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As the number one pet retailer in the United States, you can get just about anything you need for your furry friend from PetSmart. In fact, some PetSmart locations even offer puppy vaccines and medical treatment through independently operated Banfield Pet Hospitals inside the stores.
If you are interested in learning what kind of vaccines PetSmart offers, keep reading. In this article, we review the PetSmart Animal Hospital and the ideal puppy vaccine schedule. Scroll down to learn more about getting your puppy’s vaccines from PetSmart.
Does PetSmart Offer Vaccines?
Technically speaking, PetSmart does not offer vaccines or any other type of veterinary care. Instead, PetSmart is a retail location where you can purchase food, accessories, and over-the-counter medication for your pet, but it does not provide veterinary care.
Banfield Pet Hospital Inside PetSmart
Many PetSmart locations have an independently run Banfield Pet Hospital inside their locations. This means you can get full-functioning veterinary care within certain PetSmart locations, but it is not the PetSmart employees and company performing the vaccines.
How it works is that Banfield Pet Hospital is hosted inside the PetSmart location for convenience. It’s like how some eye doctors have their practice inside a Walmart location. Although the practice is located within Walmart, it’s not Walmart that’s providing you the medical service.
About Banfield Pet Hospital
Banfield Pet Hospital is a comprehensive practice complete with over 3,600 veterinarians. They offer a variety of wellness plans, online chat features, and other helpful additions to protect your cat or dog from illness and suffering.
How to Find Out If Your PetSmart Offers Vaccines
It’s important to note not all PetSmart locations have a Banfield Pet Hospital inside. You will have to check with your local PetSmart to see if one of these hospitals is inside. If a hospital is inside your PetSmart, it can offer vaccines for your pet. You can use the Banfield Pet Hospital finder to find one in your area.
You can also call your local PetSmart to ask them outright whether they offer vaccines through an in-house Banfield Pet Hospital.
What Animals Can Get Vaccines from PetSmart?
The Banfield Pet Hospitals inside PetSmart only provide options for some of the most common pets, including dogs and cats. If you have specialty pets, it’s better to go to a pet hospital with experience in exotic pets. The most common pets to get vaccines from PetSmart’s Banfield Pet Hospital are dogs.
Core vs. Non-Core Vaccines for Puppies
If your puppy needs its vaccines, it’s essential to know which vaccines are necessary and which are recommended. Core vaccines are those that are legally required for your pet. Meanwhile, non-core vaccines will help keep your pet healthy, but they might not be required.
Core Vaccines for Puppies
All puppies should get vaccines to protect against parvovirus, rabies, distemper, and hepatitis. These core vaccines often begin when the dog is between 2 and 4 weeks old, but this series of vaccines will continue until the puppy is 14 weeks old. These vaccines are often given together.
As your puppy continues to grow, they will need some booster shots every year or every other year. These booster shots ensure that your dog is healthy, well into old age.
Non-Core Vaccines for Puppies
The most common non-core vaccines include Bordetella, Lyme disease, and canine influenza. Some non-core vaccines are not required by law, but individual doggie sitters or boarders require them. A Bordetella vaccine, for example, fights against kennel cough and is required by many dog services.
Puppy Vaccine Schedule
DHLPPC
| First vaccine: | 6-8 weeks |
| Second vaccine: | 9-11 weeks |
| Third vaccine: | 12-14 weeks |
| Fourth vaccine: | 16-17 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
Rabies
| First vaccine: | Varies by state, normally around 16 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12-36 months |
Giardia
| First vaccine: | 14 weeks |
| Second vaccine: | 17 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
Bordetella
| First vaccine: | 14 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 6 months |
Lyme
| First vaccine: | 14 weeks |
| Second vaccine: | 17 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
Does PetSmart Do Vaccines For Cats?
PetSmart offers vaccines for cats at select locations. Any location that offers vaccines for puppies will offer vaccines for cats as well. So, any PetSmart with a Banfield Animal Hospital inside will offer vaccines for cats.
Just as it’s important to get vaccines for your puppies, it’s important to get your kittens and cats vaccinated as well. The first round of immunizations happens during the first year of life, but some vaccines will need annual boosters as well.
Kitten Vaccine Schedule
Rabies
| First vaccine: | 8 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
Feline Distemper
| First vaccine: | 6 weeks |
| Second vaccine: | 10 weeks |
| Third vaccine: | 14 weeks |
| Fourth vaccine: | 16 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
Feline Herpesvirus
| First vaccine: | 6 weeks |
| Second vaccine: | 10 weeks |
| Third vaccine: | 14 weeks |
| Fourth vaccine: | 16 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
Calicivirus
| First vaccine: | 6 weeks |
| Second vaccine: | 10 weeks |
| Third vaccine: | 14 weeks |
| Fourth vaccine: | 16 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
FeLV
| First vaccine: | 8 weeks |
| Second vaccine: | 12 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months if access to the outdoors; not needed for indoor cats |
Bordetella
| First vaccine: | 4 weeks |
| Booster shots: | 12 months |
Summing Up
Once again, PetSmart itself does not offer vaccines, but some locations have in-house Banfield Pet Hospitals that will perform vaccines for dogs. You will need to contact your local PetSmart to determine if they have the necessary in-house services to offer pet vaccines.
If your PetSmart does not have a Banfield Pet Hospital, you will have to go to another veterinary practice to get your pet vaccinated. It’s important to follow the vaccination schedule to keep your puppy protected. Your vet will be able to answer any other questions you may have about your dog’s necessary vaccines.
Featured Image Credit: Lucky Business, Shutterstock
