Keeping your pets healthy and up to date with vaccines

Vaccinations prevent many pet illnesses and can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented. They can also prevent diseases that pass between animals, and from animals to people, such as rabies. Diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper, can infect unvaccinated pets that come into contact with an infected animal.

Low-cost vaccine clinic locations in Madera

• Friends of Madera Animal Shelter Facebook page posts upcoming shot clinic dates. Clinics run the first Saturday of each month at the Madera County Department of Social Services, 1604 Sunrise Avenue, Madera, CA 93638, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
  • Rabies vaccine: $15.00
  • DHPP (dogs): $15.00
  • FVRCP (cats): $15.00
  • Microchip: $20.00
  • Free microchips at the shelter for Madera County residents
• Tractor Supply Pet Vet clinics
• Vetco vaccination clinic at Petco Madera

Vaccinations for dogs

The only mandatory vaccine for dogs in California is rabies. State law requires that dogs older than three months receive the rabies vaccine. Once a dog is vaccinated, they must wear the accompanying license on their collar at all times. Puppy owners must vaccinate their young dogs between three and five months of age. Depending on the type of rabies vaccine administered, your dog requires a new inoculation every one to three years.

Even though California requires only the rabies vaccination for dogs, veterinarians recommend a set of core vaccinations. These include immunizations for parvovirus, distemper virus, adenovirus-2, and Leptospira. Non-core vaccines prevent other illnesses such as parainfluenza, Bordetella Bronchiseptica, canine influenza virus, and Lyme disease.

Vaccinations for cats

There are no state-required cat vaccinations in California. However, cat owners should not skip vaccinating their pets against life-threatening diseases. The state and veterinarians recommend that, at a minimum, cats receive the rabies vaccine. Core vaccinations protect your cat from herpes virus, calicivirus, feline panleukopenia, and feline leukemia.