Dog Vaccinations in Los Angeles

A big part of being a responsible pet owner is keeping your dog healthy. This includes bringing it into our office for regular vaccinations. Vaccines are medications that help to prevent the most serious diseases that are passed between animals, including some that can be fatal. At Hancock Park Veterinary Clinic, we don’t believe in overmedicating dogs, but our goal is to make sure your pet’s immune system is strengthened enough to fight off disease on its own. We give dog vaccinations in Los Angeles according to good health guidelines.

Los Angeles Veterinarian Talks About Vaccinations

Vaccines are strong medicines, and our Los Angeles veterinarian will only administer vaccinations your pet actually needs to stay healthy. Vaccines come in two forms: core and non-core. Core medications are those that every pet needs and that are given to every dog we treat in our practice. Some core shots for dogs include rabies, which we administer every three years as directed by the State of California. We also administer the DAPP vaccine, which protects against distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza.

Non-core vaccines are dog shots administered only to those animals that need it, depending on their environment or lifestyle. If an animal is to be boarded in a kennel or spends a lot of time around other dogs in dog parks, we’ll vaccinate it against bordetella, or kennel cough. Dogs that spend a lot of time in the Midwest and other areas with a lot of woodsy areas should be vaccinated against Lyme disease.

Shots for Puppies

Puppy shots are weaker doses of the same medication given to adult dogs. These doses help a puppy’s body to build up its natural immunity to disease. Shots for puppies are given on a regular schedule, with our veterinarian in Los Angeles recommending three visits in the first year. For puppies, we begin with a combination vaccine of parvovirus and distemper. We administer the first puppy shots until they are 16 weeks old. We do give kennel cough vaccines to most puppies, since it’s required by most groomers and kennels across the country.

Schedule Your Dogs Vaccinations In Los Angeles With Hancock Park Veterinary Clinic

The best thing you can do for your dog is to keep it happy and healthy, and that begins with wellness checkups that include the required dog shots. If you live in the area and are in search of Los Angeles dog vaccinations, call our office at (323) 936-6952. We’ll be happy to make an appointment to put your dog on the road to good health.