Protection & Prevention
At Rockland Veterinary, we focus on preventive care to prevent common diseases and disorders from developing at all.
Cat & dog vaccinations and parasite prevention, when combined with regular wellness exams, form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.
Preventive care gives your pet the best chance at a long, healthy life. Our team will collaborate with you to develop a preventive care plan for your cat or dog that is specific to their needs.
Pet Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Current dog and cat vaccinations are essential when it comes to protecting your furry friend from a range of contagious — and often serious diseases. Spaying or neutering your pet not only prevents unwanted litters, but these common veterinary procedures can also help protect your pet from some serious cancers. Unwanted behaviors such as howling, scooting, roaming and aggression may be prevented as well.
Cat Vaccinations
In their first year of life, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases:
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
While the following are not vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping will help protect your cat from a number of health issues, which is why they fall under the umbrella of preventive healthcare.
- Spay (females): Spaying your female cat helps to prevent unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat from serious illnesses and can help to prevent behaviors related to heat cycles, like howling and scooting.
- 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 aggression.
- Microchipping: A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice. Microchipped pets have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they become separated.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies should get the following shots to protect them from dangerous diseases:
- 6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP
- 10 to 12 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: DHPP
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Although spaying, neutering, and microchipping are not vaccinations, they help protect your dog from a variety of health problems and, thus, fall under the category of preventive healthcare.
- Spay (female): Spaying your female dog will prevent her from having puppies, as well as 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 while also protecting him from a number of serious cancers and helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping: A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
- 12 to 16 Months
- Final Booster: DHPP
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Parasite Prevention for Pets in Rockland County
Parasites pose a serious health threat to both people and animals in the Rockland County area. If left untreated, parasites can put your cat or dog's life in danger and, in some cases, they can spread to other people or pets in your home. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from a variety of parasites, including:
Fleas
Fleas are parasitic insects that eat the blood of birds and mammals. Fleas can quickly spread throughout your home if left untreated.
Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that feed on mammalian blood and are responsible for the spread of a variety of serious diseases in humans and pets.
Ear Mites
Tiny and highly contagious, ear mites reside in the ear canals of mammals, including dogs and cats. These parasites reproduce continuously throughout their lifespan.
Heartworm
This thread-like parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites and lives in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected animals.
Hookworm
These parasites feed on the blood of cats and dogs and live in their digestive tracts. Hookworms can cause anemia and other serious health problems.
Roundworm
This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can rob your pet of vital nutrients that they need 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 via ingestion of soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.