Vaccinations
Like humans, dogs and cats should be vaccinated to guard against dangerous diseases. For most pets, vaccinations will be a regular part of veterinary check-ups throughout their entire lives, with the most significant rounds of immunizations being administered in the first few years. Vaccinations are important not only to protect pets' health, but also because they are required for admission to many dog parks, kennels, and other public areas. If your pet is behind on vaccinations, our veterinarian at Camelback Animal Clinic in Phoenix can help.
Core Vaccines
Certain core vaccinations are recommended for all pets, even those that spend little or no time outdoors, while others are typically only given to pets that may be exposed to unvaccinated feral animals. The core vaccinations for dogs prevent parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and rabies. For cats, the core vaccinations prevent distemper, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, and rabies.
Non-Core Vaccines
Depending on your pet’s lifestyle, we might recommend that your pet also receive one of the following non-core vaccines. For example, if your dog frequents dog parks, grooming facilities, or anywhere else that multiple dogs congregate, the Bordetella vaccine is important to prevent kennel cough. For cats who go outside, even occasionally, the FeLv vaccine will protect him if he/she gets into a scuffle with another outdoor cat. Feline leukemia is transmitted by saliva and is commonly transmitted via bite wounds.
