Protection & Prevention

At Rivergate Veterinary Clinic, we focus on preventive care to keep common diseases and disorders from 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 treatment ensures that your pet has a long and healthy life. Our staff will collaborate with you to develop a personalized preventative care plan for your cat or dog based on their specific needs.

Pet Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention Services in New York

Pet Vaccinations & Reproductive Surgery Schedule

Current dog and cat vaccinations are essential when it comes to protecting your furry friend from a range of contagious, often serious, diseases. Having your pet spayed or neutered not only prevents the birth of unwanted litters — these common veterinary surgeries can also help to protect your pet against some serious forms of cancer. They may prevent unwanted behaviors such as howling, scooting, 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, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
14 to 16 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
5 to 6 months
While the following are not kitten vaccinations, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

Dog Vaccinations

In their first year, puppies need these shots to protect them from dangerous diseases.

6 to 8 weeks
- Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (DHPP)
10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: DHPP
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
14 to 16 weeks
Although the following are not puppy vaccinations, 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): Spaying your female dog will prevent her from having pups, but it can also help to avoid certain cancers and regular heat cycles, which can draw wandering males to your property.
- Neuter (male): Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protecting your dog from a number of serious cancers, and helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping:A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is implanted beneath the skin of your pet. Pets with microchips have a higher chance of being reunited with their owners if they become separated.
12 to 16 months
- Final Booster: DHPP
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)

Parasite Prevention

Parasites pose a serious health threat to people and animals in the New York area. Left untreated, parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and in some cases can even be transmitted to other people or pets living in your household. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from the following common parasites:

Fleas

Fleas are very common parasitic insects that feed on the blood of birds and mammals. Fleas may swiftly spread throughout your home if left untreated.

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 reside in the digestive tracts of cats and dogs, feeding on the blood of the animals. Hookworms can cause anemia and other significant health problems.

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 by ingesting infected fleas while brushing. These hook-like parasitic worms live and develop in the intestines of your pet.

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.

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Pet Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention