Vaccinations are a vital part of protecting your puppy against potentially life-threatening diseases therefore we recommend puppies have their first distemper vaccine at 8 weeks of age followed by two additional distemper vaccines following at about 4 weeks apart. Puppies should receive a Rabies vaccine at 12 weeks of age or older. NOTE: Rabies vaccinating for dogs is required by law.    

 

Distemper (DHLPP) vaccine includes protection from the following diseases:

 

Please note: the Leptospirosis portion of the vaccine is not included in the first puppy vaccine to decrease the incidence of a vaccine reaction.

 

 

We recommend kittens have their first distemper vaccine at 8 weeks of age with an additional distemper vaccine given 4 weeks later. Rabies vaccinations should occur at 12 weeks of age or older and while not required by law with the exception of some cities and townships, it is strongly recommended.

 

The distemper (FVRCP) vaccine is important in helping provide protection and preventing your kitten from getting one of these potentially life-threatening diseases:

In addition, JVC recommends kittens be tested at 8 weeks of age for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), two incurable viruses.

 

 

Yearly exams are extremely important for maintaining the health and well being of your companion animal. A complete physical exam can alert the veterinarian to potential diseases that can be prevented or treated with early intervention.

 

JVC recommends dogs and cats receive a Distempter vaccination once a year. In addition, Rabies vaccines should be given 12 months after the puppy or kitten vaccination, and every three years after that time.

 

Bordetella Vaccinations and Lyme Vaccinations are also available. Talk with your veterinarian to determine if these vaccinations are recommended for your pet.

 

 

Heartworm is a disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes. A mosquito become infected by taking a blood meal from an infected dog and then taking a blood meal from your dog, it deposits a microscopic form of the heartworm into it's bloodstream.  It takes 6 months from the time a dog is infected for the blood to test positive for heartworms.  A blood test can be performed to determine if a dog has heartworm disease. We recommend testing your pet prior to starting a prevention program. For dogs on heartworm prevention, the test is recommended every year if the prevention is given only in the summer months, or every other year if the prevention is given all year round.

 

We recommend Heartgard Plus, a tablet given to your pet once a month, for the prevention of heartworm. 

 

 

Fleas and ticks are parasites that can cause significant disease is your companion animal. 

 

Fleas feed off the blood of your pet. They can cause severe itching and skin infections. In addition, fleas can carry tapeworms that can be transmitted to your pet. We recommend Frontline or Revolution to prevent your pet from getting fleas. These are safe products that are applied topically to your pet’s skin.

 

Ticks also feed off the blood of your pet. Ticks can be found anywhere, but are mainly located in wooded areas or areas of tall grasses. Ticks can transmit severe diseases to your pet including: Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis. We offer a blood test (Idexx 4DX) to detect these diseases.  If the test is positive for any of these diseases, a treatment plan can be discussed with the veterinarian. We recommend Frontline to protect your pet from ticks.

 

There is a vaccine for Lyme Disease, however, it is not 100% effective in preventing the disease. Please talk to your veterinarian to determine if your pet should get the vaccine.

 

 

As your companion animal ages it is important to continue regular examinations. We recommend annual or semi-annual physical exams with possible blood studies. This may enable the veterinarian to detect diseases such as kidney disease, diabetes, and arthritis sooner, resulting in earlier treatment and thus a longer, healthier life for your pet.

 

 

A microchip is a form of permanent identification for your pet. A small microchip is inserted through a needle into the back of your pets’ neck. The owner’s information is linked to a database through the number on the microchip. A special scanner is used to identify the number.  If your pet becomes lost, a microchip can help identify and locate the owners.