The vets at Pet Doctors of America are dedicated to preventive care to protect your dog or cat from serious and often life-threatening diseases with pet vaccinations and parasite prevention.

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Protection & Prevention

We focus heavily on preventive care at Pet Doctors of America to keep common diseases from developing in your pets.

Combined with routine wellness checkups, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare. 

Preventing diseases before they can take hold of your pet is the key to a long, healthy life. Our team will work with you to create a custom care plan for your cat or dog that's tailored to their individual needs. 

Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention Services, Jacksonville

Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule

Protecting your best friend from various contagious and often serious conditions is as simple as keeping their vaccinations up-to-date. Likewise, getting your pets spayed or neutered can protect them from serious forms of cancer as much as it protects against unwanted liters. Spaying or neutering surgeries can also be beneficial for preventing undesirable behaviors such as howling, roaming, scooting, and animal aggression.

Cat Vaccinations

In their first year of life, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases. Booster vaccines will be given within 3-4 weeks of the previous dose.

Exact dates will vary based on your vet's preferences.

  • 6 to 8 weeks
    • FeLV/FIV/HW Snap Test
    • Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (FVRCP)
    • Deworming with Profender 
    • Complimentary preventive dose 
  • 9 to 12 weeks
    • FVRCP
    • FeLV #1 (12 weeks of age)
    • Rabies vaccine can legally be given as early as 12 weeks of age in Florida
  • 13 to 15 weeks
    • FVRCP
    • FeLV #2
    • Rabies
  • 16 to 20 weeks
    • FVRCP
    • FeLV #2 if not previously given 
    • Rabies if not previously given

    While the following are not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella. 

    • Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
    • 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 cat 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 18 months: First Feline Annual Vaccines
    • FVRCP- 1 year or 3-year vaccine available; 3-year vaccine strongly recommended
    • FeLV - 1-year vaccine
    • Rabies - 1-year or 3-year vaccine available; 3-year vaccine strongly recommended
    • FeLV/FIV/HW Snap Test - Recommended annually in patients with indoor/outdoor lifestyle
    • Profender deworming - Performed annually

Dog Vaccinations

In their first year, puppies need these shots to protect them from dangerous diseases. Each booster will be administered within 3-4 weeks of its previous dose.

Exact time frames will differ by vet's preferences.

  • 6 to 8 weeks
    • DA2PP
    • Bordetella #1
    • Internal Parasite Screening (Fecal)
    • Deworming with Drontal Taste Tabs
    • Complimentary Preventive Dose
    • +/- Canine Influenza #1 (optional)
  • 9 to 12 weeks
    • DA2PP (Leptospirosis booster #1 given at 12 weeks)
    • Rabies vaccine can legally be given at 12 weeks of age in Florida
    • +/- Canine Influenza #2 (optional)
  • 13 to 15 weeks
      • Rabies
      • DA2LPP
  • 16 to 20 weeks
      • DA2PP (+/- DA2LPP if Leptospirosis needs to be boosted still)
      • Rabies if not previously given
      • Intestinal Parasite Screening (Fecal)

    Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella. 

    • Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent 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, as well as protecting your dog 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 18 months: First Canine Annual Vaccines
    • DA2PP - 3-year vaccine
    • Leptospirosis - 1-year vaccine
    • Bordetella - Bi-annual vaccine
    • Rabies - 3-year vaccine
    • Heartworm/Rickettsial Disease Screening - Performed annually
    • Intestinal Parasite Screening - Performed annually
    • +/- Canine Influenza Vaccine - 1-year vaccine (optional)

Parasite Prevention

Parasites and their corresponding conditions present a huge health threat for Jacksonville pets. When left untreated, parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and in some cases can even be transmitted to other people or pets. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from the following common parasites:

Fleas

Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. If left untreated, fleas can quickly and easily spread throughout your whole household.

Ticks

These external parasites consume the blood of mammals and are responsible for the spread of a large number of serious conditions in people and pets. 

Ear Mites

Tiny, highly contagious ear mites reside in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals. These parasites reproduce continuously throughout their lifespan. 

Heartworm

This string-like parasitic roundworm is spread through infected mosquito bites and sets up residence in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected animals.

Hookworm

These parasites live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs where they feed on the pet's blood. Hookworms can often lead to anemia and other serious conditions.

Roundworm

This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can rob your pet of vital nutrients necessary to stay healthy.

Tapeworm

Tapeworms are spread through the ingestion of infected fleas during grooming. These hook-like parasitic worms live and continually grow in your pet's intestines. 

Whipworm

Whipworms are spread through the ingestion of soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to Jacksonville dogs.

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