Pet Vaccines in Southington, Connecticut
At Apple Valley Veterinarians, we know that regular wellness care is the only way to maximize your pet’s quality of life and minimize your future Hartford County veterinarian bills. We provide all locally required and common pet vaccines for Southington, Connecticut pets. That includes immunizations and follow-up booster shots for puppies and kittens, as well as non-core vaccination options that may protect your pet from other environmental and biological risks.
Regular checkups and preventative treatments are your pet’s best defense against disease. Prioritize your pet’s health from Day One with routine veterinary visits and regularly scheduled vaccines, and you won’t have to worry about preventable tragedies or treatments later. Rabies vaccinations are required for dogs, cats, and ferrets, but your pet will have access to other core and non-core pet vaccination options at our Southington, Connecticut veterinary clinic.
Hartford County Dog Vaccinations
Dogs are vulnerable to a variety of diseases and parasites in Hartford County, and a few core dog vaccinations are recommended to prevent the most common and fatal of these health hazards. Core vaccines will improve your dog’s ability to fight off the following:
- Rabies
- Parvovirus
- Canine Distemper
- Canine Hepatitis
Your pet’s follow-up requirements will depend on age and lifestyle factors. For example, rabies tags usually expire after a year. However, puppies need a few months of boosters because their immune systems are still developing, and older dogs that stick to residential areas may only need a vaccine every two or three years.
Optional vaccinations will also strengthen their resistance to bacteria species that cause the following conditions:
- Lyme Disease
- Infectious Bronchitis
- Bacterial Blood Infections
At Apple Valley Veterinarians, we carefully evaluate every dog’s unique health and environmental factors in order to recommend the best possible vaccination schedule for him or her.
Hartford County Cat Vaccinations
Of course, Southington cats also face the threat of rabies, distemper, and other preventable conditions if they don’t receive regular immunizations. Core Hartford County cat vaccinations include shots that prevent your cat’s worst enemies, including:
- Rabies
- Feline Panleukopenia (distemper)
- Feline Herpes Virus and Calicivirus (respiratory infections)
If your cat goes outside or is exposed to animals that spend time outdoors, you may also want to consider non-core cat vaccinations for the following conditions, most of which are fatal:
- Feline Chlamydophila
- Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV)
- Ringworm
Cats who start vaccination schedules early in life have the best chance of avoiding fatal diseases. Schedule your kitten’s first wellness visit by 8 weeks, and follow all booster instructions very closely to maximize their effect on your vulnerable young cat. As your cat’s immune system gets stronger, so do her odds.
If you need a Plantsville veterinarian in Southington Connecticut, call us at (860) 628-9635 to set up your pet’s first appointment now. Our team at Apple Valley Veterinarians is eager to meet your furry family member and get them started on a lifelong pet vaccination schedule that’s right for them.
Vaccination FAQ’s
At Apple Valley Veterinarians, we believe that the best veterinary care is preventative care. We’d much rather help your dog or cat to stay healthy than treat it after it’s become sick. A big part of preventing illness is your pet’s vaccination program, which we discuss during his regular pet wellness exams. New patient parents and other pet owners often have a lot of questions about pet vaccinations. Here are some of the most common ones we hear.
Why Do Our Veterinarians Vaccinate My Pet?
Vaccines are harmless pieces of disease-causing organisms that help your pet’s body to become immune to certain dangerous and deadly diseases. Our veterinarians give vaccines periodically to help your pet’s immune system stay strong.
When Should I Have My Dog or Cat Vaccinated?
Puppies and kittens need to have a series of vaccines given during their first year, in order to prepare the immune system to react quickly should the animal become exposed to disease-causing organisms. After your pet reaches one year of age, she’ll need a booster shot periodically to remind the immune system to remain vigilant.
Why Not Just Give One Shot?
During different stages in your pet’s life, her immune system must be exposed safely to germs through vaccination and reminded of that exposure a brief period later via booster vaccination or the ability to produce a good immune response will be lost. Additional periodic vaccination boosters allow for the quick response to exposure to pathogenic organisms through immune memory (anamnestic response). This response will decrease over time without boosters.
What Vaccines Do You Offer at the Practice?
Our veterinarian team provides core and non-core vaccines for both dog and cat patients. Core vaccines are those that are either required by law, such as rabies, or those commonly given to all animals because the diseases are so serious and highly preventable by vaccination. In addition, we offer non-core vaccines, which protect against diseases that pets are more likely to come into contact with when they are exposed to special environments like kennels or dog shows or used for duties that are not typical for stay at home pets like hunting. These vaccines include a kennel cough, leptospira, influenza, and others. Our veterinarians will be happy to discuss and make specific recommendations for your cat or dog.
How Can the Veterinarian Help?
Before administering any vaccines, our veterinarian will consult with you about your pet’s lifestyle and environment. We understand the current exposure risks to vaccinateable diseases as well as the efficacy of the vaccines that are available. We are always happy to provide the information you need to make choices about what is most appropriate for your own dog or cat.
Contact Our Vet in Hartford County Connecticut Today
Your pet needs regular vaccinations periodically in order to keep her healthy. Our caring veterinary team is ready to help. If you need a veterinarian in Plantsville, Southington, or the surrounding communities in the southern Hartford County area, give us a call at (860) 628-9635 to schedule an appointment today.