2005 and could result in death or permanent organ damage. This inoculation also needs to be given twice the first year and yearly thereafter.
Because puppies are often infected with intestinal parasites from their mother, multiple doses of worm medication are routinely given. A stool sample should be tested at the time of the first and the third vaccinations. Intestinal parasites can be especially hard on younger animals, so it is important to diagnose and treat any of these infestations.
Cats:
Factors such as whether or not your cat is an indoor or outdoor pet, or whether or not he comes in contact with outdoor cats will determine your pet's recommended vaccinations.
The set of CORE vaccinations that all cats should receive are:
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FDVRTC, which is composed of Feline Distemper, Rhinotrachetis (a herpes virus), Calicivirus, and Chlamydia |
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Rabies |
FDVRTC vaccine is given three times to young kittens starting at 6 to 8 weeks of age, 12 weeks and 16 weeks of age. The vaccine
is boostered one year later and depending on the lifestyle of the cat every one to three years
thereafter.
The rabies vaccine is given at 16 weeks of age, one year later and then every three years (we recommend every two years in outdoor cats).
It is very important to keep up with your pet's vaccinations, especially those done in a series. If the subsequent vaccinations are not done in a timely manner, the series must be restarted.
NonCORE vaccinations include:
* Feline leukemia
* Feline infectious peritonitis
* Feline immundeficiency virus vaccines
Feline leukemia vaccine is recommended for cats going or living outdoors, and having the potential of being bitten by stray or carrier cats. The GAH does not recommend the use of the FIV or FIP vaccines.
The rabies vaccine is given at 16 weeks of age, one year later and then every three years (we recommend every two years in outdoor cats).
It is very important to keep up with your pet's vaccinations, especially those done in a series. If the subsequent vaccinations are not done in a timely manner, the series must be restarted.
NonCORE vaccinations include:
* Feline leukemia
* Feline infectious peritonitis
* Feline immundeficiency virus vaccines
Feline leukemia vaccine is recommended for cats going or living outdoors, and having the potential of being bitten by stray or carrier cats. The GAH does not recommend the use of the FIV or FIP vaccines.
