Derived from AAHA- The American Animal Hospital Association Guidelines

Core vaccines- Rabies, Da2p, Bordetella:

– Rabies Virus Vaccine:

*Schedule:

• An initial rabies vaccine is given sometime in the window of 14-16 weeks of age
• An adult Rabies booster is given at 1 year from the time of the puppy vaccine, then every 3 years for life.
• **Rabies vaccines are required by law unless there is an underlying health condition that warrants avoiding vaccination**

– Canine Distemper Virus/Parvovirus/Adenovirus-2/+/-Parainfluenza or Da2P Vaccine:

*Schedule:

• Puppy boosters: Series of at least 3 boosters given 3-4 weeks apart between that age of 6-8 weeks and 16 weeks. Ideal to give 3 total boosters
• Adult booster at 1 year of age, then every 3 years for high risk dogs
• For low risk dogs or those with underlying health problems, vaccine titers (blood test to check antibody levels) are available for canine distemper virus and canine parvovirus
• Vaccine titers can be performed in lieu of revaccinating every 3 years in low risk adult dogs

– Bordetella Bronchiseptica +/- Parainfluenza (intraoral, intranasal, or subcutaneous administration options)

*Schedule:

• A single dose of oral or intranasal Bordetella vaccine is given at or after 8 weeks of age
• Adult dogs receive can receive a Bordetella vaccine every 6-12 months (1-2 times a year) depending on lifestyle and risk
• Adult dogs that do not visit a groomer, daycare, dog parks, or interact with any other dogs DO NOT need a regular Bordetella vaccination

Non-core (optional) vaccines:

– Leptospirosis Vaccine:

*Schedule:

• An initial series of two boosters given 2-4 weeks apart are administered regardless of the age of the pet at the time the series is started. This can start as early as 8 weeks of age in puppies.
• After the initial 2-booster series, the leptospirosis vaccine is boosted annually to maintain immunological protection

– Lyme Disease Vaccine:

*Schedule:

• An initial series of two boosters given 2-4 weeks apart are administered regardless of the age of the pet at the time the series is started. This can start as early as 8 weeks of age in puppies
• After the initial 2-booster series, the Lyme vaccine is boosted annually to maintain immunological protection

– Canine Influenza Vaccine (H3N8, H3N2, or Combo):

*Schedule:

• An initial series of two boosters given 2-4 weeks apart are administered regardless of the age of the pet at the time the series is started. This can start as early as 8 weeks of age in puppies
• After the initial 2-booster series, the Canine Influenza vaccine is boosted annually to maintain immunological protection

At Mindful Veterinary Care, we take a tailored approach to your pet’s health care. This is especially relevant when considering the appropriate protocol for parasite prevention. All dogs and cats, whether they are indoor or outdoor, are susceptible to both internal and external parasites. However, geographic location and lifestyle are important factors to consider when deciding on appropriate parasite prevention for your pet.

For example, a hunting dog in the northeastern United States, where ticks and Lyme disease are endemic, may require a different approach to parasite prevention than a mostly indoor dog that lives in a condominium in Miami Beach. In South Florida, the most important parasites that we are concerned about and should be prevented are heart worms, intestinal parasites and fleas. Ticks are certainly present, but do not seem to be widespread.

External Parasites:

External parasites include fleas, ticks, and skin/ear mites. Both dogs and cats, whether they are indoor or outdoor, are susceptible to external parasites. In South Florida, where the weather is a warm, humid, sub-tropical climate, external parasites are a concern and should be prevented in all dogs and cats.

The rationale for preventing external parasites is that fleas and ticks can spread potentially life threatening infectious diseases and can cause significant itchy skin, discomfort and skin infections. These conditions are easily prevented with sound external parasite prevention.

There are several safe and effective systemic (orally ingested) and topical (on the skin) flea and tick preventives available. Veterinary approved products are typically safe and effective. Please discuss the appropriate approach to your pet’s external parasite prevention with our team.

Internal Parasites:

Internal parasites include blood parasites (heartworms and infectious tick transmitted diseases like Lyme Disease) and intestinal parasites (hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and protozoans like giardia and coccidia).

All of these internal parasites are a high risk in South Florida and can mostly be easily prevented with a monthly heartworm prevention.

There are several approaches to safe and effective internal parasite prevention in at risk pets. Please inquire with the Mindful Veterinary Care team about the best approach to prevention for your pet.

For detailed information about heartworm prevention please visit the American Heartworm Society Website. https://www.heartwormsociety.org/

Just like in people, dogs and cats are susceptible to the progressive onset of dental disease. It is as important to prevent dental disease in your pet as it is in people.

We recommend the following guidelines:

At-home prevention:

• Brush your pet’s teeth daily (or as often as possible)
• Consider an approved dental treat or chew that is safe and effective
• Consider additional at-home dental preventive techniques like wipes or water additives

Regular professional cleanings:

We recommend annual professional dental cleanings as the most effective approach to dental disease prevention. Mindful Veterinary Care offers comprehensive dental services for disease prevention and treatment.

For more information on veterinary dental disease and prevention, please visit www.vohc.org

Most dogs that are new to your environment will require some level of positive reinforcement-based training and controlled socialization. Some dogs require more intensive training than others.

We recommend consulting with a reputable trainer and/or group training socialization classes to help provide you with resources on how to most effectively communicate with your pet.

You never want to be in a position where you have to base your pet’s best interest on financial limitations. To avoid this potentially challenging circumstance, we recommend enrolling in a reasonable pet health insurance plan to help buffer the cost on unexpected veterinary medical expenses. Please see the pet insurance section of our website.