Puppies-  All puppies need to be started on their vaccine schedule by six to seven weeks of age.   Puppies receive a combination vaccine against distemper, parvovirus and several other important components at age 6, 9, 12, and 15 weeks of age.   It is important that puppies receive these vaccines at three week intervals.    If the puppies will be spending much time outside as they get older, they also will need a vaccine against leptospirosis – a bacteria which can cause severe renal disease.   This is included in the same vaccine as the distemper and parvovirus vaccine.    Bordatella is a bacteria that causes a severe tracheitis and cough (often called “kennel cough”).  The bordatella vaccine is given at the 12 and 15 week visit.    Puppies must be at least 12 weeks old to receive their rabies vaccine.  The rabies vaccine is required for all dogs.

Cornelia Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Vaccine Protocol

Kittens- Kittens follow a similar regimen  as their puppy counterparts.   Kittens need a vaccine to protect against several very infectious respiratory viruses.  This vaccine is given every 3 weeks from the time the kittens are 6 weeks old until they are 15 weeks old.  Once the kittens are 8 weeks old, they need to receive an additional component in the vaccine to protect them against feline leukemia virus- a fatal disease that strikes many unvaccinated cats.    Kittens also must be 12 weeks old before they receive their mandatory rabies vaccine.

Mature dogs-  All dogs should receive a booster of their distemper and parvovirus at one year of age.  After receiving this booster, most dogs should receive additional boosters of this vaccine every three years.  Dogs which will be outside to any extent should continue to receive annual boosters of their leptospirosis vaccine.   The bordatella vaccine should be given every six months, especially to those dog with high exposure activities such as being groomed, boarding animals, or animals which are allowed to roam loose. 

Mature cats-  All cats should receive a booster of their respiratory vaccine at one year of age.  After receiving this booster, most cats should receive additional boosters of this vaccine every three years.  Those cats which will be outside at all, or those that will live with other cats which go outside, should receive annual boosters of their feline leukemia virus every year.

Mature cats and dogs- both must maintain a current rabies vaccination status through the administration of one or three year rabies vaccines.  

Cornelia Veterinary Hospital is proud to announce to the community that it is now staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are now one of the few animal hospitals in the state that can provide this level of emergency critical care to our clients and their beloved pets. Our doctors and technicians are just a phone call away any time day or night!