Preventative Care for Pets – Vaccinations & Early Disease Detection in Stockton, CA

Vaccinations

The most important step in giving your pet a happy, healthy life is to ensure they are properly vaccinated. At Walker Veterinary Hospital, we want to protect your pet from the possible diseases your pet is exposed to based on their lifestyle.

“How Vaccinations Work”

Vaccines, or immunizations, contain a substance that stimulates the pet’s immune system to build antibodies against targeted infections. As their immunity builds, the dog or cat should be able to resist the diseases if and when they come into contact with them. Once they’ve achieved full immunity it’s then a matter of reinforcement with booster vaccinations.

“My Pet Never Goes Outside”

Some pet owners question whether their pet needs to be vaccinated if he or she never goes outside. The answer is yes! Some of these life-threatening infections are airborne and can even come in through an open window, or the pet could escape outside and be exposed. The bottom line is this: pets need to be vaccinated to be protected.

“Puppies and Kittens”

Pet vaccination needs to start at an early age. For the first 6 to 8 weeks of age, puppies and kittens are protected by their mothers’ immunity, but after weaning, they are then very vulnerable to becoming ill by one of these dreaded diseases. This is the time when we recommend starting the schedule of core vaccinations for your pet as a steady and punctual series of these vaccines will properly stimulate immunity and protect against these viruses. We administer their vaccines more frequently than older pets and right up to 16-20 weeks old.

“Core vs. Non-core Vaccinations”

Vaccinations are classified into two categories with core vaccinations being those absolutely necessary to prevent truly virulent diseases for all pets. Non-core vaccinations are based on exposure risk/lifestyle, for example for dogs engaging in outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, frequenting dog parks, and for cats, spending time outdoors.

“Core Vaccinations”

For dogs, the core vaccinations include:

Rabies

DHPP (Distemper, hepatitis, parovirus, parainfluenza)

For cats, the core vaccinations include:

Rabies

FVRCP (Feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia)

“Non-Core Vaccinations”

For dogs, non-care vaccinations include:

Leptospirosis

Canine influenza

Bordetella bronchiectasis (aka kennel cough)

Lyme disease

Rattlesnake vaccine

For cats, non-core vaccinations include:

Feline leukemia

Pet Parasites

We know the idea of your pet being infested with parasites is a disturbing thought, but it’s also a medical issue that can have serious consequences if not properly dealt with or prevented. Parasites pose a variety of health issues for our pets, who can be very susceptible to certain parasites depending on age, region, and other factors.

At Walker Veterinary Hospital in Stockton, CA, we emphasize the importance of parasite preventatives, for your pet’s health and your family’s health. Fleas, ticks, and worms can also have implications on human health. This is why we recommend broad spectrum deworming and fecal screening every 6 months, and year round flea/tick and heartworm prevention for the best protection.

Please contact us to schedule an appointment today to discuss all the different options.

Testimonial

What They Say

I called Walker Veterinary Hospital at 7:30 in the morning because my fur baby needed an urgent procedure, they fit me in same day within an hour or so of calling and from the moment I walked through those doors I was met with such compassion and kindness. It was such a scary and uncertain time but Dr. Hung and everybody I encountered was kind and knowledgeable and honestly exactly what I needed! My baby is on her road to recovery because of the excellent and timely care she received and I will FOREVER be grateful for them, Doctor called the morning after the procedure to check on her recovery and I just cannot express how much it means to know my girl was in the hands of someone so caring!

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Jenn C

The worst day of our life happened… our boxer Bo’s life came to an end, he was unable to walk anymore. He could barely breathe, and it was time we went to Walker vet, and they took care of things. Someone was really paying attention because they realize the level of grief we were experiencing today in the mail unexpectedly, we received a pair of paw prints Words cannot express how heartfelt this is.

Lauren Johnson

This site saved my dog’s life. My ESA and best friend was limping one day and we went to another site around town, and they prescribed him carprofen. It made things worse. We went to get a second opinion as things worsened at Walker. The doctor walked through symptoms with us, had me feel the lymph nodes in his back leg, and he was diagnosed with Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). We don’t know what caused it but his body was destroying its own red blood cells. After this was identified he was put on steroids and antibiotics and he is in full recovery! He is back to his normal personality. I owe everything to Walker’s staff for saving my buddy.

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Cody Eliff

We visited Walker Vet because we heard Dr. Hung was familiar with FIP in cats. Her knowledge, and her care, put us at ease and saved our cat’s life. She explained the details to us like a friend. She was genuinely concerned about his life, and helping us to build a strong at-home care regimen. The front office staff is professional and friendly. They operate smoothly and support the doctors well. Of my many phone calls, even on very busy days, I never received any attitude. Just good people helping other people and their pets.

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Randy

My dog has always received the best care from Dr. Connie. My boy can be a handful at times, and Dr. Connie is always very patient with him, as well as with me, in answering all my questions and concerns regarding my fur baby's care. All the staff have always treated us with respect and care. I recommend Wallker Vet, especially Dr. Connie, to all my friends and family! Thank you for all your care, Dr. Connie! We appreciate you.