Preventative Care
For longer, happier lives.
360 Care
Preventive medicine is the foundation of everything we do — vaccinations, flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, an annual heartworm test, and a fecal exam at least once a year. None of it is glamorous, and that's the point: it's how we catch a problem while it's still cheap and simple to treat, and how we protect your household from the diseases pets can pass to people.
Vaccination Guidelines
We follow AAHA's vaccination guidelines, which split vaccines into two groups: core vaccines every dog and cat should have, and non-core vaccines we recommend based on lifestyle and risk — things like Bordetella, Canine Influenza, or Lyme disease for pets who are boarded, groomed, or spend real time outdoors.
Canine Vaccinations
| Vaccine | Initial series (≤16 weeks) | Initial series (>16 weeks) | Revaccination |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAPP (Distemper / Adenovirus / Parvovirus, +/- Parainfluenza) | At least 3 doses of a combination vaccine between 6 and 16 weeks, 2–4 weeks apart | 2 doses of a combination vaccine, 2–4 weeks apart | As recommended |
| Leptospira (killed, 4-serovar) | Two doses, 2–4 weeks apart, starting at 12 weeks of age | Two doses, 2–4 weeks apart | Annual |
| Rabies | By 4 months (per OC law) | By 4 months (per OC law) | As required by law |
Orange County requires dogs to be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months of age. As with any vaccine, adverse reactions can occur — facial swelling, skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in rare cases, sudden collapse. Tell us right away if you notice anything unusual after a visit.
Feline Vaccinations
| Vaccine | Initial series (≤16 weeks) | Initial series (>16 weeks) | Revaccination |
|---|---|---|---|
| FVRCP | No earlier than 6 weeks, then every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks old | Two doses, 3–4 weeks apart | As recommended |
| FeLV | Two doses, 3–4 weeks apart, starting as early as 8 weeks of age | Two doses, 3–4 weeks apart | Annual or as recommended |
| Rabies | By 4 months (per OC recommendation) | By 4 months (per OC recommendation) | As required by law |
Orange County recommends vaccinating cats for rabies and keeping a collar with an ID tag on them, even indoor cats.
Parasite Prevention
Internal Parasites
Roundworms, hookworms, and other intestinal parasites are common in puppies and kittens and can spread to people, especially children. Routine fecal exams catch them early, and monthly prevention keeps them from coming back.
Fleas and Ticks
Beyond the itching, fleas and ticks carry real disease risk. We recommend Simparica Trio as a monthly option that also covers heartworm prevention, so you're not juggling multiple products and schedules.
Heartworms
Heartworm disease is preventable and expensive to treat once a pet is infected. We test annually and offer Proheart, an injectable heartworm preventive, for owners who'd rather not track a monthly dose.
Let's build a prevention plan
A quick visit now is easier than a complicated one later.