AAHA Accredited

Vaccines are generally very safe and can prevent extremely painful and fatal diseases in your furry best friend. Our vaccination protocols are based on the local disease risk and reported exposure levels in BC. As an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited clinic, we follow their recommendation to minimize health risks.

Vaccine Recommendations

Age Recommended Vaccinations
8 Weeks
  • FVRCP
12 Weeks
  • FVRCP
  • Feline Leukemia
16 Weeks
  • FVRCP
  • Feline Leukemia
  • Rabies
Annual
  • FVRCP
  • Feline Leukemia
  • Rabies
Every 3 Years
  • FVRCP
  • Rabies

Information On Vaccinations

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia

    • Rhinotracheitis: a type of herpes virus (not transmissible to humans), causes severe upper respiratory signs in young kittens or sick cats, with symptoms such as snotty nose and eyes, lethargy, not eating, marked dehydration, pneumonia and eye ulcers. This can be fatal in some cases, or require extensive hospitalization and often lead life long symptoms.
    • Calicivirus: is a disease that generally manifests with oral lesions such as ulcers on the tongue and cheek, eyes, but also leads to fever, runny nose and eyes, and can sometimes take over the body and cause death. Is not commonly seen in indoor cats but can be transmitted at a young age while the kittens are being weaned.
    • Panleukopenia (Distemper): Similar to canine parvovirus, this disease causes severe diarrhea and dehydration and often results in death (90% mortality rate). The virus invades the bone marrow causing depletion of white blood cells (cells that fight infection), which renders the cat unable to fight off infection. If a queen is affected while pregnant, the kitten may abort, or be left with residual brain damage.

The two worst things about this disease is that it is FATAL to animals, and AFFECTS HUMANS (known as Zoonotic Disease). In BC, rabies is carried through bats, but a variety of animals can be affected such as skunks, raccoons, and other wildlife.

This a virus typically shared between grooming cats (saliva, urine and feces) and 1/10 cats are infected with this virus in the general population. The virus can lead to a variety of signs such as not eating and weight loss, recurring infections of organs, suppression of the bone marrow, anemia, jaundice and diarrhea. This deadly disease can often be avoided with proper vaccination and education.

Important Note: Feline Leukemia is mandatory as per AAHA recommendations. The protocol is to vaccinate as a kitten and get a booster at 1 year. Then it is only boosted afterwards if they are an outdoor cat or in multi cat households. It requires a small blood test that is done in-house before vaccinating as 1 in 10 cats have FeLV and if they are positive then we don’t need to vaccinate them as they already have the disease

local richmond vet for animals and cats

Wellness Plan

“Just because you should vaccinate every 3 years, doesn’t mean your little fur ball doesn’t need their annual wellness exam! Cats are skilled predators and are biologically skilled at masking diseases until significant progression.”

Ready For A Visit?

Keep your pet healthy, let us help with your vaccinations.