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Vaccination Schedule
Our Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Dogs, Cats, Puppies and Kittens
Puppies and Kittens need vaccinations early in life as antibodies they receive from their mother start to decrease around 6-8 weeks of age. It is during this time that puppies need to start building their own immunity through vaccinations.
All puppies should receive core vaccines as well as certain non-core vaccinations depending on the pet’s lifestyle and breed.
Puppies, Adult Dogs, Kittens and Adult Cats should follow the vaccination schedule below. Discussing your pet’s needs and medical condition with a local Mount Pleasant Veterinarian will help you decide what is best to help your pet live a long and healthy life.
We recommend following the pet vaccination schedule below as a general guideline. Where you live (city or rural county) and your pet's lifestyle will determine specific vaccination and testing needs.
| CORE VACCINATIONS Recommended for all dogs and cats | DOGS | CATS |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Weeks Old | DHPP (4-in-1: Distemper, Hepatitis Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) Start Heartworm Prevention (such as Heartgard, Trifexis, Revolution, etc.) | FVRCP Vaccine (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus and Panleukopenia) Start Heartworm Prevention |
| 12 Weeks Old | DHPP Booster | FVRCP Booster FELV Vaccine* (Feline Leukemia Virus) |
| 16 Weeks Old | DHPP Booster Rabies Vaccine | FVRCP Booster FELV Booster Rabies Vaccine |
| COMMON NON-CORE VACCINATIONS Recommended based on pet's lifestyle | DOGS | CATS |
| 8 Weeks Old | Corona Vaccine | We do not recommend non-core vaccinations for cats due to their sensitivity. Ask you Veternarian for advice. |
| 12 Weeks Old | Corona Booster Bordetella Vaccine (kennel cough) Lepto Vaccine Lyme Vaccine Canine Influenza Vaccine (H3N8) Rattlesnake Vaccine | |
| 16 Weeks Old | Corona Booster Bordetella Booster Lepto Booster Lyme Booster Canine Influenza Booster Rattlesnake Booster | |
| TESTS and DE-WORMING Recommended based on pet's lifestyle | DOGS | CATS |
| 8 Weeks Old | De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm Start Parasite Prevention (flea, tick, heartworm) | De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm Start Parasite Prevention (flea & tick and heartworm) |
| 12 Weeks Old | De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm | De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm FeLv / FIV / Heartworm Test |
| 6 MONTHS Old | Heartworm, Erlichiosis, Anaplasmois and Lyme Test (4Dx) |
City Ordinance: The owner or harborer of any domestic animal shall have such animal vaccinated against rabies by the time such animal is four months of age and within every subsequent 12 months thereafter.
*Feline leukemia virus vaccine may not be considered a “core vaccination” by some veterinarians. However, studies have shown kittens are at the highest risk of contracting feline leukemia virus more so than adult cats, therefore many vets are reconsidering making Felv a “core vaccination”.
Most vaccinations are labeled for yearly boosters. Many factors will be weighed when deciding on a vaccination plan that is tailor-made for your pet. Mount Pleasant veterinarians can help you decide which yearly vaccinations are best for your pet based on these factors:
- type of vaccination and how it is labeled for use
- pet’s age
- medical and physical condition of pet being vaccinated
- pet’s lifestyle and exposure to disease
- presence of disease in pet’s environment
- reaction to previous vaccinations
- and many others
Boosters
It is necessary to boost vaccinations (vaccinating again in a certain time period) to allow for the growth and expansion of the immune response in order to fight off infection upon exposure to the actual disease.
It is recommended to keep your puppy away from unvaccinated dogs while the vaccination process is going on and away from places of multiple dog exposure, if the vaccination status of all dogs is not known.