Pet Vaccinations in Great Falls

Protect Your Pets Against Illness & Disease

Preventative care for your pets starts at a young age, and the most critical step you should take to protect your pet today and long into the future is with vaccines. At Great Falls Animal Hospital, we are advocates of vaccinating your pets, as it not only protects them but can protect your family from contracting diseases as well. Our veterinarians have extensive experience and can discuss with you the appropriate shots for your pet.

Reach out to Great Falls Animal Hospital today at (703) 594-7363 to schedule an appointment for your pet’s vaccinations. We care for animals in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

What Are Vaccines?

Vaccines are deactivated viruses or bacteria that, in small doses, are delivered into your pet’s body, causing their immune system to develop antibodies that will fight off that specific illness. If your pet comes into contact with that disease in the future, they will most likely be able to fight it off without ever showing any signs of sickness.

It’s important to know that not all vaccines that are available need to be administered to your pet. Our Great Falls vaccination vets will decide which vaccinations are appropriate depending on certain factors about your pet, including age, environment, and breed. We won’t give them anything just for the sake of giving them something because it’s available. We have your pet’s best interests in mind.

The most common vaccinations for dogs and cats include:

• Dogs: All dogs must be vaccinated for rabies as required by Virginia State Law. We also vaccinate all dogs for distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and leptospirosis. If your dog goes to the dog park, groomers, obedience classes, or boarding kennel, etc., we recommend vaccinating against Tracheobronchitis (Bordetella) and Canine Influenza. We also have a safe and effective vaccine for Lyme disease that we are recommending for all dogs.
• Cats: All cats must be vaccinated against rabies as required by Virginia State Law. All cats in our practice are vaccinated against distemper and upper respiratory viruses. The feline leukemia virus vaccine may also be recommended.

Vaccinating New Pets

If you are a parent of a newborn pet, we highly recommend you schedule their first round of vaccinations. Kittens and puppies are highly susceptible to many infectious diseases. Their mother’s milk provides a limited natural immunity that eventually wears off. We won’t give you new pet all their vaccinations at once, but will instead spread them out over approximately 12 to 16 weeks.

Don’t wait to schedule your vaccinations! Reach out to our Great Falls veterinarians today to get started!