Are you finally taking home a stray cat that you’ve been feeding for several weeks? Along with proper shelter, a healthy diet and plenty of attention can help your pet live a longer and happier life. Your pet needs regular wellness exams and an established schedule of vaccines to lead a healthier life. Committed to supporting canine and feline health before illnesses strikes, Rivers Animal Hospital offers preventive care with tailored pet vaccinations programs at our Winnipeg location. Call us to discuss your needs. We are always glad to assist new patients.
Why Should You Get Your Pets Vaccinated?
As with human children and adults, leaving your pet exposed to preventable diseases is both unkind and short-sighted. Distemper, caused by a virus, is very contagious in dogs, cats and some wildlife species. A painful disease, it will attack your pet’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Worst of all, distemper is often fatal. On a positive note, distemper is preventable with an annual vaccination that has a low incidence of side effects.
It just makes ethical sense that the low cost and small effort of having your dog or cat vaccinated is part of being a good pet owner. You are also protecting other people’s pets in your neighbourhood, at the groomer, or at the dog park.
Regular vaccinations also protect your pet’s overall health and quality of life. Respiratory illnesses and forms of flu can make your pet miserable with the familiar symptoms of coughing, fatigue, no appetite and fever. Puppies and older dogs are in danger of being sicker and developing pneumonia, just as with the flu in humans. Death is not as common as with distemper but can weaken your pet’s immune system and recovery may take a while.
Core and Non-Core
Your pet’s vaccination schedule depends on their age, environment and lifestyle. Kittens and puppies need to start their vaccinations by 6 to 8 weeks of age in a series until they are 16 weeks old. Most vaccines need a booster from every year to every 3 years. Our veterinarian will recommend a plan for your pet’s wellness exams and boosters.
Municipalities throughout Canada generally have one required vaccination for all dogs and cats since it is so dangerous to animals and humans: rabies. The remainder of available pet vaccinations at Winnipeg’s Rivers Animal Hospital are divided into 2 major categories: core and non-core. The core vaccines are given to prevent the most common and severe conditions. Non-core vaccines are more dependent on your pet’s environment, such as boarding, outdoor activities, proximity to other wildlife and travel.
Vaccinations Available At Our Clinic
We look forward to providing proper preventative care for your pets. The major vaccinations available at our vet clinic include:
Canine Core Vaccines
Canine Non-Core Vaccines
Feline
Feline Non-Core Vaccines
Dr. David Scammell, our licensed veterinarian, will answer any questions you may have about giving your dog or cat a happy, active life. Book an appointment today.