Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Patient Education

Vaccination

Vaccines are the single most effective tool for preventing life-threatening infectious disease in dogs and cats — and a personalized schedule based on your pet's age, lifestyle, and risk is the safest way to protect them.

Vaccination teaches the immune system to recognize and rapidly destroy specific pathogens before they cause serious disease. Core vaccines protect against diseases that are either universally dangerous or legally required — rabies for dogs and cats, distemper/parvo combination for dogs, and panleukopenia/herpesvirus/calicivirus for cats. Lifestyle vaccines add protection for pets whose daily environments put them at higher exposure risk: dogs that board, visit dog parks, or hike in Southern California have different needs than a dog who stays home. At Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas, every vaccination schedule is individualized at the wellness exam rather than applied from a one-size-fits-all protocol — because over-vaccinating is as avoidable as under-vaccinating.

Why It's Recommended

Core vaccines are recommended for virtually all dogs and cats because the diseases they prevent are either ubiquitous, severe, or both:

  • Dogs — core: DA2PP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza) and rabies
  • Dogs — lifestyle: Bordetella (kennel cough), leptospirosis (outdoor, creek-exposed dogs in California), canine influenza, rattlesnake vaccine for hiking dogs
  • Cats — core: FVRCP (herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia) and rabies
  • Cats — lifestyle: FeLV (feline leukemia virus) for cats with outdoor access or exposure to other cats

Puppies and kittens receive a series of boosters beginning around 6 to 8 weeks of age because maternal antibodies wane at unpredictable times — multiple doses ensure the immune system is primed once those maternal antibodies clear.

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How It Works

Vaccines work by presenting the immune system with a harmless version of or component from a pathogen — a killed organism, a modified-live virus, a subunit antigen, or an mRNA signal. The immune system mounts a response and creates memory cells. When the real pathogen is encountered later, the immune system recognizes and eliminates it far faster than it could without prior exposure. The steps at a vaccination visit:

  • A brief physical examination confirms the pet is healthy enough to receive vaccines — vaccines are not administered to a sick or febrile pet
  • Selected vaccines are drawn up, confirmed by lot number and expiration date, and administered subcutaneously (under the skin) or intranasally, depending on the vaccine type
  • The pet is observed for a few minutes before leaving; owners receive a record of vaccines given and the next due dates

What to Expect

Most pets tolerate vaccines well and show no reaction at all. Some mild responses are normal and resolve within 24 to 48 hours:

  • Soreness or a small firm swelling at the injection site
  • Brief lethargy or reduced appetite the evening after vaccination
  • Mild sneezing if an intranasal (nose-drop) vaccine was used

Seek veterinary attention promptly if a pet develops facial swelling, hives, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or collapse within a few hours of vaccination — these signs suggest an allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment. Reactions are uncommon and treatable, and pre-medication may be offered for pets with a prior reaction history.

Is It Safe?

Vaccines used in dogs and cats in the US undergo rigorous safety and efficacy testing and are among the most thoroughly studied interventions in veterinary medicine. The risk of a serious adverse reaction is very small compared with the risk posed by the diseases they prevent. For senior pets, immunocompromised animals, or pets with a history of reactions, vaccine schedules can be adjusted — titer testing (measuring existing antibody levels) may be used in some cases to guide whether revaccination is truly necessary. California law requires rabies vaccination for dogs; the team can help navigate medical exemptions in documented cases of true contraindication.

Frequently Asked Questions

1What vaccines does my dog need every year?
Most adult dogs need a rabies booster on a one- or three-year cycle depending on the vaccine used, and a DA2PP booster every three years once the initial series is complete. Bordetella (kennel cough) is typically annual or semi-annual for dogs in social settings. Lifestyle vaccines like leptospirosis are annual. The team will build a specific schedule at your dog's wellness exam.
2What vaccines does my cat need?
Core vaccines for cats are FVRCP (panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus) and rabies. FeLV (feline leukemia) is recommended for cats with outdoor exposure or contact with other cats. After the initial series and one-year booster, FVRCP is typically on a three-year cycle for adult cats.
3Can vaccines make my pet sick?
Mild, temporary side effects — brief lethargy, site tenderness, reduced appetite — are common and resolve within 24 to 48 hours. True illness from a vaccine is rare; vaccines use inactivated or subunit antigens that cannot cause the disease they protect against. A very small number of pets have allergic reactions, which are manageable.
4Is it safe to vaccinate a senior dog or cat?
Yes, with appropriate tailoring. Senior pets should not simply be skipped on vaccines without reason — diseases like panleukopenia or parvovirus are dangerous at any age. The team may recommend titer testing for some vaccines to check existing immunity before revaccinating an older or immunocompromised pet.
5What is a titer test and does my pet need one instead of vaccines?
A titer test measures the level of antibodies in the bloodstream against a specific disease, indicating existing immunity. Titers can be useful for core vaccines (distemper, parvo, panleukopenia) in pets with vaccine reaction histories or for owners who want to avoid unnecessary boosters. Rabies vaccination is legally required regardless of titer results in most jurisdictions.
6How much do pet vaccines cost?
Vaccine costs vary by the specific vaccines selected, whether they are bundled into a wellness exam visit, and the number of vaccines given. A wellness plan or bundled vaccine package often provides the best value for keeping your pet up to date.
7My puppy or kitten had some vaccines at the breeder — do they need to start over?
Not necessarily. The care team will review the prior vaccine records and determine the appropriate boosters needed to complete the series. The timing of earlier doses determines the schedule going forward, not whether they were administered at a different clinic.
8Does my indoor-only cat still need vaccines?
Yes — rabies vaccination is recommended (and in many jurisdictions legally required) for cats regardless of indoor/outdoor status, because exposure can occur through open windows, escapes, or contact with wildlife. FVRCP is also recommended because respiratory viruses can be carried home on clothing.

Ready to schedule your pet's vaccines?

At Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas, every vaccine schedule is built around your pet's actual risk — not a default protocol. Book a wellness visit and let the team tailor a plan that makes sense for your dog or cat.

Book an Appointment