Roadrunner Animal Hospital

Pet Vaccination Protocols

Dogs

• First vaccine, DHPP at 6 to 8 weeks of age.
• DHPP vaccines are given every 3 weeks until the pet is 16 to 18 weeks of age, then boostered yearly.
• Bordetella vaccines can be given as early as 12 weeks of age and boostered 3 weeks later.
• Bordetella is an annual vaccine, unless otherwise indicated by a boarding/grooming facility.
• Rabies vaccine is MANDATORY by Maricopa County for all domestic dogs and is given as a puppy after the dog is 12 weeks old.
• The initial Rabies vaccine is good for one year, and then every vaccine after the initial Rabies is considered good for 3 years.
• Dogs that come in without proof of vaccine history should be vaccinated with a 1 year Rabies vaccine. They will also need 2 boosters of DHPP and Bordetella vaccines.
• Giardia vaccine is not recommended at this time unless the dog has a history of persistent diarrhea and has tested positive for Giardiasis. We can also vaccinate if the dog commonly participates in outdoor activities i.e. hiking, camping, field trials.
• Rattlesnake vaccine is available but is not currently recommended by this hospital as a core vaccine.
• Leptosporosis is not currently recommended by this hospital as a core vaccination.
• Coronavirus is not currently recommended by this hospital.

Cats

• First vaccine, FVRCP* at 6 to 9 weeks of age.
• FVRCP* vaccines are given every 3 weeks until the pet is 16 to 18 weeks of age.
• Stray cats or cats with unknown vaccination history are vaccinated with a series of 2 boosters of the FVRCP vaccine.
• Rabies vaccinations are recommended for ALL cats but not required by Maricopa County.
• FeLV** testing is recommended for ALL kittens.
• The FeLV vaccine is not required but recommended if cats go outdoors or are exposed to other cats. The vaccine is given at 9 weeks of age and boostered 3 weeks later, and then given annually.
• FeLV is not recommended for cats that are strictly indoors.
• FIV*** is not currently recommended by this hospital as a core vaccine.
• FIP**** is not currently recommended by this hospital as a core vaccine.