Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I have to vaccinate my new puppy/kitten?

Puppies and kittens received the ability to fight off disease from their mother’s milk, but this immunity starts to fade between 6 and 8 weeks of age. We vaccinate to ‘boost’ this ability; however, we don’t know when the mother’s passed on immunity will be at its lowest and the puppy or kitten at greatest risk of disease. So we recommend vaccinating every 4 weeks starting from 6 to 8 weeks of age until 16 to 20 weeks of age.

What vaccinations does my puppy need?

The vaccines that we recommend immunizing against are Distemper, Adenovirus type 2 (Hepatitis), Para-influenza, and Parvovirus.These four vaccines are given together and are sometimes called distemper combination or DA2PP. Other recommended vaccines include Coronavirus, Bordetella(also know as kennel cough or canine cough), and Rabies. The bordetella vaccine is given after 12 weeks of age, while the rabies vaccine can only be given after 16 weeks of age.

What vaccinations does my kitten need?

The vaccines that we recommend immunizing against are Distemper, Chlamydia, Rhinotracheitis, and Calici virus.These four vaccines are given together and are sometimes called distemper combination or FCVRC. Other recommended vaccines include Leukemia and Rabies. The leukemia vaccine is given after 12 weeks of age, while the rabies vaccine can only be given after 16 weeks of age.

The feline distemper virus is similar to that which infects dogs. Chlamydia, Rhinotracheitis, and Calici are upper airway viruses. Leukemia is the most common cause of death in cats in North America.

What is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is a fatal condition caused by a parasite that is transmitted by mosquito. The adult heartworms live in the heart and interrupt blood flow from the heart to the body. It is very easy to prevent with a once-a-month tablet or an injection every six months. Prevention needs to be given during mosquito season- April to October in Canada or year round if you travel with your dog to warmer climates in the winter time. An added benefit of the once-a-month tablets is that they will deworm your pet at the same time. This disease affects primarily dogs, but cats are susceptible, as are some immune-compromised people.

What kind of food should I be feeding my pet?

At Heartland we recommend feeding a high quality pet food to enhance your pet's quality of life and longevity. The diets that we recommend are Hills Science Diet & Hills Prescription Diet. The one you choose depends on the age of your pet, body condition, health risks or conditions, and your pet's taste preference. These foods are of the highest quality, guaranteed 100% by their manufacturers, and we feed them to OUR pets! We will be happy to recommend the correct one for your pet.

Definitions:
Immunity – n. proof against disease
Deworm – v. to give a medication which kills intestinal parasites