Vaccinations & Preventatives

Young animals are like kids–it’s a never-ending job to keep them safe and happy. Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive but very important way to protect his or her health. In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife and those that can be passed to humans. It’s important that puppy vaccinations, as well as kitten vaccinations, are administered while the pet is still young because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy.

While any medical treatment involves some degree of risk, in the case of vaccinations, the benefits far outweigh any potential side effects. Adverse reactions are rare and usually mild and short-term when they do occur.

Which vaccines should your pet have? “Core” vaccines are those recommended—and in regards to rabies, possibly mandated by law—for most pets. Core vaccines include:

• Rabies (dogs and cats)
• DA2PPV – Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza (dogs)
• Leptospirosis (dogs)– in 2023 the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) issued an updated consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs, recommending that the leptospirosis vaccine should be administered annually to all dogs starting at 12 weeks of age, regardless of breed.
• FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (cats)

In addition to core vaccines, we highly recommend the FeLV vaccine for cats to protect against feline leukemia. This vaccine is essential for all kittens and is strongly advised for adult cats that go outdoors. For dogs, we recommend the Bordetella and Canine Influenza vaccines if they frequent dog parks, boarding kennels, or other social settings with other canines. Additionally, the Lyme vaccine is crucial, particularly in regions like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Northeast, which are known hotspots for Lyme disease.

It’s also important to note that even pets who live primarily indoors should be vaccinated, as they can still be exposed to a disease. Your Westgate Pet Clinic veterinarian can advise you which vaccinations are required or recommended for your pet based on age, health, and lifestyle.

Heartworm Testing and Prevention

Heartworms pose a significant risk to all pets in our area, making prevention and early detection crucial. To safeguard your pet’s health, we recommend monthly preventive treatments and annual heartworm testing for dogs and regular preventive measures for cats.

Our preventive medications are broad-spectrum, offering protection against various diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans. Even though heartworm disease is less common in cats in our area, preventive care is recommended as they can still be affected by heartworms, leading to serious health issues.

Ensure your pet’s well-being with our comprehensive heartworm prevention and testing services. With early detection and regular prevention, we can help keep your beloved companions healthy and safe.

To schedule an appointment for your pet, please Make an Appointment here.