When you take a pet into your home, you are making a vow to improve their life. You are taking on the responsibility of feeding them, sheltering them, and ensuring they’re healthy. To protect your pet’s health, you need to take them to the veterinarian on a routine basis. During the first year, visits to the animal clinic are particularly important because they allow your pet to receive potentially life-saving vaccines.

If you have recently adopted a pet and are curious about getting them vaccinated, the staff from Middlefield Veterinary Clinic in Geauga County, OH, list pet vaccination schedules for cats and dogs. 

Pet Vaccination Schedules

For Cats

The core pet vaccinations your cat should receive include: feline distemper, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and rabies. At six weeks, your cat will receive a combination vaccine for rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and feline distemper. At 12 weeks, they will receive their rabies vaccine, for which they will need a yearly booster.

If your cat is at risk of feline leukemia or chlamydophila, your veterinarian may recommend vaccinating against these conditions as well. The first dose of the chlamydophila vaccine should be given alone at 10 weeks. At 13 weeks, your veterinarian may recommend a second dose in conjunction with the first dose of the feline leukemia vaccine. Your cat will need two more doses of the feline leukemia vaccine at 16 and 19 weeks. At the one-year mark, your vet may include a booster for the chlamydophila and feline leukemia vaccines to go along with the rabies booster. 

For Dogs

Your pup’s first pet vaccination will be against the parvovirus at five weeks old. Between six to nine weeks of age, they will receive a combination vaccine against coronavirus, adenovirus, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Like cats, your dog will need a rabies vaccine at 12 weeks old. Between 12-15 weeks, your puppy will need a combination vaccine for leptospirosis, coronavirus, and Lyme disease.

Once your dog has reached the first year, they will need a booster for rabies and a combination vaccine. The vaccines included in the combination may vary based on your dog’s habits, age, and breed.

If your dog or cat needs pet vaccinations, contact Middlefield Veterinary Clinic by calling (440) 632-9181 to schedule an appointment. This animal hospital specializes in small animal and domestic pet care. To learn more about the services they provide, visit the website today.