Protection & Prevention
With diligent preventive care, our vets at Tumwater Veterinary Hospital can keep common diseases and disorders from developing in the first place.
Combined with routine exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention make up the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.
Preventive care offers your pet the best chance at a long, healthy life. Our team is committed to working with you to create a custom preventive care plan for your cat or dog, geared to their unique needs.
Pet Vaccinations & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
When it comes to protecting your furry friend from a range of contagious, often serious diseases, current dog and cat vaccinations are essential. Having your pet spayed or neutered not only prevents them from giving birth to unwanted litters; these common veterinary surgeries can also help protect your pet against some serious types of cancer. They may also prevent unwanted behaviors such as scooting, howling, animal aggression and roaming.
Cat Vaccinations
Kittens need these shots in their first year of life to protect them from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
While the following are not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your cat against various illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
Dog Vaccinations
Puppies need these shots in their first year to protect them from dangerous diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- 10 to 12 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protecting your dog from a number of serious cancers, and helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
- 12 to 16 Months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Parasite Prevention
For both people and animals in the Tumwater area, parasites pose a serious health threat. Left untreated, parasites can be life-threatening for your cat and dog, and in some cases even be transmitted to other pets or people in your house. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from these common parasites.
Fleas
Fleas feed on the blood of mammals and birds. If these external parasites are left untreated, they can quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that are responsible for the spread of numerous serious conditions in people and pets. This occurs when a tick's saliva enters the bloodstream.
Ear Mites
Ear mites may be tiny, but they are highly contagious parasites that reproduce continuously during their lifespan. They live in the ear canals of mammals, and cause uncomfortable itching.
Heartworm
This thread-like parasitic roundworm makes its home in the lungs, heart and blood vessels of infected animals. It spreads through mosquito bites.
Hookworm
These parasites feed on an animal's blood and live in the digestive tract of dogs and cats. Hookworms can cause anemia and other serious conditions.
Roundworm
This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested food, robbing your pet of vital nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Tapeworm
If your pet ingests an infected flea while grooming, they can contract tapeworms. These hook-like parasitic worms live and grow within your pet's intestines.
Whipworm
Whipworms are spread when animals ingest soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health threat to canines.
