Protection & Prevention

At our Capitola veterinary clinic, we take a focus on preventive medicine to stop common, contagious, and dangerous diseases and conditions from ever developing in the first place.

Combined with regular wellness exams, pet vaccinations, and parasite prevention form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.

Preventive care provides your beloved pet the best opportunity for a long, healthy, and happy life. Our team will work closely with you to create a customized preventive care plan for your dog or cat that is tailored to their unique needs.

Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention Services, Capitola

Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule

Up-to-date dog and cat vaccinations are critical when it comes to protecting your four-legged friend against a range of serious diseases.

Likewise, having your pet spayed and neutered not only prevents the birth of unwanted litters of puppies or kittens, but also helps to protect your companion against a range of serious illnesses like some cancers. They can also curb some unwanted behaviors like scooting, howling, roaming, and animal aggression.

Cat Vaccinations

In their first year of life, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious 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 following isn't a list of kitten shots, microchipping, spaying, and neutering your pet will help to protect your cat from an array of health issues and, therefore, can be considered within the preventive 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 these shots to protect them from dangerous 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
Although the following are not puppy shots, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of 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) - Neutering your dog can help to prevent him from fathering unwanted puppies in addition to protecting him from a number of different and serious cancers. This procedure can also reduce behaviors like aggression or roaming.
- 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.
12 to 16 Months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)

Parasite Prevention

Parasites can pose a serious risk to your Capitola pet's health and well-being. If they aren't promptly treated, parasites can even threaten the life of your dog or cat and be transmitted to other pets or people living in your home.

The parasite prevention products we offer at Santa Cruz Veterinary Hospital can help protect your dog or cat from any of 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 the spread of a number of serious conditions in people and pets.

Ear Mites

Tiny, highly contagious ear mites reside in the ear canals of dogs, cats, and other mammals. These parasites reproduce continuously throughout their lifespan.

Heartworm

This thread-like parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites and makes its home in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected animals.

Hookworm

These parasites live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs where they feed on the pet's blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.

Roundworm

This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can rob your pet of vital 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.

« Go Back

Pet Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention