The following core vaccines are included in all vaccine schedules at Covina Animal Hospital. Depending on your pet’s age at their first visit, the full schedule can take up to three months to complete.
Prior to starting kitten vaccines, we recommend viral testing for Feline Leukemia and Aids. It is important to know whether or not your kitten has been exposed to these virus before we begin vaccinating.
"My pet will gain weight "- While there are hormonal changes that occur after removing the reproductive organs, the reason some pets gain weight after getting spayed or neutered is simply because they are being fed too many calories in a day. Just like with people, your pet's metabolism will slow with age and it's important to keep track of calories from food and any additional calories from treats, bones, or rawhides.
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“I want my pet to be a guard dog” – Spaying and neutering does not affect a dog’s natural protective instincts. Their behavior and personality are formed more by their genetics, their environment, and training.
“It’s too expensive” – The cost of your pet’s spay or neuter surgery at a young age is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter of puppies or treating the health conditions that come without altering your pet (mammary tumors, testicular cancer, pyometra, etc). Other factors to consider are the chance of needing a cesaerian delivery ($1-2k) or other pregnancy related illness like hypocalcemia that require hospitalization of mom and puppies.
“It will fix his/her behavioral issue(s)” – Neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, but there’s no guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after he’s neutered. Neutering will also not reduce behaviors that have already become habitual to your pet, like mounting or marking. In general, the effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog’s individual personality, physiology and the age at which you neuter.
