Protection & Prevention

At Smith Animal Hospital, our goal is to keep common diseases and disorders from developing in the first place. That's why we focus on preventive care.

Combined with regularly scheduled routine exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention can be used to build a solid foundation for your animal's routine healthcare.

With preventive care, your pet will have the best chance at a long, healthy life. Our team will work with you to create a custom preventive care plan for your dog or cat, geared to their specific needs and conditions.

Pet Vaccinations in Houston County

Dog & Cat Vaccinations & Reproductive Surgery Schedule

When it comes to protecting your four-legged companion from many contagious, often serious, diseases, current dog and cat vaccinations are essential. While having your pet spayed or neutered prevents unwanted puppies or kittens from being born, these common veterinary surgeries can also help to protect your pet against some serious types of cancer. They may prevent your pet from displaying unwanted behaviors such as roaming, animal aggression, scooting and howling.

Kitten Shots in Houston County

Kittens need these shots in their first year of life to protect them from dangerous diseases.

6 to 8 weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
14 to 16 weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia 2
5 to 6 months
While the following are not kitten shots, spaying, neutering and microchipping help protect your cat from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your cat against various illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.

Puppy Shots in Houston County

Puppies need these shots in their first year to protect them from serious diseases.

6 to 8 weeks
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
10 to 12 weeks
- Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Bordetella (Optional)
- Leptospirosis (Optional)
14 to 16 weeks
Although the following are not puppy shots, spaying, neutering, and microchipping help protect your dog from a number of health issues, and therefore fall under the preventive health care umbrella.
- Spay (female) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (male) - Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protecting your dog from a number of serious cancers, and helping to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping - A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
12 to 16 months
- Final Booster: DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Final Booster: Bordetella (Optional)
- Final Booster: Leptospirosis (Optional)

Parasite Prevention

Because parasites transmit numerous serious diseases, they can pose a serious health threat to both people and animals throughout Houston County. Left untreated, parasites can become life-threatening for your cat or dog, and can impact the health of both people and pets living in your house. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from these common parasites:

Fleas

These external parasites feed on mammals' and birds' blood. Left untreated, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.

Ticks

Responsible for spreading many serious conditions in both people and pets, these external parasites consume mammals' blood.

Ear Mites

Though tiny, ear mites are highly contagious. They live in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals and reproduce continuously.

Heartworm

This thread-like parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites and makes its home in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected animals.

Hookworm

These parasites live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs where they feed on the pet's blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.

Roundworm

This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can rob your pet of vital nutrients necessary to stay healthy.

Tapeworm

Tapeworms are spread through the ingestion of infected fleas during grooming. These hook-like parasitic worms live and grow in your pet's intestines.

Whipworm

Whipworms are spread through the ingestion of soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.

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