Cat and Dog Vaccinations in Callaway, MD

Even if your pet spends little, if any, time outdoors, they could still be at risk of coming into contact with harmful, disease-causing bacteria. At All Kinds Veterinary Hospital in Callaway, MD, dog and cat vaccinations are a key ingredient in comprehensive veterinary care, and we strive to create wellness plans that meet the needs of every individual patient we see here in Southern Maryland.

Some pets will need vaccines that other pets do not, which is why it’s so important for us to see your pet at least once a year for a checkup and lifestyle evaluation. Your veterinarian will guide you in choosing the proper vaccinations to keep your pet healthy for as long as possible.

Call us at (301) 994-9919 to make sure your cat and dog are protected and up to date with their vaccinations.

Dog and Cat Vaccines We Offer

We recommend pet vaccinations for both dogs and cats, and occasionally for pigs and ferrets if necessary.

Our vaccines protect against the following diseases:

Distemper

The distemper vaccine protects dogs and puppies against the canine distemper virus, which can be deadly. Canine distemper is highly contagious, and it affects the respiratory system, GI tract, and nervous system. Distemper typically spreads via airborne exposure, sharing food and water bowls, and from a mother dog to her puppies via the placenta.

Early clinical signs of canine distemper include runny eyes, fever, lethargy, coughing, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Rabies

Rabies is fatal 100% of the time in dogs and cats. Vaccination for this virus is required by law to protect animals and humans. A bite from a wild animal carrying the virus is the most common form of transmission, with bats, foxes, and raccoons being the most common carriers. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system, causing muscle tremors, paralysis, and hydrophobia.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease can affect canines that are insufficiently protected against ticks and tick-borne diseases. Transmitted via the bite of a black-legged deer tick, Lyme disease can cause fever, inflammation of the joints, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Humans can also become infected. Lyme can potentially be deadly if it is left untreated, so it’s important to address your pet’s early signs of illness as quickly as possible.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. Typically found in standing water and damp soil, areas where infected wildlife may urinate, this disease primarily affects dogs and can be spread to animals as well as humans.

Dogs usually become infected with leptospirosis by drinking contaminated water, or having contaminated water or soil come into contact with the mucus membranes or an open wound. Being around farm animals or wildlife can increase your pet’s risk for infection.

Clinical signs of infection are not always apparent, but they can include fever, lethargy, jaundice, shivering, and thirst. Some dogs may develop kidney or liver failure as a result of their infection. Early treatment of leptospirosis is essential to prevent organ failure and other harmful effects.

Canine Influenza

Also known as dog flu, canine influenza is another highly contagious virus. It can be transmitted via contaminated surfaces/objects, direct contact, and nasal secretions. There are 2 known strains of the virus, H3N8 and H3N2. Clinical signs of infection include persistent coughing, nasal discharge, fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

Dogs of all ages can be affected, and in most cases, they will recover within a few weeks. Some dogs, on the other hand, may develop a harmful bacterial infection. Seek treatment for your pet right away if your dog shows any signs of influenza infection.

Bordetella (highly recommended)

We highly recommend vaccinating your dog for Bordetella. Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterial agent that can spread quickly among dogs when they are in close quarters at a boarding kennel, daycare facility, dog park, or salon. That’s why the Bordetella vaccine is typically required by groomers, boarding kennels, etc. Bordetella inflames the upper respiratory system, resulting in a persistent cough, runny nose, low-grade fever, and loss of appetite.

FVRCP

The FVRCP vaccine* protects felines against several diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Feline viral rhinotracheitis and calicivirus are harmful upper respiratory viruses, while panleukopenia, or FP, attacks the intestinal lining, lymph nodes, and even bone marrow.

Today, FP is quite rare, thanks to vaccines. The FVRCP vaccine is generally given as a “core” vaccine to cats, meaning that it is essential to their health and protection.

Feline Leukemia

We recommend the feline leukemia vaccine for cats that spend some or all of their time outside. Feline leukemia is a retrovirus, and one of the most common illnesses affecting cats. Clinical signs of this disease include loss of appetite, fever, swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, pale or inflamed gums, and an unkempt coat.

*For cats, we specifically use non-adjuvanted Purevax vaccines. These vaccines are as equally effective as adjuvanted vaccines, but do not contain irritating chemicals known as adjuvants, which are used to prompt an immune response and can cause harmful reactions in cats (such as injection-site sarcomas).

Why We Recommend the Lyme and Lepto Vaccines for Dogs

Lyme disease and lepto are both highly recommended vaccines for dogs here in Callaway, MD. The deer tick (or blacklegged tick), the tick responsible for transmitting Lyme disease, is common in the Northeast. From 2000 to 2018, the number of Lyme disease cases in the state more than doubled.

Giving your pet the Lyme vaccine keeps them safe, but it can also protect the rest of your family from Lyme disease. Furthermore, the Leptospira bacterium that causes leptospirosis in dogs can be found in Maryland as well. Like Lyme disease, lepto can be spread from animals to humans.

Cat at our animal hospital for vaccinations

Choosing the Right Vaccines for Your Dog or Cat in Callaway

Generally, cats and dogs should receive their first vaccination between 6 and 8 weeks of age. We start with a series of distemper boosters for cats and dogs, which are administered 3 weeks apart until they reach 12-16 weeks old. During your pet’s wellness visit, we will discuss their health history, lifestyle at home, frequency of travel, and other factors to determine which vaccines they’ll need for the long term.

Your dog or cat’s vaccination protocol may likely change depending on their circumstances. Due to our location, we see quite a few travelers and clients with second homes in other regions, which can increase their likelihood of (unknowingly) bringing a virus back to our area.

It’s important to keep your pet vaccinated per their veterinarian’s recommendations to ensure that they stay protected from disease. To learn more about our pet vaccinations or to schedule a vaccine appointment, reach out to us at (301) 994-9919.