1597 Main St. • Weymouth • 781-340-0800

Hours:
Monday through Thursday 8 am - 8 pm
Friday 8 am to 5 pm
Saturday 8 am – 1 pm

Caring for your Pet

Vaccinating Your New Puppy or Kitten
All puppies and kittens need certain vaccines to protect their health as they mature. The most common vaccines used for puppies are the Distemper virus vaccine, which includes the Parvovirus vaccine, and Rabies vaccination. Depending on the level of exposure our Veterinarians may also recommend including the Leptospirosis vaccine, Lyme vaccine and Kennel cough vaccine. In kittens the Distemper virus vaccine typically includes the Herpes Upper Respiratory virus and Calici Virus protection. Rabies vaccines are mandatory in cats, dogs and ferrets in Massachusetts.

Young animals are usually given their first set of vaccinations at six to eight weeks of age. Additional vaccinations are given every three to four weeks until the puppy or kitten is 16 weeks old. It is crucial that the initial vaccination series is completed to ensure that your pet has adequate protection from these illnesses. Thereafter, vaccinations are administered at the time of your pet’s the annual physical exam.

Neutering or Spaying Your Pet
Female cats and dogs are routinely spayed at around 6 months of age. They undergo a complete ovariohysterectomy and are required to stay for one night of “bed rest”.

Male cats and dogs are neutered by the age of 6 months as well. The procedure they undergo is less invasive and we do allow them to go home the same day.

Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm disease is a life threatening infection transmitted through mosquitoes. Heartworm is very common in our part of the country and is a potentially lethal disease in dogs. We recommend year round Heartworm prevention with one of the products available for purchase at the front desk. At South Coastal we carry Heartgard, Interceptor and, the all in one topical, Revolution. Although less common in cats, Heartworm can cause serious disease in our feline companions as well. Revolution, Advantage- Multi and Interceptor are available for cats.