Offering vaccinations to pets in Concord, NC.
A booster shot is one of the first things your puppy or kitten will need when they visit us for the first time. Vaccines will continue to play a major role in protecting them from diseases as they grow older, but to properly build their immunity, it’s best to start when they are 6-8 weeks old. At Mills Creek Animal Hospital, we offer cat and dog vaccinations as a way to maximize your pet’s health and curb the spread of harmful diseases throughout the Concord community and beyond. At the same time, we’re careful about how we administer cat and dog vaccines, making sure each pet only receives the boosters they really need.
Can dogs and cats be over-vaccinated?
Too many vaccines can result in adverse side effects in pets, such as allergic reactions. Over-vaccinated cats may be prone to a certain type of cancer. Other less serious (but no less important) side effects may include lethargy, irritation at the injection site, and diarrhea. Fortunately, major reactions are extremely rare, with mild reactions being more common and short-term. Most pets do not have reactions at all.
The key to preventing over-vaccination is to ensure your pet is:
- Getting only the vaccines they need for their own health and lifestyle
- Having their booster shots spaced out so their immune system has time to adjust
- Receiving the highest-quality vaccines available
We’re dedicated to your pet’s health and safety, and we take great care to vaccinate responsibly. If you have concerns about your pet’s vaccination schedule, don’t hesitate to let us know.
Every pet deserves s customized vaccine plan.
Our veterinarians recommend vaccines for pets based on their lifestyle, breed, illness risks, and suggested medical guidelines. This protocol makes it easier for us to help you decide which vaccines will be best suited to your pet’s needs and prevent over-vaccination entirely.
Which vaccines are required for dogs and cats?
Vaccines fall into two categories: core and non-core. Core vaccines are universally recommended for cats and dogs, while non-core vaccines are optional.
The rabies vaccine for canines and felines is a prime example of a core vaccine. Another is the combination of distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza vaccine for dogs, and the combination of feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia vaccine for cats. Some diseases are simply too dangerous to leave to chance, which is why we strongly recommend these vaccines for all pets.
Which vaccines are optional?
We’ll need to evaluate your pet and understand their lifestyle to see which non-core vaccines they might need. If your cat or dog regularly travels to certain locales with you or lives in close proximity to strays or wildlife, they will be exposed to risks that a non-traveling, more isolated pet will not. Such optional vaccines we have available to accommodate pets with busier, more social lifestyles include:
- Bordetella/kennel cough (for dogs)
- Lyme disease vaccine (for dogs)
- Leptospirosis vaccine (for dogs)
- Feline leukemia (for cats)