Protection & Prevention
At Nolana Animal Hospital, we prioritize preventive care to prevent common disorders and diseases from emerging in the first place.
When combined with regular wellness exams, pet vaccinations, and parasite prevention establish the foundation of your cat or dog's routine healthcare.
Preventive care provides your pet the best chance at a long and healthy life. Our veterinary team will work with you to develop a customized preventive care plan that is tailored to your cat or dog's unique needs.
Animal Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
It's essential to keep your dog or cat's vaccinations current and up to date when it comes to keeping your animal companion safe from a variety of contagious often serious illnesses and diseases. Getting your pet spayed/neutered doesn't just prevent the birth of unwanted puppies or kittens; these common veterinary surgeries could also help protect your pet from some serious kinds of cancer. They also may prevent undesirable behaviors such as roaming, scooting, howling, and animal aggression.
Vaccinations for Cats
Kittens require the following shots in their first year of life to protect them from dangerous diseases.
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Rabies
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
While the isn't a list of vaccinations for kittens, spaying, neutering, and microchipping are able to help protect your cat from various health issues, falling within the umbrella of preventive health care
- Spay (females) - Spaying for female cats prevents the birth of unwanted kittens, keeps your cat safe against severe illnesses, and can help prevent undesirable behaviors such as howling and scooting which accompanies heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat keeps them from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your kitty from various illnesses, and helps prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent identification method that's roughly the size of a grain of rice and is placed under your kitty's skin. Pets that have a microchip are more likely to be reunited with their owners if they become lost.
Vaccinations for Dogs
Puppies in their first year require the shots listed below to keep them safe from serious 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)
Even though below isn't a list of puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping can protect your pup from a handful of health issues, and therefore falls beneath the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Female dogs that are spayed will be protected from certain types of cancer, it also prevents the birth of unwanted puppies and regular heat cycles that can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can keep your male dog from fathering puppies, as well as protect them from a variety of serious cancers, and help reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that's about the size of a rice grain and is placed under your pup's skin. Pets that are microchipped are more likely to be reunited with their owners if they become lost.
- 12 to 16 months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Parasite Prevention
Parasites are a serious threat to the health of both animals and humans in the McAllen area. If they arent treat quickly parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and can sometimes be transmitted to other pets and people living in your home. The parasite prevention we offer at Nolana Animal Hospital can help keep your pet safe from these common parasites:
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of birds and mammals. If they aren't treated fast, fleas can spread throughout your home quickly.
Ticks
These external parasites consume the blood of mammals and are responsible for spreading a variety of serious illnesses in pets and people.
Ear Mites
Ear mites are tiny and highly contagious. They reside in the ear canals of dogs, cats, and other mammals. They continuously reproduce during their lifespan.
Heartworm
This thread-like parasitic roundworm spreads through mosquito bites and lives in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of animals that are infected.
Hookworm
These parasites feed on the blood of infected pets and reside in the digestive tract of cats and dogs. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.
Roundworm
Roundworm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can steal the vital nutrients your pet needs to stay healthy.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms are transmitted when infected fleas are ingested during grooming. These hook-like parasitic worms live and grow in the intestines of your pet.
Whipworm
Whipworms spread when your pet ingests soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms are a serious risk to the health of dogs.