Protection & Prevention
At Des Moines Veterinary Hospital, 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.
Preventative care allows your pet to have their best opportunity at a long, healthy and happy life. Our team will work closely with you to craft a custom preventative care plan for your pet in order to meet their unique needs.
Vaccination & Reproductive Surgery Schedule
Up-to-date cat and dog vaccinations are key when it comes to protecting your furry friend against a range of highly contagious, and often serious, diseases. Likewise, having your companion spayed or neutered prevents the birth of unwanted litters. These procedures can also help to protect your pet against some serious forms of cancer. They may prevent undesirable behaviors to manifest in your pet too, like roaming, scooting or 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, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- 10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
- 14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
- Rabies
- 1 year and older
- Annual Exams
- Annual Vaccinations
- Annual Parasite Prevention
- Bloodwork Screening
- Dental Cleanings as Needed
Dog Vaccinations
In their first year, puppies need these shots to 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)
- 1 year and older
- Annual Exams
- Annual Vaccinations
- Annual Parasite Prevention
- Bloodwork Screening
- Dental Cleanings as Needed
Spay, Neuter & Microchip Information
Spaying, neutering, and microchipping can help protect your cat or dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
Spay (female) - Spaying will prevent your female pet from pregnancy but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles as well as reducing behaviors such as like scooting or howling that accompany heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
Neuter (male) -Neutering your male cat or dog will help to prevent them from fathering unwanted puppies and protect them from a number of serious diseases like some kinds of cancer. The risk of exhibiting problematic behaviors like aggression or roaming will also be significantly reduced.
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.
Parasite Prevention
Parasites can pose a serious health risk to animals and people in the Des Moines area. If untreated, parasites can also threaten the life of your dog or cat. In some instances, these health issues are even transmissible to other pets or people living in your home. Our parasite prevention treatments can help to protect your pet from any of the following common parasites.
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of mammals. Left untreated, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.
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 live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs where they feed on the pet's blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.
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 through 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 the ingestion of soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.