Vaccination and Parasite Control
Core and rabies vaccination for cats and dogs, the kitten and puppy schedule, internal and external parasite treatment, microchipping and registration.
Vaccination is the most effective protection against the infectious diseases that run severely, and often fatally, in cats and dogs. Some of them, rabies above all, also transmit to people, so this concerns the health of everyone in the household and not only the animal.
The examination before the vaccine
Every vaccination is preceded by a general examination. We do not vaccinate an animal with a fever, diarrhoea, lethargy or a heavy parasite burden: the immune system cannot mount the expected response and no protection is produced. Where needed, we ask for a blood count first.
Vaccination in cats
The core vaccine covers panleukopenia, calicivirus and herpesvirus. These three agents cause disease that can be fatal in kittens and that spreads easily in a household. For cats that go outdoors or meet other cats, leukaemia vaccination is also considered, with a leukaemia test done beforehand.
Rabies vaccination is given separately and is a legal requirement.
Vaccination in dogs
The core vaccine covers distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. Parvovirus causes rapidly progressing bloody diarrhoea in puppies and is fatal without treatment. Depending on the animal’s circumstances, leptospirosis and kennel cough vaccines may be added.
Rabies vaccination is compulsory in dogs as well.
Internal and external parasites
Parasite control is part of the vaccination programme, not an extra. Intestinal worms, ticks, fleas and lice make the animal ill, and some of them transmit to people. Regular treatment matters especially in households with children.
The form depends on the animal’s age, weight and circumstances: a tablet by mouth, a spot on applied to the neck, or an injection. The interval is set the same way; an animal that goes outdoors does not follow the same schedule as one that stays inside.
Microchip and registration
In Türkiye, owned cats and dogs must be identified with a microchip and entered in the registration system. The microchip is an identifier the size of a grain of rice, placed under the skin at the neck. It is the most reliable route home for a lost animal: a collar and tag can come off, a chip cannot.
The vaccination record
Every treatment is written into the record with its date. Keep it: it is asked for at boarding, at daycare, when travelling abroad and at any other clinic. If you lose it, we can reissue it from our records.
Frequently asked
Is rabies vaccination compulsory?
Yes. In Türkiye, rabies vaccination is a legal requirement for owned cats and dogs, and it is repeated at set intervals. The vaccination is recorded together with the animal's registration details.
When does my kitten or puppy get its first vaccine?
The core vaccine usually starts at six to eight weeks and is repeated every three to four weeks until immunity is complete. Rabies is generally given from twelve weeks. The schedule is set according to the animal's age and health.
Can a sick animal be vaccinated?
No. A vaccine needs a healthy immune system to produce a response. That is precisely what the pre-vaccination examination is for.