Wellness, Pet Exams and Vaccinations

NRHA has four exam rooms, with one of those exam rooms only for cats. Our doctors have varied schedules, so it is important to call ahead of time for an appointment. Feel free to specify which doctor you would like to see or simply tell the receptionist that you have no preference, and we will schedule you with the available doctor.

We recommend that all pets have an annual examination. If your dog or cat is over 8 years of age, it's wise to have them examined every 6 months. Our annual examination fee is included with annual dog or cat distemper vaccines, which is a common practice among area veterinarians.

Please refer to one of the following for more information.

Recommended Vaccination Protocol for Kittens

FVRCP
Commonly called
        feline distemper
Contains vaccines against
        the following diseases: 
        - Rhinotracheitis virus
        - Feline herpes virus
        - Calici virus
        - Panleukopenia
           (feline parvo)
Initial vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks of age
Booster in 3 to 4 weeks
Last vaccine given when kitten is at least 12 weeks old
Annual vaccination is recommended

LEUKEMIA
In cats, leukemia can be caused by a virus
It is highly infectious
Testing to identify carriers is recommended prior to vaccination
Initial vaccine anytime after 9 weeks of age with one booster
        in 3 to 4 weeks
Annual vaccination is recommended
For cats that will never go outside or have contact with any
        other cats, (which is seldom true), it may not be necessary

RABIES
Initial vaccine after 12 weeks of age
Annual revaccination required by city ordinance

FECALS (Stool Checks)
Please bring a stool sample with you, on one of your visits. 
       All kittens should have their stools checked for worms.
Alternatively, we may suggest deworming your kitten with a
        broad-spectrum dewormer twice 3 weeks apart, especially if
        there are young children present in the household.

HEARTWORM PREVENTION
Cats can and do get heartworms.
        It was previously believed that they had a natural immunity.
The disease is different in cats than in dogs
It can be life threatening, and there is no current treatment
        approved if they get infected
The preventative method is very safe and effective
Prevention can be started anytime after 6 weeks of age and is
        recommended to be given year round.

LICENSING
Cats are not required to be licensed by the city or county.

Please Note: the protocol may vary slightly depending on the age of the kitten when we start the series.

Recommended Vaccination Protocol for Puppies

DHPPCV
Commonly called the
        distemper-parvo shot
Contains vaccines against
        the following diseases:
        - Distemper
        - Hepatitis (canine)
        - Parainfluenza
        - Parvo
        - Corona
Initial vaccine at 6 weeks, then boostered every 3 weeks
        up through 16 weeks (4 months) of age
Annual vaccination is recommended

BORDATELLA
Commonly called "Kennel Cough"
Highly infectious upper respiratory disease
2 types
        - Intranasal (Can be given anytime after 3 weeks of age) 
          * Booster annually 
          * Sometimes causes sneezing for a few days after vaccination
          * Quickest onset of immunity
        - Injectable (Easier to give)
          * Initial vaccine at 8 weeks of age 
          * Booster in 2 to 4 weeks, then annually

RABIES
Initial vaccine at 12 weeks of age or older
Booster annually as required by the City of Wichita

FECALS (Stool Checks)
Please bring a stool sample with you when you come
        for an appointment
Alternatively, since it is possible to get a false positive, we may
        suggest just deworming with a broad-spectrum dewormer.
        This is done twice, 3 to 4 weeks apart. This is especially
        important in households where there are small children since it
        is possible for human transmission to occur.

HEARTWORM PREVENTION
We recommend all dogs be placed on heartworm prevention
Can be started anytime after 6 weeks of age
Administering the medication year round is advised
Annual testing to ensure they have not become infected,
        usually done when annual vaccines are administered

LICENSING
Licensing your dog is required by the city of Wichita if you
        live within the city limits, or by Sedgwick County if you
        live in that county.
We have an agreement with the licensing authorities to issue licenses when appropriate, this is usually done when the rabies vaccine is given and we will mail your check to the city or county for you at your request.

Please Note: the protocol may vary slightly depending on the age of the puppy when we start the series.

We recommend annual physical exams for all pets. For geriatric pets, we recommend complete physical exams every 6 months.

The City of Wichita currently requires annual Rabies vaccines for dogs and cats. Other vaccines we currently offer are the "distemper" vaccine (which is for canine distemper, hepatitis, and influenza), and the "kennel cough" vaccine (which is also called Bordatella and Leptospirosis). For cats, the "distemper" vaccine protects against panleukopenia and 3 other upper respiratory viruses. We also offer leukemia vaccines.

Which vaccine your pet needs depends on each individual pet and its environment. The type of vaccine needed is discussed with the veterinarian at the time of your visit. Vaccines are tailored to the needs of the pet. Not all pets need every vaccine.

Both dogs and cats are vulnerable to becoming infected with heartworms. In this part of the United States, heartworm prevention is recommended year-round for both cats and dogs. We follow the recommendations of the American Heartworm Society and require all dogs to be tested annually.

We recommend that all pets be microchipped, which is a safe and permanent means of identification. We use HomeAgain microchips.