Vaccinations
Our Westlake Village Veterinary Team Can Help Make Pet Vaccines Easier
Whether your cats or dogs need their first vaccination, or if they need booster shots, we can help make these nerve-racking appointments easier for you and your pets. As a loving and diligent human companion to your sweet pets, you know that it is important to overcome your own worries about the stress and pain your dear pet might experience while getting shots since it is a matter of taking good care of their long-term excellent health. Our Westlake Village veterinary doctors, along with our compassionate support staff, do everything possible to ease your worries and avoid discomfort for your pet during their vaccination visit.
Our Veterinarians Will Discuss the Various Vaccines and Shots Available for Your Cats and Dogs
Like many pet owners, you may not know exactly which vaccines and shots you need for your cats and dogs. Our seasoned veterinary team and veterinarians will discuss the essential vaccinations that your pet will need during the current visit, as well as any future updates that may require you to make additional appointments.
The Most Common Dog Vaccinations
- Dog Distemper. Extremely contagious, the distemper virus kills more dogs than any other infectious disease. There is no cure for distemper, and dogs that do survive it often sustain life-altering and permanent physical damage. Bring your puppy to see us at five or six weeks old, and we will remind you about annual booster shots.
- Canine Hepatitis. Canine hepatitis can present as a slight fever, congestion, depression and coagulation disorders. Similar to distemper shots, we recommend this shot at five to six weeks old and as a regular part of each annual wellness examination.
Common Cat Vaccinations
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP). Actually called a “distemper” shot, this vaccination fights three different diseases, including feline distemper. We can discuss the best FVRCP vaccination schedule for your cat.
- Feline Leukemia. Highly recommended for cats that venture outdoors, this vaccine can help prevent your cat from contracting this often deadly disease.
Common Vaccines for Cats and Dogs
- Rabies. Now rarely found in Western pets, it is still important to help ward off any possibilities that your pet might contract rabies through the appropriate vaccine. We recommend a dog’s or cat’s first rabies shot at three to four months old, followed by annual booster shots.
- Deworming. Help prevent illness from roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm and whipworm by deworming your cat and dog by scheduling deworming appointments early and frequently.
Residents in Westlake and Surrounding Areas Contact Our Animal Clinic for More Information on Vaccines and to Make An Appointment
We happily vaccinate pets throughout the Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Lake Sherwood, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills and Oak Park areas and beyond. Please feel welcome to call our office at (805) 495-1059 to learn more about our approach to safeguarding your cats and dogs against potentially debilitating and life-threatening illnesses.
Young animals are like kids–it’s a never-ending job to keep them safe and happy. Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive but very important way to protect his or her health. In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife and those that can be passed to humans. It’s important to administer vaccinations when pets are puppies and kittens because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy.
While any medical treatment involves some degree of risk, in the case of vaccinations, the benefits far outweigh any potential side effects. Adverse reactions are rare and usually mild and short-term when they do occur.
Which vaccines should your pet have? “Core” vaccines are those recommended—and possibly mandated by law—for most pets. Core vaccines include:
- Rabies (dogs and cats)
- DA2PPV – Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza (dogs)
- FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (cats)
Other non-core, but highly suggested vaccinations for cats include FIV for feline immunodeficiency virus and FeLV to protect against feline leukemia. For dogs, bordetella and canine influenza shots are recommended if they frequent dog parks, boarding kennels, or any place where they’re socializing with other canines.
It’s also important to note that even pets who live primarily indoors should be vaccinated, as they can still be exposed to a
