Protection & Prevention
At Holland Veterinary Hospitals, we focus on preventive care so that common diseases and disorders don't develop in the first place.
Regular wellness exams combined with pet vaccinations and parasite prevention are an important part of your animal's routine healthcare.
Preventive care gives your animal companion a better chance at a long, healthy life. Our team will work with you to create a preventive care plan for your pet created with their unique needs in mind.
Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Making sure that your dog or cat has current vaccinations is an essential part of protecting your furry friend from a range of contagious, potentially serious, diseases. Having your pet spayed or neutered not only prevents the birth of unwanted offspring but can also protect against some serious forms of cancer. Reproductive surgeries may prevent unwanted behaviors such as howling, scooting, roaming, and aggression.
Vaccinations for Cats
In their first year of life, kittens need the protection of the following shots in order to prevent several serious diseases:
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 weeks
- Rabies
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- 5 to 6 months
The following are not kitten vaccinations, but spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of safety and health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Having your female cat or kitten spayed prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors like the howling and scooting that accompany feline heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat or kitten prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your pet against various potentially serious illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a tiny, rice-grain-sized permanent form of identification that is 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
During their first year of life, puppies need these shots to help 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
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and microchipping can help to protect your dog from a number of safety and health issues, and therefore should be a part of your pet's preventive care plan.
- Spay (female) - Spaying will not only prevent your female dog from mothering unwanted puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Having your male dog neutered prevents your pet from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protecting your dog from a number of serious cancers and reducing the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip, which is placed under your pet's skin as a permanent form of identification, is about the size of a grain of rice. 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 health threat to both pets and people in the Hattiesburg and Wiggins areas. Left untreated, parasites can threaten the life of your pet, and in some cases can even spread to other people or pets living in your household. Our parasite prevention products and services can help protect your dog or cat from the following common parasites:
Fleas
Extremely common external parasites that feed on the blood of birds and mammals. If not addressed, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
Ticks survive on the blood of mammals and are responsible for the spread of a number of serious conditions in people and pets such as Lyme disease.
Ear Mites
Tiny, highly contagious ear mites make their home in the ear canals of dogs, cats, and other mammals. They reproduce continuously throughout their lifespan.
Heartworm
A thread-like parasitic roundworm that is transmitted via mosquito bites and resides in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected animals.
Hookworm
Hookworms live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs where they feed on blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.
Roundworm
Roundworms make their home in the intestine and feed on partially digested intestinal contents. They can rob your pet of vital nutrients necessary to stay healthy.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms spread via 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 infested soil that has been contaminated by an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a health risk to dogs.