Preventive Vaccinations for Cats & Dogs
At River Oak Veterinary Hospital, we focus on preventative care in order to keep common diseases and conditions from ever arising in your companion in the first place.
When combined with routine wellness exams, parasite prevention treatments and pet vaccinations are your pet's best chance at a long, healthy and happy life.
Preventive care forms the core of your pet's healthcare routine. At your pet checkups, our team will work with you to create a customized prevention plan for your pet, tailored to their needs.
Dog & Cat Vaccinations & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Up-to-date dog and cat vaccinations are key when it comes to protecting your pet from a variety of contagious, and often dangerous, diseases. Additionally, having your pet spayed or neutered helps to prevent the birth of unwanted litters. Not only that, but these elective surgeries can help to protect your pet against some serious kinds of cancer. They may also prevent undesirable behaviors like howling, scooting, roaming and aggression.
Cat Vaccinations
In their first year of life, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
While the following are not cat vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents them from fathering kittens and from various illnesses. This surgery can also help to prevent them from roaming, howling, exhibiting aggression and marking their territory by spraying,
- Microchipping - A microchip is a piece of electronic identification the size of a grain of rice. It is placed beneath your cat's skin. Pets that are microchipped have a much better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies need these shots to protect them from dangerous diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- 10 to 12 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
- Lyme Vaccine (Optional)
- Influenza (Optional)
- Rattlesnake #1 (Optional)
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
- Lyme Vaccine (Optional)
- Influenza (Optional)
- Rattlesnake #2 (Optional)
Although the following are not dog vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but can also help to prevent certain forms of cancer. It will also put a stop to heat cycles which will attract roaming male pups to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protecting your dog from a number of serious cancers, and helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
- 12 to 16 Months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Parasite Prevention
Parasites pose a serious health threat to people and animals in the Central Valley area. Left untreated, parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and in some cases can even be transmitted to other people or pets living in your household. Our parasite prevention products and preventive vaccinations can help protect your dog or cat from the following common parasites:
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites. They feed on the blood of mammals and birds. If untreated, fleas are able to quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
These external parasites consume the blood of mammals and are responsible for the spread of a number of serious conditions in people and pets.
Ear Mites
Tiny, highly contagious ear mites reside in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals. These parasites reproduce continuously throughout their lifespan.
Heartworm
This parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites, making its home in your pet's heart, blood vessels and lungs. These parasites can be deadly if untreated.
Hookworm
These parasites live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs where they feed on the pet's blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.
Roundworm
This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can rob your pet of vital nutrients necessary to stay healthy.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms are spread through the ingestion of infected fleas during grooming. These hook-like parasitic worms live and grow in your pet's intestines.
Whipworm
Whipworms are spread through the ingestion of soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.