At Marathon Veterinary Hospital, we believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. An appropriate wellness plan is essential to maintaining the health and well-being of your pet as well as allowing us to catch illness early on. We can design a plan specifically for your pets needs that includes: a comprehensive annual exam, internal parasite testing, flea and heartworm prevention, vaccines and specialized blood testing for all life stages.
Vaccination is still critical in the prevention and elimination of disease. Veterinary vaccines are generally safe and efficacious with the benefits outweighing the risks. Here is a typical vaccine schedule for a dog or cat living in the Florida Keys:
Dog:
DA2PP (distemper combination vaccine): initial series of 3 boosters starting at 8 weeks of age, given 3 weeks apart. Revaccinate in 1 year, then booster every 3 years as needed
Rabies: initial vaccine given at 16 weeks of age or older. Revaccinate in 1 year, then booster every 3 years as needed
Bordetella (kennel cough vaccine): This is recommended for those dogs that are frequently boarded, go to the groomers often or interacts a large number of other dogs (i.e. dog parks, dog shows, agility trials). Should be boostered every year.
Cat
FVRCP (feline “distemper” combination vaccine): initial series of 3 boosters starting at 8 weeks of age, given 3 weeks apart. Revaccinate in 1 year, then booster every 3 years as needed
Rabies: initial vaccine given at 16 weeks of age or older. We offer both a 1 year and a 3 year booster. Please ask your veterinarian which option is best for your cat.
FeLV (feline leukemia): This is recommended for a cat that spends anytime outdoor, where it may interact with other cats. Initial series of 2 boosters starting at 8-10 weeks of age or older, given 3 weeks apart.