Offering Disease Protection with Cat and Dog Vaccinations in Amesbury, MA

The antibodies your pet receives from their mother’s milk won’t last forever. Once a puppy or kitten is weaned their antibodies start to fade, and they become increasingly vulnerable to infection. That’s why we recommend starting your pet’s booster shots when they’re approximately 6-8 weeks old. At Merrimac Valley Animal Hospital in Amesbury, we offer vaccinations to dogs and cats to help them stay protected throughout their life from all kinds of diseases, including rabies.

Your veterinarian will discuss your pet’s needs with you when you visit and help you formulate a safe, effective vaccine schedule for your companion. To make an appointment, call (978) 388-3074.

What to Expect with Your Pet’s First Booster Shots

Puppies and kittens require lots of care in their first year of life. This includes a series of vaccine boosters to help strengthen their immunity and increase their protection. To ensure protection without over-vaccinating, we set your pet’s schedule so they receive the necessary boosters 3-4 weeks apart, until they reach 16 weeks of age. The 16-week mark is typically when we recommend the rabies vaccine, which offers a year’s worth of protection.

Once your pet reaches a year old, they might need certain vaccinations just once every 3 years, while other vaccines may need to be boosted annually. We can help you figure out which vaccines are most appropriate for your pet, and if they would be better served with a 1-year or 3-year vaccine.

Vaccines We Offer to Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats each have their own vaccines that we recommend to keep them healthy. These include:

  • Rabies
  • DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) - dogs only
  • FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) - cats only

Along with our recommended vaccines, we can also provide lifestyle/risk-based vaccines as needed to give pets additional protection. These include the Feline Leukemia vaccine, recommended for indoor/outdoor cats, and the Bordetella, Leptospirosis, and Lyme vaccines for dogs.

To learn more about our vaccines and what your pet needs for maximum protection, call us today at (978) 388-3074.