The Best Preventative Veterinary Care

Wellness Exams & Vaccinations in Kitchener

Annual checkups look at things that you can't see at home. We review your pet's full health picture at Kingsdale Animal Hospital and make sure their vaccinations are current and right for their lifestyle.

Book a Wellness Exam View Wellness Plans

A lot can change in a year, and pets age much faster than we do. An annual wellness exam is how we catch developing problems early, before they become serious. It's also the visit where we review your pet's vaccination history and make sure their protection is current.

We make every exam and vaccine plan for your individual pet based on their age, lifestyle, and health history.

What Happens at a Wellness Exam?

The wellness exam is a head-to-tail physical assessment. We're checking everything, not just the obvious.

Temperature, pulse & respiration

Body weight & condition score

Eyes, ears & nose

Teeth, gums & palate

Heart & lung sounds

Skin & coat condition

Abdominal palpation

Joints, muscles & lymph nodes

Legs & feet

We'll also ask about your pet's diet, activity level, drinking habits, and any changes you've noticed at home. Small observations from you often tell us more than you'd expect.

Dog Vaccinations in Kitchener

Not every dog needs the same vaccines. We look at your dog's lifestyle and local risk factors before recommending anything beyond the core protocol.

Core Vaccines — All Dogs

Core

DA2PP (Distemper combo)

Protects against distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Given as a puppy series, boostered at one year, then every two to three years.

Core

Rabies

Required by law in Ontario. Given at the first puppy visit, boostered at one year, then every one to three years depending on the specific vaccine used.

Lifestyle Vaccines — Based on Risk

Lifestyle

Leptospirosis

Spread through water and soil contaminated by wildlife urine. We recommend this for most Kitchener dogs, especially those near the Grand River, the Huron Natural Area, or any standing water.

Lifestyle

Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

Required for dogs who board, attend daycare, visit dog parks, or go to grooming. Spreads quickly in group settings.

Lifestyle

Lyme Disease

Tick activity in Waterloo Region has increased significantly in recent years. If your dog spends time on trails, in wooded areas, or in tall grass, Lyme vaccination is a reasonable layer of protection on top of tick prevention.

Cat Vaccinations in Kitchener

A strictly indoor life doesn't eliminate exposure. Rabies is legally required in Ontario for all cats. The respiratory viruses covered by FVRCP are hardy enough to travel in on your shoes or clothing without your cat ever stepping outside.

Core Vaccines — All Cats

Core

FVRCP (Feline combo)

Protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Given as a kitten series, boostered at one year, then every two to three years.

Core

Rabies

Recommended for all cats in Ontario, including indoor-only cats. Given once, boostered at one year, then every one to three years.

Lifestyle Vaccines — Based on Risk

Lifestyle

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)

Recommended for cats who go outdoors or have contact with cats of unknown vaccination status. FeLV is spread through close contact and is preventable with vaccination. We recommend it for all kittens and reassess annually based on lifestyle.

Puppy and Kitten Vaccination Series

Young animals need a series of vaccines, not just one visit. Maternal antibodies from their mother can block vaccine effectiveness early on, so we space them out to make sure your puppy and kitten are actually protected.

🐶 Puppy Schedule

Starting at 8 weeks, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then again at one year.

🐱 Kitten Schedule

Starting at 8 weeks, with boosters at 12 and 16 weeks, then again at one year.

If you've just adopted a puppy or kitten in Kitchener, we'd love to see them as soon as possible to get them started on the right track. Visit our puppy and kitten care page for more details on what those first visits look like.

How Often Does My Pet Need Booster Vaccines?

It depends on the vaccine and your pet's age. Most core vaccines shift to a three-year cycle after the first adult booster. Lifestyle vaccines like Bordetella and Leptospirosis are typically given annually.

We track your pet's history and let you know exactly what's due at each visit. Nothing gets over-vaccinated, and nothing gets missed.

Vaccine Titer Testing

If your pet can't receive a vaccine due to a health condition, or if you prefer to assess immunity before automatically re-vaccinating, titer testing is an option. A titer is a blood test that measures your pet's current antibody levels against specific diseases.

Titer results help us decide whether a booster is actually needed or whether immunity is still strong. It won't replace every vaccine requirement (rabies is legally mandated in Ontario regardless of titers), but it's a useful tool in the right situations.

Senior Pets Need More Frequent Exams

Once dogs and cats reach their senior years (generally age 8 and older for most breeds), annual exams aren't always enough. To stay on top of their health, we typically recommend semi-annual wellness visits for older pets.

More frequent checkups give us a better baseline and a better chance of catching organ changes, dental disease, arthritis, or early metabolic disease before they progress. Ask about our wellness plans for seniors.

For a full overview of what senior monitoring involves, visit our preventative pet care page.

Book a Wellness Exam in Kitchener

Serving Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge. Easy online booking available.

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