Customized Cat & Dog Vaccinations in St. Paul, MN
Vaccines protect your dog or cat against a variety of infectious diseases, some of which are fatal. At St. Paul Pet Hospital, we tailor cat and dog vaccinations to each individual patient so your pet only receives the vaccines they need. While some vaccines are considered “core” and are recommended for most cats and dogs, others are “lifestyle” vaccines that we only recommend based on your pet’s exposure to risk.
During your first visit, we’ll talk to you in-depth about your pet’s lifestyle so we can get a deeper understanding of the vaccines they’ll need to stay healthy. Then, we’ll reassess your pet’s needs every year to see if changes need to be made.
Dogs and cats need vaccine boosters throughout their lives. Is your pet due?
Or call us at (651) 789-6275.
When Does My Pet Need Their Vaccines?
Puppies and kittens start a vaccination series in their first year of life, and following that year, they’ll require regular boosters throughout their lives to remain immune. Depending on the vaccine, your pet may need annual or triennial boosters.
Here’s a breakdown of the timeline you can expect for your pet’s vaccinations, as well as some other key treatments they’ll need to stay healthy. Keep in mind that your veterinarian may adjust this schedule depending on your pet’s specific needs:
6-8 Weeks
- 1st DHPP (distemper-hepatitis-parainfluenza-parvovirus), booster in 3-4 weeks
- Intranasal Bordetella (kennel cough), booster annually
- Strongid-T (dewormer), booster in 3-4 weeks
- Fecal exam
- Start heartworm (Heartgard) and flea/tick prevention (Nexgard)
10-12 Weeks
- 2nd DHPP, booster in 3-4 weeks
- 1st Leptospirosis vaccine (noncore), booster in 3-4 weeks
- 1st Lyme disease vaccine (noncore), booster in 3-4 weeks
- Strongid-T (dewormer), last one
- Fecal exam
- Heartworm (Heartgard) and flea/tick preventative (Nexgard)
14-16 Weeks
- 3rd DHPP, booster in 1 year
- 2nd Leptospirosis vaccine (noncore), booster annually
- 2nd Lyme disease vaccine (noncore), booster annually
- Rabies vaccine, booster in 1 year
- Fecal exam
- Heartworm (Heartgard) and flea/tick prevention (Nexgard)
6 Months
- Start ProHeart heartworm prevention (injection that lasts 6 months)
- Heartworm test
- Weight check
- Flea/tick prevention (Bravecto), given every 3 months
1 Year Later
- DHPP, booster in 3 years
- Rabies vaccine, booster in 3 years
- Bordetella, booster annually
- Leptospirosis (noncore), booster annually
- Lyme disease (noncore), booster annually
- Fecal exam, annually
- Heartworm test, annually
- ProHeart, every 6 months
- Flea/tick prevention (Bravecto)
- Comprehensive blood work annually
Recommended Tests
- Fecal exam
- Heartworm antigen test
- Comprehensive blood work (chemistry panel, complete blood count, electrolytes)
8 Weeks
- 1st FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, calicivirus), booster in 3-4 weeks
- Strongid-T (dewormer), booster in 3-4 weeks
- Fecal exam
- Heartworm/flea prevention (Revolution)
12 Weeks
- 2nd FVRCP, booster in 3-4 weeks
- 1st Feline Leukemia vaccine (noncore), booster in 3-4 weeks
- Strongid-T (dewormer), booster in 3-4 weeks
- Fecal exam
- FeLV/FIV test
- Heartworm/flea prevention (Revolution)
16 Weeks
- 3rd FVRCP, booster in 1 year
- 2nd FeLV vaccine (noncore), booster in 1 year
- Rabies vaccine, booster in 1 year
- Strongid-T (dewormer), last one
- Fecal exam
- Heartworm/flea prevention (Revolution)
1 Year Later
- FVRCP, booster in 3 years
- FeLV vaccine (noncore), booster
- Rabies vaccine, booster in 1 year
- Fecal exam, annually
- Heartworm/flea preventative (Revolution), monthly
- Comprehensive bloodwork annually (chemistry panel, complete blood count, electrolytes)
Recommended Tests
- FVRCP, booster in 3 years
- FeLV vaccine, booster in 1 year
- Rabies vaccine, booster in 1 year
- Fecal exam, annually
- Heartworm/flea preventative (Revolution), monthly
- Comprehensive blood work annually (chemistry panel, complete blood count, electrolytes)
