Protection & Prevention
At Community Veterinary Clinic, our focus is on preventive care to stop common diseases and disorders from developing in the first place.
When combined with regular wellness exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.
Preventive care at our Turlock vet clinic can include anything from pet vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments to microchipping, spays and neuters.
If a treatment can stop a potential health issue from arising altogether, it falls under the preventive care umbrella.
Preventive care gives your pet the best chance at a long, healthy life. Our team will work with you to create a custom preventive care plan for your beloved pet with their unique needs in mind.
Reproductive Surgery & Pet Vaccination Schedule
Keeping your dog and cat's vaccinations up-to-date is essential when it comes to protecting them from a range of contagious, potentially serious, diseases. Having your pet spayed or neutered not only prevents the birth of unwanted offspring, but can also help to protect your pet against some forms of cancer. Additionally, these common surgeries can help deter unwanted behaviors like howling, scooting, roaming, and animal aggression.
Cat Vaccinations
During their first year of life, kittens should receive the following shots for protection from serious diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Rabies
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
Although the following are not vaccinations, spaying/neutering and microchipping can protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can deter behaviors like howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, shields him from 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. It is placed under the skin, making it more likely for them to be reunited with their owners if they are lost.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies need these vaccines to protect them from dangerous diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
The following are not vaccinations for puppies, spaying/neutering and microchipping can help to protect your dog from a number of health issues, placing it under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Spaying will prevent your female dog from having puppies, and can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Neutering prevents 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 with microchips placed are more likely to be reunited with their owners if they are lost.
- 12 to 16 months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Parasite Prevention
Parasites can post a serious threat to the health of pets and people alike in the Turlock area. If unaddressed, parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and in some cases can even be transmitted to other people or pets living in your household. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from the following common parasites:
Fleas
These external parasites feed on the blood of birds and mammals. If unaddressed, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
Ticks are external parasites that consume the blood of mammals. They are responsible for the spread of several serious conditions in people and pets.
Ear Mites
These tiny, highly contagious parasites reside in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals. They reproduce continuously throughout their lifespan.
Heartworm
Heartworms are spread through mosquito bites and make their home in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected animals.
Hookworm
Hookworms reside in the digestive tract of cats and dogs, where they feed on the pet's blood, causing anemia and other serious conditions.
Roundworm
Roundworms live in the intestine and feed on its partially digested contents, robbing your pet of vital nutrients necessary to stay healthy.
Tapeworm
These parasites spread through the ingestion of infected fleas during grooming. Tapeworms live and grow in your pet's intestines.
Whipworm
These parasites are spread via the ingestion of soil contaminated by an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.