Vaccinations can prevent may diseases and promote good health and a longer life for your pet. Our veterinarians will prepare a schedule of vaccinations designed for your pet to protect against diseases that place your pet at risk. Below are the annual vaccinations and testing suggested by our veterinarians for your dog.
DHLPPC (Distemper/Hepatitis/Leptospirosis/Parainfluenza/Parvovirus/Coronavirus)
Bordetella
H3N8/H3N2 (Canine Influenza)
Rabies
Heartworm Test
Fecal Test
Canine Diseases
Canine Distemper
A highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease, spread by discharge from the nose and eyes of infected dogs. The distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which may be permanently damaged, even if the dog recovers.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Caused by Canine Adenovirus Type I, this disease is transmitted among dogs by contact with secretions, such as saliva, infected urine or feces. It causes liver failure, eye damage and respiratory problems. The severity of this disease can range from mild to fatal.
Leptospirosis
A bacterial disease most commonly carried to dogs by wildlife and rodents. Transmission normally results from contaminated urine penetrating the dog's body through skin abrasions. Leptospirosis attacks the kidneys and liver. Common signs include fever, weight loss, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Parainfluenza
An infectious respiratory disease transmitted in the air or by direct contact, especially in kennels or among dogs living together. Symptoms can include a harsh, dry, hacking cough, retching, sneezing, snorting, or gagging.
Canine Parvovirus
A very contagious and potentially fatal disease which attacks the gastrointestinal tract and in some instances, the heart muscles. The disease is most severe in young pupppies and elderly dogs. Spread through infected feces, the highly resistant virus can remain in the environment for many months.
Canine Coronavirus
A virus that attacks the intestinal system. Coronavirus is transmitted by contact with infected oral and fecal secretions. Early signs of illness are depression with loss of appetite, followed by vomiting and the passage of a foul-smelling, yellow to orange diarrhea that varies from soft to watery. The diarrhea may contain blood. Dehydration can occur if the diarrhea is severe.
Canine Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough)
A respiratory tract infection which is eaily transmitted from one dog to another in situations such as play groups, obedience training or boarding at a kennel. Most training facilities require vaccination certification. This disease is caused by various airborne bacteria and viruses, including Canine Parainfluenza virus, Canine Adenovirus Type II and Bordetella bronchiseptica.
Canine Influenza (Dog Flu)
First reported in Florida in 2004, dog flu is spreading across the United States. Easily transmitted by direct contact, cough or sneeze, or via contaminated surfaces. Protection is available with a new vaccine.
Rabies
This incurable viral disease affects the central nervous system of almost all mammals, including humans. It is spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals (such as skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats) through bites of any break in the skin. Vaccination will provide your pet with a much greater resistance to rabies if it is exposed to the disease. You must be aware that there is no cure once it occurs. For this reason, many municipalities absoltely require that all dogs receive rabies vaccinations on a regular basis. Plus, you will definitely have to provide vaccination records if you want to travel with your dog across the United States or around the world.
Parasites and Pest
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm is a parasitic disease that can affect any dog or cat regardless of age, sex or habitat. Heartworms live in the heart and lungs of an infected animal. The disease can lead to heart failure and death. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and therefore tends to have a higher incidence in areas heavily populated by mosquitoes. Dogs are considered the most common host for heartworms, however heartworms may also infect cats.
Roundworms
Roundworms are very common internal parasites. They live in the intestines and feed on partially digested food. Cats continue to be susceptible to infection throughout their life, whereas some dogs develop a resistance. In pregnant animals, dormant larvae are stimulated to migrate to the unborn, resulting in healthy mothers, producing heavily parasitized young. In humans, roundworms can cause a serious condition known as visceral larva migrans. Proper hand washing can prevent infection. Deworming of puppies and preventive medication will reduce environmental contamination.
Hookworms
Hookworms latch onto the intestinal wall and feed on blood and tissue. Hookworms can infect a pet at any age but are life-threatening to the very young. Hookworm infection occurs through eating contaminated soil, drinking milk from an infected mother or by infective larvae burrowing into the skin of the paw. Human infection can occur when larvae in contaminated soil penetrate the skin. In humans, hookworm larvae do not migrate to the intestines as they do in pets. Instead, they move around under the skin and eventually die causing an inflammatory skin reaction known as cutaneous larva migrans, or "creeping eruptions."
Tapeworms
Adult tapeworms anchor to the wall of the small intestine by hooks or suckers. They use an intermediate host (rodents/birds) for part of their development. The final host, your pet, eats the contaminated prey and the tapeworm can complete its life cycle. Pets can also become infected when they ingest fleas or biting lice carrying the larval form of the tapeworm. Pets do not develop resitance to tapeworms and are readily reinfected. Segments of the worms may be found in the feces, or in the pet's coat. Humans can be the intermediate host for some tapeworms. Cysts are formed in different organs which can cause a variety of diseases.
Whipworms
Whipworm infection is caused by direct ingestion of eggs in contaminated food or soil. Pets of all ages can be easily infected. Whipworm eggs can survive extreme climatic or environmental conditions and can remain alive in the environment for years.