Vaccinations

Core Vaccines for Dogs and Cats

The Santa Monica area is rife with risk for both outdoor and indoor pets. Diseases can be spread through ticks and mosquitos, as well as other infected mammals. To cover all the bases, we offer the following core pet vaccinations for every animal, regardless of lifestyle:

Dogs

• DHPP (distemper-parvo-hepatitis combo). DHPP is transferred through contact from infected mammals such as other dogs, foxes, coyotes, or rodents.

• Rabies. This often fatal disease is transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.
  
  Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a bacteria found in water and soil and is transmitted from the environment or from other animals including dogs. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease.
  

Cats

• FVRCP provides protection against rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, chlamydia, and panleukopenia. Infected cats transmit it through saliva, mucus, and other secretions.

• Rabies is highly contagious to cats as well as dogs, and equally fatal.

Lifestyle Vaccines

For more outdoorsy or social pets, the chances of infection are greater and more varied. If your pet often travels with you, is boarded, or has an active life outdoors, we recommend the following lifestyle vaccines for dogs and cats:
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• Bordetella is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection transferred between dogs.

• The rattlesnake vaccine protects outdoor dogs against the venomous snake bite.

• Canine influenza is a bivalent vaccine that protects against both flu strains, H3N8, and H3N2.

• For dogs who travel:

  • Leptospirosis is a severe bacterial infection spread through certain soils, water, and urine of infected animals.

  • Lyme is a tick-borne illness to which even dogs with year-round tick control products can be susceptible.

• Feline Leukemia is easily spread between cats through shared food and water dishes, saliva and nasal discharge, or biting.