Preventative Care For longer, happier lives. Care You Can Trust From a team you can love.

At Fullerton Pet Clinic, we offer a wide range of preventive medicine for our companion animals. This includes important services for dogs and cats, such as vaccinations, flea/tick/heartworm preventatives, and annual heartworm test and fecal exams. These measures help ensure that our beloved pets remain healthy and free from infectious diseases. Preventive medicine also protects against zoonotic diseases, which can be transmitted from animals to humans. 360 Care

At Fullerton Pet Clinic, we follow AAHA guidelines to protect your pet without over-vaccinating. Along with core vaccines, we offer non-core options like Bordetella, Canine Influenza, and Lyme when appropriate. Vaccines are key to preventing contagious diseases and are categorized as core (recommended for all pets) and non-core (based on lifestyle and risk). Vaccination Guidelines

Core vaccines are essential for all dogs, regardless of their lifestyle—unless a specific medical condition prevents vaccination. According to the 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines, these core vaccines include the Distemper / Adenovirus / Parvovirus / Parainfluenza (DAPP) combination, the Leptospira vaccine, and the Rabies vaccine. These vaccines play a vital role in protecting dogs from serious, potentially life-threatening diseases and are a fundamental part of keeping your pet healthy and safe.

Antigen Initial Vaccination
(Dogs ≤16 Weeks)		 Initial Vaccination
(Dogs >16 Weeks)		 Revaccination
Distemper / Adenovirus / Parvovirus (+/- Parainfluenza) At least 3 doses of a combination vaccine between 6 and 16 weeks, 2–4 weeks apart. 2 doses of a combination vaccine, 2–4 weeks apart. As recommended
Leptospira (killed) 4-serovar Two doses, 2–4 weeks apart, starting at 12 weeks of age. Two doses, 2–4 weeks apart. Annual
Rabies By 4 months (per OC law) By 4 months (per OC law) As required by law

Orange County Requirement: Dogs must be vaccinated for rabies by 4 months of age.

Although vaccinations are vital, adverse reactions can occur, such as facial swelling, skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in rare cases, sudden collapse. To minimize the risk of these side effects, please consult our doctors and staff with any concerns prior to vaccination. The safety of our pets is our top priority.

Core vaccines are recommended for all cats irrespective of lifestyle, unless there is a specific medical reason not to vaccinate.

Antigen Initial Vaccination
(Cats ≤16 Weeks)		 Initial Vaccination
(Cats >16 Weeks)		 Revaccination
FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) Administer no earlier than 6 weeks, then every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks old. Two doses, 3–4 weeks apart. As recommended
FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) Two doses, 3–4 weeks apart, starting as early as 8 weeks of age. Two doses, 3–4 weeks apart. Annual or as recommended
Rabies By 4 months (per OC recommendation) By 4 months (per OC recommendation) As required by law

OC Animal Care recommends vaccinating your cat for rabies and using a collar with an ID tag to increase the chances of being reunited if lost.

Although vaccinations are vital, adverse reactions can occur, such as facial swelling, skin rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in rare cases, sudden collapse. To minimize the risk of these side effects, please consult our doctors and staff with any concerns prior to vaccination. The safety of our pets is our top priority.

Parasite Prevention

Fullerton Pet Clinic is also committed to preventing our pets from being affected by internal and external parasites, such as gastrointestinal parasites, fleas, ticks, and heartworm.

Internal parasites primarily include gastrointestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and giardia, which pets may ingest through contaminated food or water. These parasites can also be transmitted to humans, so we recommend annual deworming and fecal tests to prevent and treat infestations.

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that can be found on pets’ fur. Fleas can cause allergic reactions and secondary skin infections, and they may also transmit tapeworms if pets ingest fleas carrying tapeworm eggs. Because fleas are present year-round in the Orange County area, it is essential to use flea preventative measures to avoid skin issues. Ticks can also bite pets and spread diseases such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia, and Babesia. Since these tick-borne diseases can result in serious health problems, it’s crucial to use preventative medications to protect our pets.

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and can grow in our pets’ hearts. While they are less common in Southern California compared to more humid regions, recent years have seen an increase in heartworm cases in this area. If a pet contracts heartworm, it can develop severe heart disease that may lead to heart failure and death. The best way to prevent heartworm is through monthly preventative medication (such as Simparica Trio) or preventive injections (such as Proheart). Additionally, an annual heartworm test is recommended as part of a wellness exam to ensure that heartworm is not present. For more information about heartworm prevention, please consult our doctors or staff.