WE RECOMMEND that you vaccinATE your adult pet
to protect them from potentially serious diseases and viruses, many of which are caused by internal or external parasites.
or call us at (303) 466-1764.
Keeping a pet healthy involves more than just feeding them a healthy diet, giving them time to exercise, and bringing them in for a wellness exam every year. It’s also important that you vaccinate them. Broomfield Veterinary Hospital offers dog vaccinations, cat vaccinations, and rabbit vaccinations for pets in and around Broomfield, CO. During your pet’s first wellness exam, we’ll ask you questions about their lifestyle to determine which vaccines we recommend. Not all pets of the same species require the same vaccines, so we’ll customize a plan that’s tailored to your pet’s specific needs.
Dog Rabies/Cat Rabies Vaccinations
The rabies vaccine is the only one we require for both dogs and cats. This viral disease is transmitted through the saliva of an animal that’s infected with a virus of the same name. It can affect both animals and humans. A rabies infection causes the brain to swell, which is fatal in most cases. This is why this vaccine is not only a core vaccine (required) for dogs and cats; it’s required by law in Colorado. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats are among the wild animals that most commonly carry rabies.
One of the most common dog vaccines, DA2PP protects dogs against distemper virus, adenovirus types 1 and 2, parvovirus, and parainfluenza virus. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) classifies this vaccine combination as a core vaccine, which means it’s recommended for all dogs, regardless of their lifestyle.
Bordetella is a type of bacteria that causes an infectious respiratory disease in dogs, referred to as kennel cough. Dogs can contract this contagious disease from being around other dogs that are infected with the bacteria, such as in boarding facilities, dog parks, or doggy daycare centers. The Bordetella vaccine is considered a non-core vaccine, which means it’s optional, since some dogs never or rarely come in close proximity with other dogs.
Leptospirosis is a disease that your dog can contract by ingesting the urine of an animal, such as in a puddle of water during a hike, that’s infected with Leptospira bacteria. This disease isn’t just limited to animals; humans can acquire it, too, which categorizes it as a zoonotic disease. We recommend this non-core vaccine for dogs that spend any amount of times in areas where wildlife frequent.
Also known as dog flu, this contagious illness is caused by the influenza A virus that’s spread from dog to dog, similar to Bordetella. The canine influenza vaccine is considered non-core because some dogs don’t come in contact with other dogs, we would recommend it only if your four-legged friend spends time around other dogs.
The FVRCP is a combination vaccine that protects cats against feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), calicivirus (C), and panleukopenia (P), all of which can be fatal and are spread from cat to cat. Considered a core vaccine, we recommend FVRCP for all cats, regardless of lifestyle.
The FeLV vaccine protects against the feline leukemia virus, which is the most common viral disease seen in cats. Like FVRCP, it’s spread from cat-to-cat contact, usually via saliva. However, it is not considered a core vaccine; we typically recommend it for cats with a greater risk of exposure, such as at a boarding facility or cats who spend time outdoors.
Although domestic rabbits aren’t typically vaccinated in the United States, we currently offer the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV-2), as this illness has been prevalent in our area. Broomfield Veterinary Hospital is one of the few veterinary hospitals to offer this vaccine. If you would like to learn more about this vaccine, give us a call or go to the Colorado Department of Agriculture website.