At Sunnyvale Veterinary Clinic we strive to be at the forefront of scientifically founded medical and surgical advances. We thoroughly investigate the ever-changing science and art of veterinary medicine through internet searches, journal article reviews, and consultations with specialists, as well sending ourselves and team members to continuing education meetings locally and nationally. We will continue to put forth every effort to find information that will assist you in your pet's healthcare.

One of our core focus areas is preventive medicine. In this area our vaccination protocol is of utmost importance to us. We strive to have the most current protocols in place to protect your pet.

For cats we have selected only nonadjuvanted vaccines to reduce reactions and provide excellent immunity. Although these vaccines are more expensive than adjuvanted products, based on experience and research we believe that these vaccines reduce the risk of reactions. We value safety over cost in our practice. That being said we also deliver these vaccines at a reasonable cost compared to vaccine clinics that offer less expensive vaccines for potentially unnecessary agents. (…"Our non-adjuvanted PUREVAX^® vaccines help protect cats from certain diseases … with reduced risk of injection site reactions and chronic inflammation due to adjuvants." -Merial website).

We vaccinate dogs on a regular basis against distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), and parvovirus. We have decided to switch to a product that provides 3 years of protection against these diseases with just one vaccination. This product, Continuum^® DAP, has been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (the US government agency that regulates animal vaccines) for 3-year protection and has an excellent safety record.  In recent years, there has been growing concern about over-vaccination of pets. The American Animal Hospital Association and major universities have recommended vaccinating every 3 years for certain dog diseases, including distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus. With Continuum DAP, we can follow these recommendations with a US government-approved product. And giving only one shot every 3 years may mean greater comfort and safety for your dog. And there is a cost benefit as well: divide the cost of our vaccine over three years and you are actually saving money over the one-year vaccine provided by vaccine clinics.

Not all vaccines are effective with only three year boosters.  Kennel Cough vaccination is still required once or twice a year for boarding cats and dogs, respectively. Other vaccinations which are considered optional (for example, Lyme's and Giardia) should be discussed individually with a member of our staff.

Regardless of your pet's vaccination regimen, we strongly encourage that all pets be brought in annually for a physical exam. Since our pets age five to seven years to each human year, it is crucial that we catch health problems early. With an exam every 6 to 12 months we may diagnose medical problems before they become serious.


Sincerely,


Dr. Singh, Dr. Wright and the Sunnyvale Veterinary Clinic Staff