Pet Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention
Protection & Prevention
It's always best to keep common diseases and disorders from developing in the first place. That's why we focus on preventive care at Bel Marin Animal Hospital.
Combined with regular wellness exams, parasite prevention and pet vaccination form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.
With preventive care, your pet will have the best chance at a long, healthy life. Our team will work with you to develop a custom preventive care plan for your cat or dog, tailored to their unique needs.
Pet Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
When it comes to protecting your furry companion from a range of contagious, often serious, diseases, it's critical to have up-to-date dog and cat vaccinations. Having your pet spayed or neutered not only prevents the birth of unwanted litters; these common veterinary surgeries can also help to protect your pet against some serious types of cancer. They may also prevent unwanted behaviors such as scooting, animal aggression, roaming and howling.
Cat Vaccinations
In their first year of life, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- Rabies
- 5 to 6 months
While the following are not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your cat against various illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies need these shots to protect them from dangerous diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- 10 to 12 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Canine Influenza
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Canine Influenza
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protecting your dog from a number of serious cancers, and helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
- 12 to 16 Months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Canine Influenza
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Parasite Prevention
Parasites are a serious health threat to people and animals in Novato. Untreated parasites can threaten your cat or dog's life, and in some cases even be transmitted to other animals and people living in your household. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from these common parasites:
Fleas
These external parasites feed on mammals' and birds' blood. Left untreated, fleas are hard to eliminate and can quickly spread in a household.
Ticks
Ticks are external parasites responsible for spreading numerous serious conditions in people and pets. They consume blood of mammals.
Ear Mites
While ear mites are tiny, they are highly contagious and live in the ear canals of cats, dogs and other mammals. They reproduce continuously.
Heartworm
A roundworm that spreads through mosquito bites, this thread-like parasite lives in the lungs, blood vessels and heart of infected animals.
Hookworm
Hookworms reside in the digestive tract of cats and dogs, where they feed on your pet's blood. This parasite can lead to anemia and other conditions.
Roundworm
Roundworms live in the intestine and feed on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite robs your pet of vital nutrients.
Tapeworm
Spread through the ingestion of infected fleas while grooming, flat, segmented, hook-like parasitic tapeworms live and grow in your pet's intestines.
Whipworm
Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs, and spread if your pet ingests soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces.