Health Recommendations

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Canine Health Recommendations:

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Puppy (<1 year old)

  1. A distemper (dhlpp) vaccine every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age
  2. A rabies vaccine when greater than 16 weeks old
  3. A bordatella (“kennel cough”) vaccine to protect them from the bordatella virus which can lead to pneumonia in puppies.
  4. A lyme vaccination if they live in a wooded area, if there is a large deer population where you live, or if you camp/hike a lot with your dog.
  5. Monthly heartworm prevention and flea & tick prevention obtained from your veterinarian.
  6. Puppy training! Take a class! It is the best money and time you will ever spend on your dog!
  7. Neuter or spay your dog! There are numerous health and behavioral problems that intact dogs are susceptible to.
  8. Fecal analysis to check for parasites. This is crucial! Some parasites can be passed to humans. Yuck!
  9. Protect your pet! Buy health insurance now to plan for the unexpected!

Adult (1-7 years old)

  1. Yearly examination by your veterinarian. Keep all core vaccines (distemper and rabies) up to date. Ask your veterinarian about titers if your dog has had a bad reaction to a prior vaccine. Consider giving other vaccines like Lyme, Influenza and Bordatella.
  2. Test for heartworm and lyme disease yearly via simple blood test. Early detection is key!
  3. Monthly heartworm preventative and flea & tick prevention obtained from your veterinarian.
  4. Yearly fecal analysis to check for parasites
  5. Yearly dentals if recommended by your veterinarian

Senior (>7 years old)

  1. Examinations by your veterinarian every 6 months.
  2. Senior bloodwork every 6 months to detect problems with your dog’s kidneys, liver, gall bladder, thyroid, red and white blood cells.
  3. Continue core vaccines (distemper and rabies). Assess whether your dog is at risk and if they need Lyme, Influenza and Bordatella vaccines.
  4. Yearly dentals if recommended by your veterinarian
  5. Yearly fecal analysis to check for parasites
  6. Assess and manage chronic health conditions like arthritis with your veterinarian

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Feline Health Recommendations

Kitten (< 1 year old)

  1. A feline distemper (FVRCP) vaccine every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
  2. A rabies vaccine given at 16 weeks of age or older. **NOTE: Harborside only uses non-adjuvanted vaccines on cats. These are the only vaccines NOT associated with causing cancer at the injection site**
  3. All kittens should receive the feline leukemia series when they are a kitten even if they will be “strictly indoor.” This is done just in case they escape outside or they have a lifestyle change or if you accidently bring an infected cat into your house. This is a recommendation by the American Association of Feline Practicioners. Feline leukemia is a fatal disease and there is no cure for it. However, the vaccine is 100% protective.
  4. All kittens should be tested for feline leukemia and feline aids before being introduced into the household. Feline leukemia is highly contagious, fatal and is easily spread by saliva (hissing, licking, sharing food bowls). Feline aids is spread via deep bite wound and causes lifelong immune system problems.
  5. A fecal analysis should be done to check your kitten for worms.
  6. Monthly Revolution (flea & tick & heartworm prevention) should be applied topically.
  7. Protect your pet! Buy health insurance for them to plan for the unexpected!
  8. Spay or neuter your kitten before 8 months of age. Most females go into their 1st heat by this time and males will start to mark areas of the house with their urine.

Adult (1-7 years old)

  1. Continue to vaccinate for feline distemper (FVRCP) and rabies as recommended by your veterinarian.
  2. Vaccinate your cat against Feline Leukemia only if they go outside, if there is another cat in the house that goes outside or if you rescue cats and bring them in to your house.
  3. Yearly fecal analysis. Yes, even indoor cats get worms. We can track worms into the house from the dirt on our shoes. Also, some indoor cats catch mice who wander into the house. Mice can infect cats with tapeworms and roundworms.
  4. Monthly Revolution applied.
  5. Dentals as recommended by your veterinarian.
  6. Alert your veterinarian immediately if any behavioral problems like inappropriate elimination are observed. Intervening early when a behavioral problem starts to arise usually yields a much better result than waiting.

Senior (> 7 years of age)

  1. Your cat should have bloodwork done every 6 months at this point to detect any metabolic problems early! Cats are great at hiding their sickness. By detecting disease early, we can intervene with simple things like a diet change that will greatly extend their lifespan.
  2. Observe your cat carefully for any increase in drinking or urination, decreases or increases in appetite, weight loss or vomiting. Get bloodwork and radiographs done if these signs are observed.
  3. Yearly dentals as recommended by your veterinarian.
  4. Continue to vaccinate yearly for Rabies (the non-adjuvanted vaccine only lasts one year). Most cats are given the feline distemper vaccine every 3 years at this point if they have been receiving the non-adjuvanted vaccine. Continue to vaccinate yearly for feline leukemia if your cat goes outside.
  5. Apply Revolution monthly.
  6. Fecal analysis yearly.