If you’re like a lot of dog owners, you’re used to a certain set of vaccines. When they’re due, they’re due, and you (along with your veterinary team) consider them part of a standard preventive care routine.

You get a reminder email, text, or postcard -- your dog or cat is due for a vaccine or two. Time to make an appointment! You arrive for a simple visit with your healthy pet, and then a Licensed Technician or even the doctor begins a full, thorough exam.

Over the past several years, veterinary professionals have paid a great deal of attention to pet vaccination protocols. With new vaccines and other developments, many veterinarians have updated their protocols as well. For example, some vaccines are now given every three years rather than annually. Of course, the vaccines given also depend on a particular pet’s risk and exposure.

We continually assess the need for the vaccines we recommend and tailor a vaccin e protocol around each pet’s individual lifestyle.

At most veterinary hospitals, puppy visits generally end around 4 months of age, and for many dogs this means that we will not be examining them or reviewing their health care needs until they are 12-16 months old. Dogs that come from shelters or rescue groups often have been surgically altered before they are adopted.

Because of the success of preventative measures in our corner of the globe, many people generally do not give a deadly illness like rabies much thought.

The short answer is “yes” and there is a widespread outbreak in the Southeast. However, dog owners around the country should be on alert as reports of this virus were confirmed in LA a few months earlier.

Canine influenza is highly contagious between dogs, they can pass it among themselves from contaminated objects like toys, water bowls, and leashes, as well as direct contact. Additionally, people can transmit it between dogs, though there’s no evidence that people can contract it.