Having your pet on a vaccine schedule is very important. We take the time to ensure that your pet is getting the vaccines he/she needs and at the appropriate time.
A healthy pet also needs to be checked for heartworms and intestinal parasites annually. Our veterinarians will perform a full physical exam on your pet and discuss any problems your pet may be having. Call our office to schedule your pet's visit today!
PUPPIES:
Basic Vaccines
For best protection against serious viral infections, puppies need regular vaccinations for Distemper, Adenovirus (Hepatitis) and Parvovirus. We recommend puppy vaccinations every two to three weeks, starting at age six weeks through four months, then boosters a year later. Parvovirus is prevalent in the environment, and it is heartbreaking to diagnose this disease when it can be so easily prevented.
Puppies can be vaccinated against Rabies at 12 weeks or older, then boosted annually or every 3 years with a three year vaccine. Rabies in wildlife does occur in our area, so protection against this always fatal disease is very important.
We recommend a Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine for every puppy during its initial series of puppy shots, and then later in life if they board, go to groomers, dog parks, classes, or any events with other dogs.
Leptospirosis vaccine is recommended if the puppy lives or plays in an area where wildlife or livestock are common, and especially if the puppy has access to streams, ponds, or lakes. Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial infection that is spread in the urine of raccoons, opossums, skunks, rodents, cattle, and swine. Dogs become infected by drinking, swimming, or walking through contaminated water. Infections can cause fever, jaundice, kidney failure and even death.
Other vaccines are available for protection against tick-borne Lyme Disease and the effects of venomous snake bite. Feel free to discuss with our staff whether your puppy needs this additional protection.
ADULT DOGS
Basic Vaccines
Beginning one year after the last puppy vaccinations, adult dogs should be boosted for Distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus (DAP or DHP). At annual check-ups in later years, the need for further booster vaccinations against these viruses should be discussed. Depending on your dog's lifestyle, age and health, he or she may need annual or every three year vaccinations, vaccine titers (blood tests showing your dog still has protective antibodies against these viruses) or no vaccines at all. Discussing and deciding what is best for your pet is a very important part of regular checkups.
As mentioned in the puppy section, Rabies is endemic (meaning it does occur) in our area, and is most often spread by bites from raccoons, skunks, foxes, or bats. It is always fatal. All dogs in Fannin County should be current on their Rabies vaccinations. One and three year vaccines are available. Don't let your pet's protection lapse or it could be subject to 6 month quarantine or euthanasia if exposed.
Additional Vaccines
We recommend Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccinations for any dog that frequents boarding kennels, groomers, obedience or agility training, shows, performance events, or dog parks. While not usually a serious disease, kennel cough can be frustrating to treat and is very contagious among dogs. With frequent contact with other dogs, we recommend boosting Bordetella every 6 months.
Leptospirosis vaccine is recommended if your dog lives or plays in an area where wildlife or livestock are common, and especially if he or she has access to streams, ponds, or lakes. Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial infection that is spread in the urine of raccoons, opossums, skunks, rodents, cattle, and swine. Dogs become infected by drinking, swimming, or walking through contaminated water. Infections can cause fever, jaundice, kidney failure and even death.
Lyme disease is spread by tick bite. While not as common in Georgia as it is in the northeastern United States, it does occur. It can be prevented by good tick control and/or vaccination.
Snakebite vaccine is also available and can help reduce the severity of a venomous bite from a copperhead or timber rattlesnake. We carry the Rattlesnake vaccine from Red Rock Biologics. The Rattlesnake vaccine does not prevent snake bites nor does it make the dog immune to all the effects of the venom in a snake bite.
If your dog gets bit by a venomous snake while protected with the snakebite vaccine, it should still be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The vaccine does reduce the severity of tissue damage and pain from a venomous snake bite, lessens the amount of veterinary care needed, helps the dog recover faster, and improves the dog's overall chances of surviving the snake bite.
This vaccine is effective against the venom of Copperheads, Timber Rattlesnakes (the two most common in the Blue Ridge area) and Pygmy Rattlesnakes. It has limited protection against bites from the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth or Coral snakes (much less common or nonexistent in north Georgia).
The vaccine works by stimulating the dog's immune system to produce antibodies against the venom. These antibodies last for months and neutralize the venom in a way very similar to antivenin.
The vaccine has an excellent safety record. Over a million doses of this vaccine have been used since 2004 in well over 250,000 dogs. Fewer than 1 in 100 dogs will have any adverse effects from the vaccine, the most common being a small lump at the injection site. This injection site reaction typically does not bother the dog and will usually resolve by itself in 2-6 weeks. Systemic reactions similar to flu-like symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy) occur in fewer than 1 in 3000 vaccinations.
Following the first snakebite vaccine, your dog will need a booster in one month (3-6 weeks). Dogs under 25lb and over 100lb need a third booster one month later. For immunity throughout the year, another booster is needed in 6 months but since snakes aren't usually a problem in late fall and winter in north Georgia, most dogs can just be boosted once annually after their initial series. The annual booster is recommended one month before snakes appear in the spring.
The vaccine is initially given in two doses 3 weeks apart, and boosted once annually for best protection. Since both the "new' strain (H3N2) and the "old" (H3 N8) are still being reported in Georgia, we recommend vaccinating your dog against both. This reduces both your dog's risk of contracting either virus, and the number of sick dogs in our pet population who could spread the canine flu. We will vaccinate our patients for either strain for $28 singly, or against both strains at the same time for $40.
If your dog is boarding over the holidays, be sure he or she is protected against this highly contagious disease, and has also been boosted for Bordetella (kennel cough) in the last 6 months.
Feel free to discuss with our staff the advisability of any additional protective vaccine mentioned above. We will send you reminder via email or mail when your pet's vaccinations are due. You can always check your pet's vaccination status on Petly as well.
A healthy pet also needs to be checked for heartworms and intestinal parasites annually. Our veterinarians will perform a full physical exam on your pet and discuss any problems your pet may be having. Call our office to schedule your pet's visit today!
PUPPIES:
Basic Vaccines
For best protection against serious viral infections, puppies need regular vaccinations for Distemper, Adenovirus (Hepatitis) and Parvovirus. We recommend puppy vaccinations every two to three weeks, starting at age six weeks through four months, then boosters a year later. Parvovirus is prevalent in the environment, and it is heartbreaking to diagnose this disease when it can be so easily prevented.
Puppies can be vaccinated against Rabies at 12 weeks or older, then boosted annually or every 3 years with a three year vaccine. Rabies in wildlife does occur in our area, so protection against this always fatal disease is very important.
We recommend a Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine for every puppy during its initial series of puppy shots, and then later in life if they board, go to groomers, dog parks, classes, or any events with other dogs.
Leptospirosis vaccine is recommended if the puppy lives or plays in an area where wildlife or livestock are common, and especially if the puppy has access to streams, ponds, or lakes. Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial infection that is spread in the urine of raccoons, opossums, skunks, rodents, cattle, and swine. Dogs become infected by drinking, swimming, or walking through contaminated water. Infections can cause fever, jaundice, kidney failure and even death.
Other vaccines are available for protection against tick-borne Lyme Disease and the effects of venomous snake bite. Feel free to discuss with our staff whether your puppy needs this additional protection.
ADULT DOGS
Basic Vaccines
Beginning one year after the last puppy vaccinations, adult dogs should be boosted for Distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus (DAP or DHP). At annual check-ups in later years, the need for further booster vaccinations against these viruses should be discussed. Depending on your dog's lifestyle, age and health, he or she may need annual or every three year vaccinations, vaccine titers (blood tests showing your dog still has protective antibodies against these viruses) or no vaccines at all. Discussing and deciding what is best for your pet is a very important part of regular checkups.
As mentioned in the puppy section, Rabies is endemic (meaning it does occur) in our area, and is most often spread by bites from raccoons, skunks, foxes, or bats. It is always fatal. All dogs in Fannin County should be current on their Rabies vaccinations. One and three year vaccines are available. Don't let your pet's protection lapse or it could be subject to 6 month quarantine or euthanasia if exposed.
Additional Vaccines
We recommend Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccinations for any dog that frequents boarding kennels, groomers, obedience or agility training, shows, performance events, or dog parks. While not usually a serious disease, kennel cough can be frustrating to treat and is very contagious among dogs. With frequent contact with other dogs, we recommend boosting Bordetella every 6 months.
Leptospirosis vaccine is recommended if your dog lives or plays in an area where wildlife or livestock are common, and especially if he or she has access to streams, ponds, or lakes. Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial infection that is spread in the urine of raccoons, opossums, skunks, rodents, cattle, and swine. Dogs become infected by drinking, swimming, or walking through contaminated water. Infections can cause fever, jaundice, kidney failure and even death.
Lyme disease is spread by tick bite. While not as common in Georgia as it is in the northeastern United States, it does occur. It can be prevented by good tick control and/or vaccination.
Snakebite vaccine is also available and can help reduce the severity of a venomous bite from a copperhead or timber rattlesnake. We carry the Rattlesnake vaccine from Red Rock Biologics. The Rattlesnake vaccine does not prevent snake bites nor does it make the dog immune to all the effects of the venom in a snake bite.
If your dog gets bit by a venomous snake while protected with the snakebite vaccine, it should still be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The vaccine does reduce the severity of tissue damage and pain from a venomous snake bite, lessens the amount of veterinary care needed, helps the dog recover faster, and improves the dog's overall chances of surviving the snake bite.
This vaccine is effective against the venom of Copperheads, Timber Rattlesnakes (the two most common in the Blue Ridge area) and Pygmy Rattlesnakes. It has limited protection against bites from the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Cottonmouth or Coral snakes (much less common or nonexistent in north Georgia).
The vaccine works by stimulating the dog's immune system to produce antibodies against the venom. These antibodies last for months and neutralize the venom in a way very similar to antivenin.
The vaccine has an excellent safety record. Over a million doses of this vaccine have been used since 2004 in well over 250,000 dogs. Fewer than 1 in 100 dogs will have any adverse effects from the vaccine, the most common being a small lump at the injection site. This injection site reaction typically does not bother the dog and will usually resolve by itself in 2-6 weeks. Systemic reactions similar to flu-like symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy) occur in fewer than 1 in 3000 vaccinations.
Following the first snakebite vaccine, your dog will need a booster in one month (3-6 weeks). Dogs under 25lb and over 100lb need a third booster one month later. For immunity throughout the year, another booster is needed in 6 months but since snakes aren't usually a problem in late fall and winter in north Georgia, most dogs can just be boosted once annually after their initial series. The annual booster is recommended one month before snakes appear in the spring.
The vaccine is initially given in two doses 3 weeks apart, and boosted once annually for best protection. Since both the "new' strain (H3N2) and the "old" (H3 N8) are still being reported in Georgia, we recommend vaccinating your dog against both. This reduces both your dog's risk of contracting either virus, and the number of sick dogs in our pet population who could spread the canine flu. We will vaccinate our patients for either strain for $28 singly, or against both strains at the same time for $40.
If your dog is boarding over the holidays, be sure he or she is protected against this highly contagious disease, and has also been boosted for Bordetella (kennel cough) in the last 6 months.
Feel free to discuss with our staff the advisability of any additional protective vaccine mentioned above. We will send you reminder via email or mail when your pet's vaccinations are due. You can always check your pet's vaccination status on Petly as well.
