Vaccinations, Testing, & Dewormers

Dogs must be at least 12 weeks of age prior to administration. Rabies is a fatal virus that attacks the nervous system of animals and people. State law requires current vaccination. After the initial one-year vaccine, a three-year vaccination is available if the previous vaccination is current and can be documented.

• Distemper (D) – an often fatal virus affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system.
• Adenovirus (A) – type 1 – infectious canine hepatitis – type 2 – a virus affecting the respiratory system
• Leptospirosis (L) – a bacterial disease that can cause kidney and liver damage, hemorrhaging – can be spread to humans
• Parainfluenza (P) – a sometimes fatal virus affecting the respiratory system
• Parvovirus (P) – an often fatal virus that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea

Dogs must be at least 8 weeks of age prior to administration. Recommended for dogs that are boarded, groomed, or exposed to other dogs outside the household. Bordatella is a bacterial infection associated with kennel cough, affecting the respiratory system.

The most common internal parasites are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. These parasites can be present for long periods prior to any abnormal gastrointestinal signs.

• Drontal® kills hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and tapeworm.
• Strongid® kills hookworm and roundworm.

Recommended worming frequency: Puppies – every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old, then again at 16 weeks. Adult dogs – deworm 1-4 times per year if not on heartworm preventive. Additional deworming is not necessary if on Sentinel Spectrum heartworm preventative.

Cats must be at least 12 weeks of age prior to administration. Rabies is a fatal virus that attacks the nervous system of animals and people. State law requires current vaccination. After the initial one-year vaccine, a three-year vaccination is available if the previous vaccination is current and can be documented.

Kittens must be 8 weeks old for their first vaccine and will need a booster every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks old, and then once more at one year old. A booster is needed every 3 years after the initial kitten series and first year booster.

• Rhinotracheitis (R ) a virus that affects the respiratory system and eyes
• Calicvirus (C ) a virus that affects the upper respiratory system and eyes
• Panleukopenia (P) distemper virus, an often fatal virus that causes severe fever and illness

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is usually a fatal virus that weakens the immune system so that the affected cannot fight other infections. The disease is spread from cat to cat via bodily fluids, such as bite wounds and sexual contact. It is rarely spread through shared food, water bowls, and litter boxes. The virus usually dies within a few minutes outside the cat’s body.

Cats must be at least 8 weeks old. A booster is needed 3-4 weeks following initial vaccination and again at one year. Vaccinate annually for cats that go outdoors and come in contact with cats of unknown FeLV status.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is usually a fatal virus that weakens the immune system to the point that the affected cat cannot fight other infections. The disease is spread from cat to cat via bodily fluids, such as bite wounds and sexual contact. The virus usually dies within a few minutes outside the cat’s body. Pets Alive offers a combination FeLV / FIV test and FeLV vaccine. A FeLV test is recommended but not required before vaccination, since vaccination is not effective on FeLV-positive cats.

FIV vaccination does not provide a high degree of protection and causes the vaccinated cat to produce a positive result when tested for FIV. Accordingly, Pets Alive does not offer this vaccination. Testing is recommended every 6 months for cats who are outdoors and/or exposed to other cats of unknown exposure history.

The most common internal parasites are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. These parasites can be present for long periods prior to any abnormal gastrointestinal signs. Drontal® is a dewormer that kills hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and tapeworm. Strongid® kills hookworm and roundworm. Recommended worming frequency for kittens is every two weeks until 12 weeks old, then again at 16 weeks; adult cats one time per year.