Core Vaccines for Dogs and Cats: What Every Pet Needs
Vaccines are one of the most important tools for keeping pets healthy and preventing the spread of contagious diseases. While every pet’s lifestyle is different, core vaccines are considered essential for all dogs and cats because they protect against diseases that are widespread, severe, or transmissible to humans.
Core Vaccines for Dogs
- Rabies: Required by law in most areas and protects against a fatal, zoonotic virus.
- Distemper, Adenovirus, and Parvovirus (DHPP): A combination vaccine that guards against three serious and potentially deadly infections.
- Bordatella: A vaccine that protects against “Kennel Cough”, a contagious respiratory infection that spreads quickly when dogs socialize. It is often required by boarding and daycare facilities.
- Leptospirosis: This vaccine protects against the bacterial infection that affects the liver and kidneys and can be spread to humans. Dogs can be exposed through contaminated water or soil, so vaccination is essential.
Core Vaccines for Cats
- Rabies: Protects cats and their owners from this deadly virus.
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (FVRCP): Provides protection against common upper respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases.
Why Core Vaccines Matter
Even indoor pets can be exposed to viruses through open windows, shared surfaces, or contact with other animals at the vet or groomer. Staying up to date on vaccinations not only keeps your pet safe but also supports community health through herd immunity.
Your veterinarian can help determine an appropriate vaccination schedule and whether your pet may also benefit from non-core vaccines based on lifestyle and location.
To ensure your pet is fully protected, call us or book online to schedule a wellness visit and vaccination review.
About Us
At Partners Veterinary Group, we believe in energizing our team members through shared values, while helping them create value for our clients and patients. Knowing we can help make pets’ and people’s lives better motivates us to continually strive for excellence and love what we do.
Our team consistently works to build educational, supportive, and cooperative work environments that cater to positive experiences and professional growth. We’re constantly evolving, creating innovative ways to deliver cutting-edge medicine to our patients. We equip our teams with tools to enhance their skills and improve their knowledge.