(319) 351-4256
Please also see our physical exam page.
| Age | Distemper* | Coronavirus | Rabies | Heartworm** | Other |
| 6 wks | X | X | Treat for intestinal worms, discuss feeding and behavior | ||
| 9 wks | X | X | Discuss flea control | ||
| 12 wks | X | X (or 15 wks) | Begin monthly prophylaxis | Discuss heartworm | |
| 15 wks | X | Discuss spay/neuter | |||
| 18 wks | X | High risk animals only (Dobies, Rotties, kennels) | |||
| annual | X | X (3 yr**) | Test*** and continue prophylaxis |
"Vaccine schedules are made to be broken." We often tailor vaccine schedules to clients' and animals' needs. Please call us if you have questions, or special needs.
*Distemper vaccination-The "distemper vaccination" we use is actually a combined vaccine containing distemper virus, hepatitis virus, parainfluenza virus, parvovirus, and leptospira bacterin. Currently in puppies, parvovirus protection is at least as important as the distemper vaccination. But, we still call it the "distemper vaccination." Check our December 2000 newsletter for a detailed discussion of distemper vaccines.
**3 year rabies-The first rabies vaccine an animal receives is licensed for 1 year. The rabies vaccine we use is licensed for 3 years for the second and each additional administration.
***Heartworm testing-After 6 months of age, we recommend heartworm testing annually if there has been a lapse in administering the monthly preventative (any lapse at all, even if just a month). If dogs are on preventative year round, we recommend testing every second year. We primarily use Heartgard Plus. In addition to providing heartworm prevention, it also kills hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms.
| Age | "Distemper"* | Feline leukemia virus** | Rabies | FeLV/FIV test | Other |
| 6 wks | X | Treat for intestinal worms, discuss feeding | |||
| 9 wks | X | Discuss flea control | |||
| 12 wks | X | X | X | X | Discuss FeLV |
| 15 wks | X | X | Discuss spay/neuter | ||
| annual | X | X | X (3 yr***) |
"Vaccine schedules are made to be broken." We often tailor vaccine schedules to clients' and animals' needs. Please call us if you have questions, or special needs.
*"Distemper" in cats-Cats don't get distemper, but many people call the annual cat vaccination a "distemper vaccine." We use a vaccine that protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis virus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus. Dr. Allan Berger has a pet peeve and strongly dislikes calling it a "distemper vaccination," but since many people call it that it got labeled as such on our web site. :-/ grrr.
**FeLV-We recommend FeLV vaccination for outdoor cats, or multicat households. Indoor cats that don't have contact with other cats are vaccinated at the discretion of the owner.
***3 year rabies-The first rabies vaccine an animal receives is licensed for 1 year. The rabies vaccine we use is licensed for 3 years for the second and each additional administration.
| Age | Ferret distemper | Rabies | Other |
| 8 wks | X | ||
| 11 wks | X | Discuss flea control | |
| 14 wks | X | X | Discuss spay/neuter |
| annual | X | X |
Return to Bright Eyes & Bushy Tails home page.