Safeguarding Pets with Cat and Dog Vaccinations in Dundee, MI
Your pet’s safety is important to you, but you can’t keep them in a bubble to protect them from the viral and bacterial diseases they might eventually encounter. At Dundee Veterinary Clinic, our cat and dog vaccinations play the role of “bubble,” providing a strong, invisible barrier to keep harmful illnesses at bay. With routine vaccinations, your pet can explore their environment and enjoy life, and you can rest assured they’ll stay protected from all kinds of disease threats.
Partner with us to keep your best friend safe! Schedule their cat or dog vaccination appointment today.
Why Do Dogs and Cats Need Regular Vaccinations?
Pet vaccines are highly effective at safeguarding dogs and cats from disease. However, they don’t last forever, so regular booster shots are necessary to “boost” your pet’s immune system. Similar to human vaccines, cat and dog vaccines train the immune system to recognize and fight back against intruders. In the case of our pets, these intruders include rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and feline distemper.
Our Vaccine Recommendations for Dogs and Cats
Dogs and cats each have vaccines formulated for their needs. These vaccines are split into two categories: Core vaccines, or highly recommended for all pets, and non-core, or lifestyle-based, vaccines.
Dog Vaccines
At Dundee Veterinary Clinic, we base our vaccine recommendations on the American Animal Hospital Association’s guidelines. You can see our core and non-core dog vaccines listed below.
- Canine Distemper: This disease affects the respiratory and nervous systems in dogs, and it is often fatal without immediate treatment and support.
- Infectious Hepatitis: Hepatitis is caused by adenovirus type-1, and can lead to acute or chronic liver inflammation.
- Parvovirus: Also called “parvo,” this disease causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, as well as life-threatening sepsis in unprotected puppies.
- Rabies: The rabies virus causes progressive neurological problems and death and is transmitted via the bite of an infected animal. Rabies can also be transmitted to humans.
- Leptospirosis: Called “lepto” for short, this infection is caused by bacteria shed in the urine of infected wild animals. Pets and humans can become infected via exposure to contaminated outdoor water sources and may develop kidney and liver failure.
- Lyme Disease: Lyme is transmitted by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and is prevalent in wooded areas. Symptoms of Lyme disease include swelling of the joints, lameness, lethargy, and fever.
- Bordetella Bronchiseptica: Bordetella causes kennel cough, a respiratory infection common in shelter dogs.
- Parainfluenza Virus: Parainfluenza causes respiratory infection in dogs; a single vaccine combining parainfluenza and Bordetella can effectively protect against kennel cough.
- Canine Influenza Virus: CIV is similar to the flu in humans and was recently shown to cause respiratory infection in dogs. Vaccination is recommended for dogs exposed to other dogs outside the home.
Cat Vaccines
Our veterinarians follow the research-based cat vaccine recommendations of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, with an emphasis on individual assessment. Each vaccine is recommended based on each cat’s lifestyle, environment, health status, and exposure level.
- Feline Calicivirus (FCV)
- Feline Herpesvirus Type 1 (FHV-1)
- Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV)
- Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
- Rabies Virus (RV)
- Bordetella
- Chlamydia
Vaccination for Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is generally not recommended at this time because of uncertainty in its ability to prevent disease. The benefits of vaccination are unclear, and most cats have been exposed to this virus before the age where they would be able to be vaccinated.
