Protection & Parasite Prevention in Southborough
At Southborough Veterinary Hospital, we focus on preventive care to keep common diseases and disorders from developing in the first place.
When combined with regular wellness exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention form the foundation of your cat or dog's routine healthcare.
Preventive care ensures that your pet lives a long and healthy life. Our team will collaborate with you to develop a personalized preventative care plan for your cat or dog based on their specific needs.
Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Current dog and cat vaccinations are essential when it comes to protecting your furry friend from a range of contagious, often serious, diseases. Having your pet spayed or neutered not only prevents the birth of unwanted litters, but they can also help to protect your pet against some serious forms of cancer. They may also prevent behaviors like howling, scooting, roaming, and aggression.
Cat Vaccinations
In their first year, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases.
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6 to 8 weeks
- FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia)
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10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia, FVRCP
- Feline Leukemia (optional)
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14 to 16 weeks
- Rabies
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia, FVRCP
- Feline Leukemia 2 (optional)
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Spaying, neutering, and microchipping
While the following are not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your cat from several health issues, and therefore fall 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 - 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.
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases.
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6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
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10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
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14 to 16 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
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16 weeks and over
- Leptospirosis
- Lyme (optional but strongly recommended)
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Spaying, neutering, and microchipping
Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from several 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 several 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.
Parasite Prevention
Parasites pose a serious health threat to people and animals in the Metrowest area. Left untreated, parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and in some cases can even be transmitted to other people or pets living in your household. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from 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 spreading several serious conditions in people and pets.
Ear Mites
Tiny, contagious ear mites live in the ear canals of dogs, cats, and other mammals. They reproduce continuously throughout their life.
Heartworm
This thread-like parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites and makes a home in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected pets.
Hookworm
These parasites live in the digestive tract of pets where they feed on blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other conditions.
Roundworm
This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested food. This parasite can rob your pet of 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.