Recommended Vaccines
What vaccines does my pet need?
The PAWS Clinic strongly recommends that all cats and dogs are fully vaccinated (FVRCP combination for cats, DHPP or DAPP combination and Bordetella for dogs) BEFORE they come to the clinic for surgery. The PAWS Clinic offers these vaccines only on the day of surgery, and they offer extremely limited immediate immunity from the diseases they protect against on the day they are administered. Further, these vaccines initially require boostering on a rigid schedule to offer full protection. Therefore, it is recommended that cats and dogs come into the clinic already fully vaccinated.
We do require a current rabies vaccines for any cat or dog that is old enough. The rabies vaccine can be administered on the day of surgery for an additional $20 (1 year vaccine) or $25 (3 year vaccine). Note that you must show proof of an unexpired prior 1 year vaccine for your pet to receive a 3 year vaccine.
Vaccine protocols are discussed below.
Cats
Feline FVRCP Combination: Commonly known as the distemper vaccine, this is a three or four way vaccine depending on what it contains, that protects your cat against three or four different serious diseases common to cats. These include common upper respiratory diseases that cats can catch even if they live indoors. (The vaccine The PAWS Clinic uses protects against Rhinotracheitis, Calici, and Panleukopenia.) This vaccine is recommended, and often required, if your cat is boarded, hospitalized, may come into contact with other animals, and so forth.
The first time your cat receives the three or four way vaccine, the vaccine will need to be boostered (repeated) 2-4 weeks later. Kittens may require additional boosters if they receive the first vaccine when they are very young. Once this initial series of boosters is completed, this vaccination is typically administered annually. This vaccine is an additional $20 at the time of the spay/neuter surgery. Any boosters required must be done at a regular full-service veterinary clinic, as The PAWS Clinic offers vaccines on the day of surgery only.
Rabies: This vaccine is generally recommended for cats 12 weeks or older. The PAWS Clinic requires any of our patients who are old enough to already have a current rabies vaccine, or to receive one on the day of surgery. The first time your cat is vaccinated for rabies, the vaccine will be good for one year. Every time your cat receives the rabies vaccine booster after the first time, the vaccine will be good for 1-3 years, depending on the vaccine they receive. A 1 year rabies vaccine is an additional $20 at the time of spay/neuter surgery at The PAWS Clinic, and a 3 year rabies vaccines is an additional $25 at the time of surgery
Feline Leukemia (FeLV): This vaccine is often recommended by veterinarians for cats who go outdoors or are in contact with other cats. This vaccine is designed to help protect cats from exposure to feline leukemia and is given in a series 2-4 weeks apart. It is recommended that your cat get a FeLV test (especially if he or she ever lived as a stray cat) before the vaccine is administered. The PAWS Clinic offers the FeLV test as part of the “combo” test for feline leukemia and FIV, but does not offer the feline leukemia vaccine.
Dogs
DHPP or DAPP: Commonly called the distemper vaccine, this vaccine is a four way vaccine that protects your dog against four different serious diseases common to dogs. These include distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. This vaccine is recommended, and often required, if your dog is boarded, hospitalized, may come into contact with other animals, and so forth. The specific vaccine administered by The PAWS Clinic is DA2PP.
The first time your dog receives the four way vaccine, the vaccine should be boostered (repeated) 2-4 weeks later. Puppies may require additional boosters if they receive the first vaccine when they are very young. Once this initial series of boosters is completed, this vaccination is typically administered annually. This vaccine is an additional $20 at the time of the spay/neuter surgery. Any boosters required must be done at a regular full-service veterinary clinic, as The PAWS Clinic offers vaccines on the day of surgery only.
Rabies: This vaccine is recommended for dogs 12 weeks or older. The PAWS Clinic requires any of our patients 12 weeks or older to already have a current rabies vaccine, or to receive one on the day of surgery. Rabies vaccines for dogs are required by Michigan law. The first time your dog is vaccinated for rabies, the vaccine will be good for one year. Every time your dog receives the rabies vaccine booster after the first time, the vaccine will be good for 1-3 years, depending on the specific vaccine they receive. A 1 year rabies is an additional $20 at the time of spay/neuter surgery at The PAWS Clinic, and a 3 year rabies vaccines is an additional $25 at the time of surgery.
Bordetella: This vaccine protects your dog against kennel cough, a highly contagious cough commonly seen in boarding or grooming situations. It is recommended, and often required, if your dog is boarded, hospitalized, attends training, goes to dog parks, or may otherwise come into contact with other dogs. Depending on the type of vaccine given (injection or intra-nasal), this vaccine may need to be boostered in 2-4 weeks to be effective. This vaccine is an additional $20 at the time of the spay/neuter surgery. The PAWS Clinic uses an intra-nasal version of the vaccine that does not require a booster to be effective.