Protection & Prevention
At Animal Medical Center, we have a close focus in preventive care as a means of keeping common diseases and disorders from developing in your pet in the first place.
When combined with the preventive care afforded by routinely scheduled wellness exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.
Preventive care gives your dog or cat their best chance at a long, healthy and happy life. Our vets will work closely with you in order to create a customized preventive care plan for your dog or cat that is tailored to their specific needs.
Pet Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Up-to-date dog and cat vaccinations are critical when it comes to protecting your four-legged friend from a wide variety of contagious and serious diseases. Similarly, having your pet spayed or neutered protects your pets against disease like certain cancers, in addition to preventing the birth of unwanted litters. These procedures may also prevent unwanted behaviors like scooting, roaming howling, 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 the following aren't kitten vaccinations, neutering, spaying and microchipping all help to protect your cat from a wide variety of health issues and, therefore, fall comfortably under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your cat against various illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - Microchipping is a permanent form of identification that is placed under your pet's skin and is about the size of one grain of rice. Microchipped pets have a far better chance of being reunited with their owners if lost.
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)
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can help to prevent 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 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)
Parasite Prevention
Parasites pose a serious health risk to both people and pets in the Murfreesboro area. If not promptly treated, parasites may threaten the life of your dog or cat and, in some cases, may even be transmitted to other pets or people living in your household. Our parasite prevention products can help to protect your cat or dog from any of the following common parasites:
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of birds and mammals, leaping from host to host. Left untreated, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
These external parasites feed by consuming the blood of mammals and are capable of spreading of a number of serious conditions in people and pets such as Lyme disease.
Ear Mites
Tiny, highly contagious ear mites reside in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals. These parasites reproduce continuously throughout the course of their life.
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.