Pet Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention in Westminster
Our veterinarians at Wachusett Animal Hospital focus their attention on keeping your cat or dog safe from common disorders and diseases with preventive care. We believe the key to maintaining your pet's good health is to prevent any problems from happening in the first place.
Routine wellness exams, parasite prevention and cat and dog vaccinations form the foundation of your pet's routine healthcare.
Preventive care is your pet's best shot at living a long and healthy life. Our veterinary team will work with you to develop a customized preventative health care plan tailored to meet your cat or dog's needs.
Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
It's essential for your pet's health to keep their vaccinations current and up to date because it keeps them safe from a variety of contagious and often serious, diseases. Getting your cat or dog spayed or neutered doesn't just avert the birth of unwanted litters; these common veterinary surgeries also help protect your pet from a handful of serious cancers. They can also help prevent undesirable behaviors like animal aggression, howling, scooting and roaming.
Cat Vaccinations
In the first year of their lives, there are shots kittens need to get in order to protect them from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Distemper
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Rabies - Our recommendation is the 1-year Purevax Rabies vaccine. It provides protection without the need for adjuvants that may present potential risks to feline patients, such as injection site reactions and chronic inflammation. Purevax significantly reduces the risk because it is non-adjuvanted.
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Booster: Feline Distemper
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Booster: Feline Distemper
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
- Booster: Rabies
The following isn't a list of kitten vaccinations but, spaying, neutering and microchipping your kitty helps protect them from a range of health issues, and therefore they are considered a form of preventive health care.
- Spay (females) - Having your female cat spayed prevents the birth of unwanted kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and may help prevent undesirable behaviors including howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents them from fathering unwanted kitten litters, keeps him safe from various feline illnesses, and can help stop them from territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent type of identification that is around the size of a rice grain. It is placed under your pet’s skin and gives them a better chance of being found by their owners if they get lost.
- Adults
- Booster: Feline Distemper (at 1 year and every 3 years thereafter)
- Booster: Feline Leukemia (Annually)
- Rabies (Annually)
Dog Vaccinations
There are shots your puppy needs in their first year to protect them from dangerous diseases.
- 4 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Influenza (2 doses 3 - 4 weeks apart)
- 10 to 12 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Lyme (2 doses 3 weeks apart)
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Below is not a list of puppy vaccinations however, spaying, neutering, and microchipping your dog helps to protect them from a variety of health issues, and therefore falls under the umbrella of preventive health care.
- Spay (female) - Spaying your female dog will prevent them from mothering puppies and, it can also help prevent various cancers and regular heat cycles which could attract roaming male dogs to your yard.
- Neuter (male) - Getting your male dog neutered helps keep him from fathering unwanted puppies, protects him from a range of serious cancers, and helps reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - Microchips are a permanent form of identification that is placed under your pet's skin. They are as small as a grain of rice and increases the chances of finding your dog if they become lost.
- 12 to 16 Months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
- Adults
- Booster: DHPP (At 1 year and every 3 years thereafter)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional, annually)
- Booster: Rabies (Annually)
Parasite Prevention at Wachusett Animal Hospital
Parasites are a serious threat to the health of people and animals in Westminster, the Fitchburg area and across Central Massachusetts. If parasites go untreated they could threaten the life of your pet and sometimes may even be transmitted to the other pets and people in your home. The parasite prevention products we have at Wachusett Animal Hospital can help keep your cat or dog safe from the following parasites:
Fleas
These external parasites feed on the blood of mamals and birds. If fleas are left untreated they can quickly spread throughout your home.
Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that consume the blood of mammals, they are responsible for the spread of multiple serious conditions in pets and people.
Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny and highly contagious. They live in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals, reproducing continuously in their lifespan.
Heartworm
A thread-like parasitic roundworm that is spread through mosquito bites. They live in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected animals.
Hookworm
Parasites that live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs, feeding on their blood. Hookworms can cause anemia and other serious problems.
Roundworm
A parasitic worm that lives in the intestines feeding on partially digested intestinal contents. Roundworms can steal the vital nutrients your pet needs to be healthy.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms spread when your pet ingests infected fleas while grooming. These hook-like parasitic worms live and grow in your cat or dog's intestines.
Whipworm
Whipworms spread when your pet ingests soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.
Welcoming Cats & Dogs to Our Animal Hospital
Wachusett Animal Hospital and Pet Retreat is accepting new patients! Our experienced vets are passionate about the health of Westminster companion animals. Get in touch today to book your pet's first appointment.