Vaccinations
DOGS
Puppies should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called a 5 in 1) at 2, 3 and 4 months of age and then once
annually. This vaccine protects the puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. A
puppy's vaccination program cannot be finished before four months of age. Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers and American
Staffordshire terriers/pit bulls should be vaccinated until five months of age. If you have an unvaccinated dog older
than four or five months, the dog needs a series of two vaccinations given two to three weeks apart, followed by a yearly
vaccination. Do not walk your puppy or your unvaccinated dog outside or put her on the floor of an animal hospital until
several days after her final vaccination.
North Carolina state law requires at three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies vaccine must be
followed by a vaccination a year later and then every three years.
CATS
Your cat should see the veterinarian at least once a year for an examination and annual shots, and immediately if she
is sick or injured. Vaccines protect animals and people from specific viral and bacterial infections. They are not a
treatment. If your companion cat gets sick because he is not properly vaccinated, the vaccinations should be given after
your pet recovers.
Kittens should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called a 3 in 1) at 2, 3 and 4 months of age and then annually.
This vaccine protects cats from panleukopenia (also called feline distemper), calicivirus and rhinotracheitis (flu-like
viruses). If you have an unvaccinated cat older than 4 months of age, he needs a series of two vaccinations given 2 to 3
weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
There is a vaccine available for feline leukemia virus (FeLV). This is one of the two immune system viruses (retroviruses)
that infect cats. The other is feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). There is no vaccine available for FIV. Cats can be
infected with either virus for months to years without any indication that they are carrying a fatal virus. You cannot
look at cats or kittens and know if they are infected--a blood test is necessary. All cats should be tested for these
viruses. Infections can be transmitted at birth from the mother or by being bitten by an infected cat. Neither virus can
infect humans. Many outdoor and stray cats and kittens carry this infection. Because of the fatal nature of these diseases,
you should not expose the cats already living in your home by taking in untested cats or kittens. To be safe, keep your cat
indoors, but if your cat does go outside, he should be vaccinated against feline leukemia virus. No vaccine is 100 percent
effective.
|
Contact Information
Animal Shelter
5570 Sturmer Park Circle
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Adoption and
Redemption:
(336) 703-DOGS (3647)
Complaint and
Investigations:
(336) 703-2490
Lost and Found:
(336) 703-2478
Licensing:
(336) 703-2479
Administration:
(336) 703-2480
FAX:
(336) 661-6414
Hours of Operation
Closed Sunday
12:00 - 5:00 Monday
12:00 - 7:00 Tuesday
12:00 - 5:00 Wednesday
12:00 - 7:00 Thursday
12:00 - 5:00 Friday
12:00 - 5:00 Saturday
Job Opportunities
There are no jobs for this
department at this time.
View All County Jobs
|
