Core Recommendations

• Rabies Vaccine - required by City ordinance
• DA2PCPV – protection for distemper, canine hepatitis/adenovirus types 1 & 2, parainfluenza, Parvo virus; with corona virus for puppies
• Deworming - for intestinal parasites; recommended by the CDC at least annually; parasites can be transmitted to humans, often children.
• Colorado Springs City License - required for incorporated Colorado Springs

Special Recommendations

• Bordetella Vaccine – helps protects against kennel cough; recommended for: exposure to unfamiliar dogs, i.e. visits dog park, groomer, daycare, boarding kennel, hikes off-leash or travels.
  
  
• Rattlesnake Vaccine – helps reduce the overall effects of snake venom, reduce or eliminate the need for anti-venom; recommended for: dogs active outdoors, are permitted off-leash, taken to areas where rattlesnakes are present, e.g. Garden of the Gods, Ute Valley Park.
  
  
• Leptospirosis Vaccine – helps protect against “lepto”, a deadly bacterial disease spread by wildlife and domestic animals through urine, e.g. squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and other dogs; can be passed from dogs to people; symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain & bloody urine: recommended for: dogs that go outdoors, where exposure to wildlife is possible; dogs that may drink from streams, puddles, or standing water.
  
  
• Heartworm/Lyme/ Ehrlichia Test - blood draw annually or every other year as advised by the veterinarian; recommended for:
• dogs active outdoors; may have exposure to mosquitoes either locally or through travel to heartworm endemic areas
• dogs living near bodies of water such as streams and ponds
• newly adopted dogs whose history is unknown
  
  
• Heartworm: parasite transmitted by mosquito and infests the heart
  
  
• Ehrlichia: tick-borne blood parasite
  
  
• Lyme Disease: infection that impacts the joints and other tissues

• Heartworm Preventive Medication – monthly chew helps protect against heartworm parasite; also contains monthly dewormer for many intestinal parasites.

Overall Health Recommendations

• Annual Teeth Cleaning/Dental Treatment – recommended yearly beginning at 1 year of age
  
  
• Baseline Blood Screening – to identify potential problems in the early stages
  
  
• Senior Health Programs – early identification and management of health issues common to the aging pet; maximize quality of life well into the senior years

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