Dogs

We recommend giving certain vaccines at different ages. San Francisco law requires that puppies receive a rabies vaccine at 16 weeks. This schedule of vaccines may vary depending on when the vaccines were started and what your veterinarian feels is appropriate for your case.

Rabies: An almost invariably fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) transmitted by a bite from an infected animal. After the initial vaccination, which provides protection for a year, a booster is given every three years. *Note: Rabies is mandated by law to be kept current.
DHPP: A booster is given every three years
   Distemper (D): A viral disease that causes gastrointestinal, respiratorial, and neurological symptoms. It is contracted through contact with infected bodily fluids.
   Hepatitis (H): A viral disease that causes acute liver infection. It is transmitted through contact with the feces, urine, blood, saliva, or nasal discharge of infected dogs.
   Parvovirus (P): A viral disease that has two distinct forms: cardiac and intestinal. It is highly contagious and transmitted by infected fecal contact. Young puppies are most susceptible.
   Parainfluenza (P): A viral disease that causes cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms. Most common among dogs from kennels, animal shelters, and pet stores.
Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease caused by a contact with infected urine and other bodily fluids, often from rats. It affects the urologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous symptoms and is contagious to humans. The booster is given every year.
Bordatella: A viral disease that affects the respiratory system. Its primary symptom is coughing and is transmitted by contact with infected dogs. 


Cats
We recommend doing certain vaccines at different ages. The schedule will vary depending on when the vaccines were started, whether the cat is indoors only or has outdoor access, whether the cat has contact with other cats, and what your veterinarian feels is appropriate for your case.

FVRCCP: A booster is given every year
   Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR): a herpesvirus that causes serious respiratory problems. It is transmitted by direct contact only, and the virus is shed in fluid secretions.
   Calici (C): a viral respiratory disease that can also affect the ophthalmic, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal systems. It is contracted by contact with other cats.
   Chlamydia Psittaci (CP): a bacterial infection that affects the respiratory system, as well as the ophthalmic, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal systems. It is transmitted by contact, inhalation, or ingestion of fluids or feces of infected animals.
FeLV: A viral disease transmitted by saliva and direct contact, bites, or through a litter box or food dish shared with an infected cat. The virus causes a disease very similar to human leukemia. We recommend this vaccine for cats who have access to the outdoors or other outdoor cats. A booster is given every year.
Rabies: An almost invariably fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) caused by a bite from an infected animal. We recommend this for cats who have access to the outdoors or other outdoor cats. A booster is given every year.


We strongly recommend the following:

          -Microchip, which will significantly increase the chances that your pet is recovered if he or she is ever lost.

          -Spay/Neuter before six months of age, greatly reduces the chance for, and sometimes eliminates, diseases like mammary, uterine, ovarian, testicular, and prostate cancers as well as pyometra and prostatitis. Neutering dogs reduces incidence of sex-linked dermatitis, perianal tumors, and hernias. Timing is crucial, especially for females spayed before their first heat cycle because they have a 98% reduction in the incidence of mammary cancer.

          -Flea control: Fleas are vectors for parasites and diseases like tapeworms, bubonic plague, and typhus. In very young and very old dogs fleas can cause life-threatening anemia.

          -Heartworm prevention in dogs. A chewable tablet is given to the dog once a month. We also recommend getting a heartworm test every year, especially if your pet has missed a dose. We sell heartworm prevention, available here. For more information about this serious condition, please check out http://www.heartwormsociety.org/

***All our vaccines are higher quality and have been thoroughly researched for the safety of your pet and are less likely to cause injection reactions.***