Vaccinations & Boosters
Pet Vaccinations in Aurora, CO
At East Plains Veterinary Care, we provide pet vaccinations built around what each animal truly needs, not a one-size-fits-all checklist. Vaccines are one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your dog or cat from serious, preventable disease, and our team takes time to explain every recommendation so you feel informed and confident. Whether you are raising a new puppy, caring for a senior cat, or catching up on overdue shots, we would love to help you protect your pet. Call or request an appointment to get started.
Why Does My Pet Need Vaccinations?
Your pet needs vaccinations because they train the immune system to fight dangerous infections before disease can take hold. Many illnesses vaccines prevent are severe, costly to treat, and sometimes fatal. A few, like rabies and leptospirosis, can pass to people, so protecting your pet safeguards your whole household.
When most pets in an area are vaccinated, contagious diseases spread less easily, which protects animals too young or too sick to be vaccinated. Strong preventive pet care is almost always gentler on your pet, and your wallet, than treating illness later. It helps to understand how vaccines train the body to recognize and fight specific diseases.
Which Core Vaccines Do Dogs and Cats Need?
Core vaccines are recommended for nearly every pet because they protect against diseases that are widespread, severe, or required by law. The exact set differs a little for dogs and cats.
For dog vaccinations, the core group includes:
- Rabies: A fatal virus that attacks the nervous system and can spread to humans. The rabies vaccine is legally required in most Municipalities.
- Distemper: A serious virus that affects the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.
- Parvovirus: A highly contagious cause of severe vomiting and diarrhea that is especially dangerous in puppies.
- Adenovirus (canine hepatitis): A viral infection that can damage the liver and lungs.
- Parvo, distemper and adenovirus are often given together in a combination vaccine.
For cat vaccinations, the core group includes:
- Rabies: A fatal virus that even indoor cats can encounter.
- Feline panleukopenia (feline distemper): A contagious virus causing severe gastrointestinal illness and immune system dysfunction.
- Feline herpesvirus and calicivirus: Common causes of upper respiratory infection, sneezing, and mouth ulcers.
- **feline panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis are often given together in a combination vaccine.
What Are Non-Core or Lifestyle Vaccines?
Non-core (lifestyle) vaccines are recommended based on your pet's individual risk rather than for every animal. Whether your pet needs one depends on age, environment, travel, boarding, and contact with other animals.
Common lifestyle vaccines include:
- Bordetella (kennel cough): For dogs that visit boarding, daycare, grooming, or dog parks.
- Canine influenza: For dogs with frequent contact with other dogs.
- Lyme disease: For dogs with tick exposure from hiking or time spent outdoors.
- Feline leukemia (FeLV): For kittens and adult cats that go outside or live with other cats.
Because every pet lives differently, we suggest these case by case, after discussing your pet's daily routine.
When Should Puppies and Kittens Start Their Vaccines?
Puppies and kittens should begin their vaccines around six to eight weeks of age, then continue with boosters every few weeks until they are about sixteen weeks old. This staggered timing matters because the immunity inherited from their mother fades, and the series keeps their own protection ready as those antibodies decline.
Puppy and kitten vaccines are given in stages rather than all at once. Our team maps out the timing at that first appointment so you go home knowing when each round is due.
How Often Do Adult Pets Need Booster Shots?
Most adult pets need booster shots on a one to three year cycle, depending on the vaccine and your pet's risk. Rabies and core combination vaccines are usually boosted every one to three years, while some lifestyle vaccines are given yearly.
Keeping a current pet vaccine schedule is the simplest way to keep protection steady without over-vaccinating. We track your pet's history and tell you when something is due, so you never have to guess.
Do Indoor Cats Really Need to Be Vaccinated?
Yes, indoor cats still need core vaccines, even if they never step outside. Rabies vaccination is required by law in most communities, and an indoor cat can still be exposed through an open door, an escape, a boarding stay, or a new pet at home.
At a minimum, most indoor cats should stay current on rabies and feline distemper. If your cat spends time outdoors, boards, or lives with cats that do, we may recommend more protection. Our goal is always honest guidance, so we never push a vaccine your cat does not truly need.
Are Pet Vaccines Safe, and What Side Effects Should I Watch For?
Pet vaccines are very safe, and most dogs and cats have no meaningful reaction at all. When side effects do occur, they are usually mild and pass within a day or two.
Typical mild reactions include:
- A little tiredness or a quieter mood than usual
- Mild soreness at the injection site
- A briefly reduced appetite
Serious reactions are rare, but call us right away if you notice vomiting, facial swelling, hives, or trouble breathing after a visit. We review what to expect after every round of pet immunizations, and we are here if a question comes up at home.
What Happens During a Vaccination Visit?
Every vaccination visit begins with a physical exam, because we only vaccinate pets healthy enough that day. Once Dr. Drake confirms your pet is well, we give the vaccines that fit their needs.
A typical visit includes:
- A nose-to-tail exam to check your pet's overall health
- A review of their history, lifestyle, and any risk factors
- The recommended vaccines, given as gently as possible
- A clear explanation of aftercare and when to come back
How Much Do Pet Vaccinations Cost?
The cost of vaccinating your pet depends on their age, species, lifestyle, and which vaccines they need. A puppy or kitten working through a full starter series costs more over those first months than an adult pet due for a single booster.
We believe clear pricing is part of good care, so we explain what we recommend, and why, before anything is done. That way there are no surprises, and you can choose what fits your pet's health and budget. If you carry pet insurance or a wellness plan, many include routine vaccines, and we are glad to provide the records you need to file a claim.
How Do You Decide Which Vaccines My Pet Actually Needs?
We decide which vaccines your pet needs by looking at the whole animal, their age, health history, environment, and daily habits, instead of applying one list to every patient. Established guidelines set the foundation, and your pet's individual risk shapes the rest.
This is where a relationship-based practice matters. Because we take time to understand how your pet lives, we can recommend exactly what protects them and skip what they do not need. Honest, individualized recommendations sit at the heart of our preventive care.
Why Choose East Plains Veterinary Care for Pet Vaccinations
Families choose us because we treat vaccination as part of a lasting relationship, not a quick transaction. As a privately owned practice, we answer to our patients and their families not a corporate group, which keeps recommendations honest and visits unrushed.
When you bring your pet in for vaccines, you can expect:
- Ethical, integrity-driven recommendations based on real risk
- Clear explanations of every vaccine, option, and cost
- Personal, unhurried visits with room for your questions
- Care led by Dr. Kimberly Drake, whose background spans general practice, emergency, and urgent care
- A respectful, welcoming environment for you and your pet
Vaccines are one part of the veterinary care we provide, with the same honesty at every visit.
Schedule Your Pet's Vaccinations at East Plains Veterinary Care
Protecting your pet starts with a simple, well-timed set of vaccines, and our team in Aurora, CO is ready to help you build the right plan. Whether your dog or cat needs a first round, an overdue booster, or a fresh look at their vaccine schedule, we will walk you through every step with honesty and care.
Contact East Plains Veterinary Care today, or request an appointment online, and let us help keep your companion healthy for years to come.