We provide vaccination services for dogs and cats throughout Madison Heights, Royal Oak, Warren, Troy, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Berkley, Sterling Heights, and nearby Michigan communities — with every recommendation based on your pet’s individual risk, lifestyle, and health history rather than a fixed schedule applied to every pet.
Why Vaccinations Matter More Than Most Owners Realize
Vaccines are one of the simplest, most effective tools in veterinary medicine. They train your pet’s immune system to recognize and fight off serious, sometimes fatal diseases before those diseases ever get a foothold. Many of the illnesses vaccines protect against — parvovirus, distemper, rabies, feline panleukopenia — are far harder and more expensive to treat once a pet is already sick, and some have no cure at all.
Beyond protecting your own pet, keeping vaccines current also protects the wider pet population around you. Diseases like rabies and parvovirus spread easily between unvaccinated animals, so consistent vaccination is as much a community responsibility as an individual one.
Core Vaccines We Recommend
Core vaccines are considered essential for nearly every dog and cat, regardless of lifestyle, because the diseases they prevent are widespread, highly contagious, or serious enough that the risk of skipping them isn’t worth it.
Core Vaccines for Dogs
- Rabies
- Distemper
- Parvovirus
- Adenovirus (Canine Hepatitis)
Core Vaccines for Cats
- Rabies
- Feline Herpesvirus
- Calicivirus
- Panleukopenia
Lifestyle Vaccines Based on Risk
Not every pet needs every vaccine. Lifestyle vaccines are recommended based on factors like where your pet spends time, exposure to other animals, boarding or grooming visits, and regional disease risk. During your pet’s exam, we’ll talk through their specific routine to decide which of these make sense.
Additional Vaccines for Dogs
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough) — recommended for dogs who are boarded, groomed, or attend daycare
- Leptospirosis — relevant for dogs with exposure to wildlife, standing water, or rural areas
- Lyme Disease — recommended in areas with higher tick exposure
- Canine Influenza — relevant for dogs in group settings like daycare or boarding facilities
Additional Vaccines for Cats
- Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) — recommended for cats with outdoor access or exposure to other cats
Vaccine Schedules by Life Stage
Puppies and Kittens
Young animals need a series of vaccines, not a single visit, because maternal antibodies can interfere with early doses. We typically space these visits a few weeks apart until your puppy or kitten’s immune system can fully respond on its own, usually around 16 weeks of age.
Adult Pets
Once the initial series is complete, most core vaccines are boosted on a one to three year schedule depending on the vaccine type and your pet’s individual risk factors. We track this for you and let you know at each visit what’s due.
Senior Pets
Older pets still need protection, but we factor in overall health, any chronic conditions, and immune status when deciding on vaccine timing and selection.
What to Expect at a Vaccine Visit
A vaccine appointment is also an opportunity for a quick health check. Before administering any vaccine, your veterinarian examines your pet to confirm they’re healthy enough for vaccination, discusses any recent changes at home, and answers questions about the vaccines being given. Mild, short-lived soreness at the injection site or slight tiredness afterward is normal; if you notice swelling, vomiting, facial swelling, or unusual behavior after a vaccine, call us right away.
Trusted Preventive Care for Over 50 Years
Families across Madison Heights, Royal Oak, Warren, Troy, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Berkley, Sterling Heights, and nearby communities have relied on Madison Veterinary Hospital for their pets’ preventive care for more than five decades. Recognized by Newsweek as one of the Best Veterinary Hospitals in America in both 2025 and 2026, and AAHA accredited, our vaccine protocols reflect current veterinary guidelines while staying tailored to each pet we see.
