Vaccinations

Certain vaccines are recommended for your pets. Below is a brief description of what your pet should get. If you have any questions about your pet’s vaccine status or needs, please call us at 785-836-7212.

Puppies should get a vaccine containing the combination of distemper, parainfluenza, and parvovirus, starting at 6-8 weeks and boostering it every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old. After that it is boostered annually.

If your puppy is older than 16 weeks but did not get a complete series, we recommend giving this combination shot in a series of 2 shots, 3-4 weeks apart.

If your puppy is a farm or country dog, we recommend getting the last combination vaccine with leptospirosis added. Leptospirosis is a disease that can cause severe kidney issues and is often found in stagnant water, such as ponds and very slow moving creeks, where wild animals, like raccoons, can be found.

Kittens should get a vaccine containing the combination of panleukopenia, calicivirus and herpesvirus, starting at 6-8 weeks and boostering it every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old. After that it is boostered annually.

If your kitten is older than 16 weeks but did not get a complete series, we recommend giving this combination shot in a series of 2 shots, 3-4 weeks apart.

If your kitten is going to be an outdoor cat, or you are unsure if it will be, we recommend adding a feline leukemia vaccine, after the kitten has been tested. Feline leukemia is a disease that cats can get from the saliva of infected cats, through bite wounds, licking, or sneezing, and can shorten their lifespan by making them more susceptible to other diseases. This vaccine is given in a series of 2 vaccines, 3-4 weeks apart.

All pets, 16 weeks and older, should get a rabies vaccine. The first year the vaccine is given it must be boostered in 1 year. After that, it can be given as an annual vaccine or a 3 year vaccine depending on your city’s requirements/rules. We STRONGLY recommend all animals, indoor and outdoor, be given a rabies vaccine; even indoor animals can be exposed to rabies carriers, such as bats.

For those dogs groomed regularly, that visit dog parks, take classes with other dogs, or are boarded, we recommend the Bordetella vaccine. This vaccine helps protect against kennel cough, which is most often spread in places where multiple dogs hang out.

If you have any questions about what vaccines are needed for your dog or cat, please give us a call. If you’re bringing in a new puppy or kitten for vaccines, bring in all your paperwork with you and we’ll help you determine which vaccines are still needed and when they should get them.