Cat and Dog Vaccinations Help Protect the Manassas Community

A vaccine is the first line of defense against a spreading disease. Just as we need vaccinations to protect us from rabies, tetanus, flu, and other viruses, dogs and cats likewise receive ample protection against harmful viruses when they’re vaccinated. At Prince William Animal Hospital, providing cat and dog vaccinations not only benefits pets—it also makes Manassas and surrounding areas much healthier and safer.

Is your pet current with their immunizations?

Make an appointment

...or give us a call at (703) 361-5223

Protecting Dogs and Cats from Over-Vaccinating

Pet parents are often concerned about over-vaccinating their pets, and these concerns are not unfounded. However, our veterinarians know that less can be more, particularly when it comes to protecting dogs and cats from illness. Our animal hospital offers 1-year and 3-year vaccines, and several of the vaccines we carry are given based on lifestyle and degree of risk. Furthermore, we create a vaccine schedule for each patient to ensure that they receive the right vaccines at the right time.

What About Vaccine Side Effects?

Dogs and cats can experience side effects from their vaccinations, but these are usually mild, and not very common. Such side effects usually include minor soreness and swelling around the site of injection, and temporary lethargy.

In rare cases, some pets might develop an allergic reaction to one or more vaccines. To minimize the risk of an allergic reaction, we use ultra-filtered vaccines. These are just as effective at protecting dogs and cats--and much safer.

Vaccines We Recommend for All Dogs and Cats

The following vaccines are ones we highly recommend for all of our patients.

Rabies

The state of Virginia requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies before reaching 4 months of age. The rabies virus affects the central nervous system and can be found in wildlife including skunks, raccoons, foxes, and bats. When a pet becomes infected, fatality is almost always a certainty. Due to the deadly nature of the rabies virus, it is necessary for all companion animals to receive this vaccine.

Canine Distemper & FVRCP

Canine distemper is another deadly virus that spreads among dogs, targeting the gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Treatment is possible if the virus is detected early enough.

FVRCP is short for “feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.” The FVRCP vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects against all of the above illnesses. Panleukopenia is a form of parvovirus and is highly contagious. Calicivirus is a common respiratory disease, and feline viral rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory infection caused by the feline herpes virus.

If you need to establish a vaccination schedule for your pet, give us a call at (703) 361-5223!

I’ve been with this Hospital since 1997 wouldn’t change if I had too. My babies have always been treated like royalty at Prince William Animal Hospital!

Angela B.