Cat and Dog Vaccinations in Atlanta, GA Promoting Lasting Health
At Paces Ferry Veterinary Clinic, we believe in giving every pet the very best chance at living their best and longest life with you. An essential part of ensuring their health is with vaccinations. Cat and dog vaccinations protect against dangerous diseases that are much more common in Atlanta, GA, than you may realize! Our veterinarians only use the industry’s safest vaccines and we also take time to develop a personalized dog and cat vaccination protocol for your pet’s individual needs.
Is your pet due for vaccine boosters?
...or give us a call at (770) 436-9822.
Our Cat & Dog Vaccine Recommendations for Atlanta, GA Pet Owners
Your pet’s well-being is our top priority. We take time to understand their lifestyle so we can recommend the right vaccinations for them. While there are core vaccines we recommend for every pet due to the dangerous and prevalent nature of the diseases they protect against, others are considered “lifestyle” vaccines. Lifestyle vaccines are only necessary if your pet's risk of coming in contact with the disease is high.
Here’s a list of our dog and cat vaccinations and when we recommend them:
- Rabies vaccine – for dogs in Georgia, rabies is required by law; triennial vaccine
- DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus) – recommended for all dogs; annual vaccine
- Bordetella (intranasal or injectable) – recommended for dogs who board, are groomed, or are otherwise frequently around other dogs; 6-month or 1-year vaccine
- Leptospirosis (4-strain) – recommended for most dogs, especially those who are often outdoors in wildlife areas; annual vaccine
- Lyme disease – recommended for dogs who hike in tick-infested areas with their parents; annual vaccine
- Canine influenza – recommended for dogs who often go to dog parks, group training classes, boarding, daycare, and other social events; annual vaccine
- Rabies vaccine – for cats in Georgia, rabies is required by law; triennial vaccine
- FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) – recommended for all cats; annual vaccine
- Feline leukemia – recommended for outdoor cats; annual vaccine
Avoiding Over-Vaccination and Injection Site Problems
We're commonly asked, “Does my pet need all these vaccines?” The short answer is yes; they are essential for your pet’s long-term health. Yet, over-vaccination concerns and fear of injection site problems sometimes steer pet parents away from vaccines. At Paces Ferry Veterinary Clinic, we follow stringent industry guidelines for cat and dog vaccinations that are designed to minimize the risk of over-vaccination and injection site problems.
The guidelines include:
- Non-adjuvanted vaccines for cats – Adjuvants are chemical additives that help stimulate the body’s immune system to respond to the vaccine. For cats, these chemicals have been known to cause injection-site sarcoma and other issues, so we only use non-adjuvanted vaccines for our feline patients.
- An appropriate schedule for revaccination – We won’t revaccinate your pet until it’s time for their booster, whether it’s a yearly, semiannual, or triennial vaccine.
- Tailoring vaccines to your specific pet – We only recommend vaccines your pet needs to stay healthy based on their age, breed, and lifestyle.
If you have questions about your cat or dog’s vaccination schedule, please contact us at (770) 436-9822! We’re here to put your mind at ease.