At Dells Animal Hospital in Wisconsin Dells, WI, your four-legged family members are their top priority. As the area’s  providers of veterinary services, their team knows that the best way to keep your pet disease-free is with routine vaccinations.

Not sure what this entails? Dells Animal Hospital can fill you in on the vaccines that need to follow a specific schedule:

• Rabies: All cats and dogs must receive a rabies vaccination by the time they’re four months of age. After that, your dog or cat must receive boosters once every year or every three years, depending on your area’s laws and regulations. Regardless of the legal requirements of your state or county, vaccinating against rabies is a crucial action for your pet’s health. Once symptoms begin to show, rabies is always fatal. Rabies vaccinations are crucial for your pet’s health and wellbeing, especially for outdoor animals that may encounter infected critters.
• DA2PPL: Also known as the “distemper shot,” this vital vaccine protects your pups against several diseases including distemper, infectious parvovirus, leptospirosis and parainfluenza. Pet owners should schedule their puppies for this shot every three to four weeks starting from when their pooches are six weeks old until they’re at least four months. Adult dogs can receive this vaccine twice three to four weeks apart if not previously vaccinated.
• LYME: Lyme disease is very prevalent in our area.  Our doctors recommend vaccinating for this bacteria to prevent serious health issues.
• BORDETELLA/KENNEL COUGH: Required by most kennels and training classes two to three weeks prior to exposure to other dogs.
• FVRCP:The feline version of the “distemper shot,” the FVRCP vaccination protects against feline distemper and feline herpesvirus and calcivirus. Kittens should receive this shot every three to four weeks from eight weeks of age to four months, while older cats not previously vaccinated should receive it twice three to four weeks apart.
• FELINE LEUKEMIA: This is a fatal virus and we recommend all cats that go outside receive this once a year, after their three week booster.

To make sure your pet’s in good hands throughout the vaccination process and always, trust Dells Animal Hospital, your hometown animal care provider. Visit them online to learn more or call them at (608) 253-7361.