Protection & Prevention
At Whitesburg Animal Hospital, we focus on preventive healthcare to stop common diseases and disorders before they start.
Combined with regular wellness exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention are the foundation of your pet's preventive healthcare plan.
Our team will work with you to create a custom preventive care plan for your cat or dog. We utilize a vaccination schedule based on the guidelines of the American Animal Hospital Association, our years of experience, and the individual needs of your pet.
Vaccinations for exotics are species-specific and administered on an as-needed basis.
Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Keeping your pet's vaccinations up to date is essential when it comes to protecting your furry friend from a range of contagious, often serious, diseases. Our vets also recommend spay and neuter procedures as part of your cat or dog's preventive healthcare anytime they are not being raised specifically for the purpose of breeding.
Having your pet spayed or neutered prevents the birth of unwanted litters, can help to protect your pet against some serious forms of cancer, and may prevent unwanted behaviors such as howling, roaming, and animal aggression.
Cat Vaccinations
In their first year of life, the following kitty shots are needed to protect them from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 9 to 11 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 12 to 16 weeks
- Rabies
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
While the following are not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your cat against various illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - If your pet does become lost, microchipping is the best way to ensure a safe return. Each microchip features a unique number that is entered into an international database. The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected directly under your pet’s skin, normally between the shoulder blades.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, these puppy shots protect your new friend from dangerous diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- 9 to 11 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Bordetella
- Leptospirosis
- 12 to 16 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella
- Booster: Leptospirosis
Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protecting your dog from a number of serious cancers, and helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - If your pet does become lost, microchipping is the best way to ensure a safe return. Each microchip features a unique number that is entered into an international database. The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected directly under your pet’s skin, normally between the shoulder blades.
- Annual
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella
- Booster: Leptospirosis
Parasite Prevention
Parasites pose a serious health threat to people and animals in the Huntsville area. Left untreated, parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and in some cases can even be transmitted to other people or pets living in your household. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from the following common parasites:
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of birds and mammals. Left untreated, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
These external parasites consume the blood of mammals and are responsible for the spread of a number of serious conditions in people and pets.
Ear Mites
Tiny, highly contagious ear mites reside in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals. These parasites reproduce continuously throughout their lifespan.
Heartworm
This thread-like parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites and makes its home in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected animals.
Hookworm
These parasites live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs, where they feed on the pet's blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.
Roundworm
This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can rob your pet of vital nutrients necessary to stay healthy.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms are spread through the ingestion of infected fleas during grooming. These hook-like parasitic worms live and grow in your pet's intestines.
Whipworm
Whipworms are spread through the ingestion of soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.