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Westwood Hills Veterinary Hospital 902-826-1933

Vaccinations

A vaccination plan ensures your canine companion remains protected against dangerous diseases.

Vaccinations

A vaccination plan ensures your canine companion remains protected against dangerous diseases.

Vaccines help prevent many illnesses that affect pets. Vaccinating your pet has long been considered one of the easiest ways to help them live a long, healthy life. Not only are there different vaccines for different diseases, there are different types and combinations of vaccines. Vaccines are important in the prevention of contagious deceases. Specific vaccines fall under the “core” vaccines while others are administered depending on risk and lifestyle.

What types of vaccinations do you offer?

  1. DA2PP
    • D – Distemper Is a life-threatening contagious viral disease.
    • P – Parvovirus – shed in feces and can live in the environment for years. Often more severe in puppies.
    • A – Adenovirus 2 & parainfluenza – highly contagious viral diseases.
  2. Rabies
  3. Bordetella – upper respiratory tract infection. Often spread at doggie daycares.
  4. Lyme is recommended depending on your pet’s lifestyle and risk.
  5. Leptospirosis is recommended depending on your pet’s lifestyle and risk.

Is there a schedule for how often to vaccinate a dog?

Bacterial antigen vaccines provide protection for one year. Viral antigen vaccines provide protection for 3 years. Depending on the required vaccinations annual or triannual boosters are typically required.

Why is it important to vaccinate your dog?

Each individual immune system can respond differently to a vaccination. Providing ongoing re-vaccination, we help to ensure the immune system is adequately prepared to defend your dog from viral and bacterial exposure.

What vaccinations do you offer to new puppies?

Vaccines stimulate your puppy’s immune system to create antibodies which aid in the prevention of specific diseases.

What is an appropriate schedule for puppy vaccinations?

Puppy vaccines begin at 8 weeks and are boostered at 12 and 16 weeks. Rabies is given at 16 weeks. If appropriate Lyme and Leptospirosis vaccines are given after 4 months of age.

How should you prepare your puppy for their first vaccination visit?

Bringing your puppy to our clinic to meet our very friendly compassionate staff, before their initial appointment, is certainly a good idea. Our goal is to create a very positive experience for you and your puppy. To prevent car sickness, it is recommended not to feed a big meal before your visit. We typically give lots of treats for encouragement anyway.

How much do dog vaccinations cost?

Please contact our clinic for further information.

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