Protection & Prevention
At Surfside Animal Hospital, we emphasize preventive care to avert the development of common diseases and disorders.
Combined with regular wellness exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.
Preventive care helps to ensure that your pet lives a long and healthy life. Our team will collaborate with you to develop a personalized preventive care plan for your cat or dog based on their specific needs.
Pet Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Current dog and cat vaccinations are required to protect your pet from a variety of contagious, often fatal, diseases. Spaying or neutering your pet not only prevents the birth of an unwanted litter, but these common veterinary procedures can also help to protect your pet from some serious forms of cancer. They have the potential to prevent undesirable behaviors such as howling, scooting, roaming, and aggression.
Cat Vaccinations
In their first year of life, kittens need the following shots to protect them 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
While not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your cat from a variety of health issues and thus fall under the category of preventive health care.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat from serious illnesses, and can help to prevent heat-related behaviors such as howling and scooting.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents him from fathering unwanted kittens, protects him from various illnesses, and can aid in the prevention of 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 is implanted beneath the skin of your pet. Pets with microchips have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they become separated.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies need these shots 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)
- Rattlesnake Bite (Optional)
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
- Rattlesnake Bite (Optional)
While not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a variety of health issues and thus fall under the category of preventive health care.
- Spay (female) - Spaying your female dog will prevent her from having puppies, but it will also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles, which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Neutering your male dog prevents him from fathering unwanted puppies, protects him from various illnesses, and can aid in the prevention of territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, 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 16 months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
- Final Booster: Rattlesnake Bite (Optional)
Parasite Prevention
Parasites are a serious health risk to both humans and animals in the Oceanside area. Parasites, if left untreated, can endanger the life of your cat or dog and, in some cases, can be transmitted to other people or pets in your home. Our parasite prevention products can protect your dog or cat against the following common parasites:
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of birds and mammals. Left untreated, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
These external parasites consume the blood of mammals and are responsible for the spread of several 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 lifetime.
Heartworm
This thread-like parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites and makes its home 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 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 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 dogs.
