Dog and Cat Vaccinations in Fairlawn, OH
Protecting Your Pet Through Preventative Care
Vaccination is one of the most important parts of preventative veterinary care. Many serious illnesses can be prevented with routine immunization. Some diseases spread easily between animals, and others can even affect people.
At Copley Fairlawn Veterinary Clinic, we create personalized vaccination plans for dogs and cats in Fairlawn, Copley, and the surrounding Akron area. We evaluate lifestyle, age, and risk factors to determine which vaccines are appropriate for your pet.
Our goal is to provide protection without over-vaccinating, while keeping your pet safe and healthy.
Why Pet Vaccinations Matter
Vaccines stimulate your pet’s immune system to recognize and defend against harmful diseases. Even indoor pets can be exposed to certain viruses and bacteria through contact with other animals, people, or contaminated environments.
Preventative vaccination helps protect against:
- Serious viral infections
- Bacterial diseases
- Respiratory illnesses
- Zoonotic diseases that can spread to humans
Routine wellness exams allow us to review your pet’s vaccination history and determine when boosters are needed.
Dog Vaccinations
Dogs require a combination of core and lifestyle-based vaccines.
Core vaccines are recommended for nearly all dogs. These typically include rabies and distemper combination vaccines.
Rabies vaccination is required by law and protects against a fatal virus that can affect both animals and humans.
The distemper combination vaccine protects against distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. These diseases can be severe, especially in puppies.
Lifestyle-based vaccines may include:
- Leptospirosis vaccine
- Lyme vaccine
- Bordetella vaccine
- Canine influenza
The need for these vaccines depends on your dog’s exposure risk, including outdoor activity, boarding, grooming, travel, or wildlife contact.
Abdominal Exploratory Surgery
If your pet is vomiting, experiencing abdominal pain, or may have swallowed a foreign object, exploratory surgery allows us to identify and treat problems such as intestinal obstruction, foreign bodies, or abdominal masses. In some cases, biopsies are taken to better understand chronic digestive issues.
Leptospirosis Vaccine
We are pleased to offer vaccination for Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that can affect both pets and humans.
Leptospirosis spreads through the urine of infected wildlife and is often present in water or soil. Dogs may contract the disease by walking through contaminated puddles or coming into contact with infected animals.
Symptoms can range from mild illness to severe kidney or liver damage.
Annual boosters are recommended to maintain immunity. If your dog spends time outdoors or in areas with wildlife exposure, we may recommend including the leptospirosis vaccine in your dog’s preventative care plan.
Lyme Vaccine for Dogs
Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks. Dogs that spend time outdoors, especially in wooded or grassy areas, may be at higher risk.
Vaccination may be recommended in addition to regular flea and tick prevention. We discuss lifestyle factors during your pet’s wellness exam to determine if the Lyme vaccine is appropriate.
Bordetella Vaccine
Bordetella, often referred to as kennel cough, is a contagious respiratory infection.
Dogs that visit boarding facilities, dog parks, grooming salons, or daycare settings may benefit from Bordetella vaccination.
We review your dog’s lifestyle to determine whether this vaccine should be included.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule
Puppies require a series of vaccinations during their first months of life. These vaccines are given in stages to build proper immunity.
Puppy visits also allow us to monitor growth, discuss nutrition, and answer behavioral questions.
Completing the full puppy vaccine series is essential before exposure to high-risk environments.
Cat Vaccinations
Cats also require core vaccines, even if they live primarily indoors.
Core cat vaccines typically include:
- Rabies
- FVRCP
The FVRCP vaccine protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.
Depending on exposure risk, we may recommend additional vaccines such as feline leukemia.
Kitten vaccination schedules are similar to puppies and require a series of visits during early development.
Are Vaccines Safe?
Vaccines are generally well tolerated. Mild soreness or temporary fatigue may occur.
Severe reactions are uncommon, but we review your pet’s medical history before administering any vaccine. If your pet has experienced a prior vaccine reaction, we adjust protocols accordingly.
Our approach is individualized. We vaccinate based on risk, not a one-size-fits-all schedule.
Why Families in Fairlawn Trust Us for Pet Vaccinations
Preventative care is about partnership. Families in Fairlawn and Copley trust us because we take time to review vaccination history, discuss lifestyle risks, and answer questions clearly.
Dr. Ashley Staycheff and our team evaluate each pet individually. We focus on appropriate protection while avoiding unnecessary treatment.
Our goal is to help your dog or cat stay healthy at every stage of life.
For more information about routine care, visit our Wellness Exams page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Vaccines
Does my indoor cat need vaccines?
Yes. Certain viruses can be transmitted through indirect exposure. Rabies vaccination is also legally required.
How often does my dog need vaccines?
Some vaccines are given annually. Others may be administered on extended schedules depending on guidelines and your pet’s health status.
Can vaccines cause illness?
Mild temporary symptoms may occur. Severe reactions are uncommon. We monitor your pet and provide guidance if concerns arise.
Is the leptospirosis vaccine necessary?
If your dog has exposure to wildlife or standing water, vaccination may be recommended.
What happens if my pet misses a booster?
We review vaccination history and determine whether restarting or boosting is appropriate.
Get Started with Vello
Scan the QR code or use the portal login link below to get started.
Introducing Vello
A Better Way to Stay Connected
We’re excited to announce that starting August 4th, our clinic is using Vello, a convenient text messaging app designed to make communication with us easier than ever. With the Vello app, you can easily get appointment reminders, request visits, text our team, and enjoy faster, more convenient service - all from your phone.
We encourage all appointment requests to go through the Vello app beginning August 4th, so you can enjoy a smoother, more connected experience with our team.
Schedule Vaccinations in Fairlawn
Vaccination is a key part of your pet’s long-term health plan.
If your dog or cat is due for vaccines, we are here to help you stay on schedule.
Get In Touch!
Different Procedures We Offer
Spay/Neuter
Spaying is the surgical removal of a female dog’s reproductive organs to prevent reproduction. Neutering involves removing both testicles in male dogs to render them infertile.
Exploratory Surgeries and Biopsies
Cytology involves examining cell samples under a microscope to help diagnose tumors, fluid buildup, or issues in organs like the liver or lungs. A biopsy is the surgical removal of tissue for detailed microscopic analysis of suspicious lesions.
TTA/CCL Repairs
A common knee injury in dogs is a tear in the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), similar to the ACL in humans. This ligament helps stabilize the knee, and when torn, it causes the shin bone to move abnormally, leading to pain, lameness, and joint damage. Over time, this instability can result in osteoarthritis.
MPL Procedures
A luxating patella occurs when the kneecap (patella) slips out of its normal position in the groove at the end of the thighbone. This condition causes instability in the knee joint and can lead to discomfort or difficulty walking.
Amputation Services
Amputation is a surgical procedure to remove a pet’s limb, often due to cancer, severe injury, infection, or chronic pain. Forelimb amputations usually involve removing the entire limb, while hindlimb amputations are done at the hip or upper thigh. In some cases, modifications may be made to allow for a prosthetic limb.
Fracture Repairs
In many cases, surgical stabilization is recommended for treating fractures in pets. Unlike humans, dogs and cats often fracture major bones like the femur or humerus, which can't be easily treated with splints or casts.
Mass Removals
Finding a lump under your pet’s skin can be alarming and should be checked by a vet. Many are harmless lipomas (fatty tumors), but some may involve mast cells, which are part of the immune system. Proper diagnosis is important to determine if the lump is benign or cancerous.
Splenectomy
The spleen is a tongue-shaped organ located below the stomach with a texture similar to the liver. While dogs can live without it, the spleen plays a supportive role in overall health.
Cystotomy
Bladder stones are mineral formations that develop in the urinary bladder, ranging in size from tiny grains to larger rocks. They often result from bladder disease or inflammation and can appear as a single stone or a mix of various sizes.
Perineal Urethrostomy (PU)
A perineal urethrostomy (PU) is a surgical procedure for male cats with urinary blockages. It widens the urethral opening to make urination easier and reduce the risk of future obstructions.
C-Sections
A caesarean section (C-section) is a major surgery to deliver puppies, often done in emergencies when natural birth is difficult. Most dogs recover quickly, but if labor was prolonged before surgery, recovery may be slower and require extra care.
