Pet Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention

Our Tucson veterinarians encourage great health in our patients with a full suite of pet vaccinations and preventive anti-parasite medications.

Scheduling Puppy and Kitten Shots

When taking home a new pet, it's important to make sure they receive all of their mandatory pet vaccinations in a timely fashion. Spanish Trail Pet Clinic also recommends spays or neuters for all dogs and cats not being raised specifically for breeding purposes. Reproductive surgery not only prevents unwanted litters, it also reduces the chances of cancer in pets while discouraging unwanted behaviors like howling, scooting, roaming, and general aggression.

Our Tucson vets work with you to make a schedule that is right for you and your pet to make sure they receive all their vaccines and reproductive surgery in their critical first year of veterinary care. We've included below the general schedule we recommend for cat and dog vaccinations.

Cat Vaccinations

In their first year of life, kittens need the following shots to protect them from serious diseases. 

• 8 weeks
  • Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
• 10 to 12 weeks
  • Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
  • Feline Leukemia
• 14 to 16 weeks
  • Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
  • Rabies
  • Feline Leukemia 2 (optional)
• 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. 

  • 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.
  • 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. 
  • 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.

Dog Vaccinations

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

• 8 weeks
  • DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
• 10 to 12 weeks
  • Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) 
  • Bordatella
• 16 weeks
  • Final Boosters/adult/annual vaccines start at 16 weeks
  • Rabies 
  • Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)
  • Leptospirosis (initial and annual 3 weeks later)

  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) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming 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 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.
• 12 to 16 months
  • Vaccines are due annually
  • Rabies vaccines are yearly or once every 3 years

Preventing Parasites

Parasites pose a serious health threat to people and animals in the Tucson 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: