CLIENT INFORMATION

Thank you for choosing Pet Express Animal Hospital, we look forward to seeing you soon!

Returning Patients: Before each visit we ask you to please fill out out Pre-Exam Form to better understand the status of your pets health.

New Client: Please, submit the Pre-Exam Form, E-mail or bring in the New Client Form, and any previous medical history you may have.

PRE-EXAM VISIT FORM

General Information About Vaccines

People are sometimes under the misconception that pet vaccines last a lifetime; that’s not the case. In fact, most pet vaccines last between one and three years, but their lifespan is really a function of each dog or cat’s unique immune system. Your pet’s lifestyle factors will also influence how often he or she needs booster vaccines.

For adult dogs, rabies vaccines come in one-year and three-year versions. Distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus, as well as most vaccines, require a booster dose at least once every three years. Some vaccines such as the flu vaccine require yearly administration.

For adult cats, rabies vaccines are required every one or three years, depending on the vaccine used. Herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus all require re-administration once every three years.

Check out our lifestyle based vaccine calculator to see which vaccines we would recommend for your pet.

LIFESTYLE-BASED VACCINE CALCULATOR

Rabies Tag Requirments

Broward County law requires both dogs and cats to wear an official Broward County Rabies Registration Tag. The tag should be worn by your pet at all times so that he can be identified in case he gets lost from home. 

  • Dogs and cats four months or older must be registered.

  • All dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies to be registered. A copy of a current Rabies Certificate, issued by a licensed veterinarian, must be presented at the time of purchase.

  • If a licensed veterinarian has determined that a rabies vaccination will be detrimental to your pet’s health, our doctor will issue a Waiver Certificate. This Certificate must be signed by the veterinarian and sent to Broward County Animal Care. However, a Pet Registration Tag must still be purchased.

  • “Indoor” pets are not exempt from Broward County’s registration requirement. Every day, Broward County Animal Care receives “indoor” animals that have slipped out of an open door or window, or escaped through weak or loose screening or fencing. Such pets easily become lost since they are often not familiar with their neighborhood.

  • Pets that have a tattoo, microchip or personalized name tag, are still required to have a Broward County Rabies Registration Tag.

INTERNATIONAL MICRO-CHIPPING

At Pet Express Animal Hospital we use Petlink International Microchip to maintain up to date medical information and identification for pets. All microchips are linked to a central database for immediate reliable readings accessible by any veterinarian in the world.

TRAVELING WITH YOUR PET - CDC GUIDELINES

Requirements to transit a pet from one country and to another varies greatly by the destination country. These health certificates can be very complicated and can require very specific blood work and vaccinations. Click here for requirements for travel to specific countries.

Read some more tips on traveling with your pet.

MEDICATION & PRESCRIPTION DIET REFILLS

For refills please call our Hospital or simply place an Order Online.  

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF OUR VACCINES

Canine Distemper - DHPP

A severe and contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous systems of dogs, raccoons, skunks, and other animals, Distemper spreads through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) from an infected animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment. It causes discharges from the eyes and nose, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching, paralysis, and, often, death. This disease used to be known as “hard pad” because it causes the footpad to thicken and harden.

There is no cure for distemper. Treatment consists of supportive care and efforts to prevent secondary infections, control symptoms of vomiting, seizures and more. If the animal survives the symptoms, it is hoped that the dog’s immune system will have a chance to fight it off. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months.

Canine Hepatitis - DHPP

Infectious canine hepatitis is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and the eyes of the affected dog. This disease of the liver is caused by a virus that is unrelated to the human form of hepatitis. Symptoms range from a slight fever and congestion of the mucous membranes to vomiting, jaundice, stomach enlargement, and pain around the liver. Many dogs can overcome the mild form of the disease, but the severe form can kill. There is no cure, but doctors can treat the symptoms.

Canine Parainfluenza - DHPP

One of several viruses that can contribute to kennel cough.

Parvovirus - DHPP

Parvo is a highly contagious virus that affects all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies less than four months of age are at the most risk to contract it. The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system and creates a loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and often severe, bloody diarrhea. Extreme dehydration can come on rapidly and kill a dog within 48-to-72 hours, so prompt veterinary attention is crucial. There is no cure, so keeping the dog hydrated and controlling the secondary symptoms can keep him going until his immune system beats the illness.

Coronavirus

The canine coronavirus is not the same virus that causes COVID-19 in people. COVID-19 is not thought to be a health threat to dogs, and there is no evidence it makes dogs sick. Canine coronavirus usually affects dogs’ gastrointestinal systems, though it can also cause respiratory infections. Signs include most GI symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doctors can keep a dog hydrated, warm, and comfortable, and help alleviate nausea, but no drug kills coronaviruses.

Heartworm –  ProHeart Injection

When your puppy is around 12-to-16 weeks, we will start a heartworm preventive. The name is descriptive — these worms lodge in the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries (that send blood to the lungs), though they can travel through the rest of the body and sometimes invade the liver and kidneys. The worms can grow to 14 inches long and, if clumped together, block and injure organs.

A new heartworm infection often causes no symptoms, though dogs in later stages of the disease may cough, become lethargic, lose their appetite or have difficulty breathing. Infected dogs may tire after mild exercise. Unlike most of the conditions listed here, which are passed by urine, feces, and other body fluids, heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Therefore, diagnosis is made via a blood test (recommended yearly) and not a fecal exam.

Bordetella Bronchiseptica – Oral Bordetella

This highly infectious bacterium causes severe fits of coughing, whooping, vomiting, and, in rare cases, seizures and death. It is the primary cause of kennel cough. There are injectable and nasal spray vaccines available.

If you plan on boarding your puppy in the future, attending group training classes, or using dog daycare services, often proof of this vaccination will be a requirement. Really, if you leave your home with your puppy and expose him/her to a place any other pet has been then your puppy should be vaccinated for Bordetella.

Kennel Cough – Oral Bordetella / Influenza

Also known as infectious tracheobronchitis, kennel cough results from inflammation of the upper airways. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, or other infections, such as Bordetella and canine parainfluenza, and often involves multiple infections simultaneously. Usually, the disease is mild, causing bouts of harsh, dry coughing; sometimes it’s severe enough to spur retching and gagging, along with a loss of appetite. In rare cases, it can be deadly. It is easily spread between dogs kept close together, which is why it passes quickly through kennels. Antibiotics are usually not necessary, except in severe, chronic cases. Cough suppressants can make a dog more comfortable.

Leptospirosis - Lepto

Unlike most diseases on this list, Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria, and some dogs may show no symptoms at all. Leptospirosis can be found worldwide in soil and water. It is a zoonotic disease, meaning that it can be spread from animals to people. When symptoms do appear, they can include fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, severe weakness and lethargy, stiffness, jaundice, muscle pain, infertility, kidney failure (with or without liver failure). Antibiotics are effective, and the sooner they are given, the better.

Lyme Disease – Lyme

Unlike the famous “bull’s-eye” rash that people exposed to Lyme disease often spot, no such telltale symptom occurs in dogs. Lyme disease (or borreliosis) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete. Transmitted via ticks, an infected dog often starts limping, his lymph nodes swell, his temperature rises, and he stops eating. The disease can affect his heart, kidney, and joints, among other things, or lead to neurological disorders if left untreated. If diagnosed quickly, a course of antibiotics is extremely helpful, though relapses can occur months or even years later.

Rabies - Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that invades the central nervous system, causing headache, anxiety, hallucinations, excessive drooling, fear of water, paralysis, and death. It is most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. Treatment within hours of infection is essential, otherwise, death is highly likely. Most states require a rabies vaccination. Check with your vet about rabies vaccination laws in your area.

For Felines

We recommend starting vaccinations at about 8 weeks of age, continuing until the kitten is 4 months old.

According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), the core vaccines (those that are recommended for ALL cats) are feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), and feline calicivirus (FCV), we offer these vaccinations as well as Rabies.

Feline Rhinotracheitis, like Feline Calicivirus is a respiratory infection and can become chronic if a kitten gets sick, so this vaccine is recommended.

Additionally, we recommend the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccination. Granted, indoor cats are not at a lot of risk for this disease, but you can never be 100% certain that the kitten will never go outside or be introduced to a new kitten at a later date.

Related Departments, Programs and Services

You deserve the highest level of care, and it should go as smoothly as possible. Check out some other Pet Express Animal Hospital departments, programs and medical services. These include: