Pet Care Services for Dogs and Cats in San Francisco

Routine veterinary visits are the foundation of long-term pet health. The dogs and cats who stay the healthiest year after year are usually the ones whose owners catch small issues early: a missed vaccine, a tick that came home from Crissy Field, a tooth on its way out. Urban Pet Hospital offers complete preventive care for dogs and cats in San Francisco, with appointments seven days a week from 8am to 8pm and same-day urgent care during clinic hours.

What are pet care services?

Pet care services are routine veterinary visits that protect dogs and cats against preventable illness. These visits include vaccinations, wellness exams, parasite prevention, microchipping, and nail or ear care. Adult dogs and cats are typically seen once a year, while puppies, kittens, and senior pets benefit from more frequent visits with their veterinarian.

Vaccinations for Dogs and Cats in San Francisco

Core and lifestyle vaccines protect your pet against preventable infectious disease from the time they first come home. Puppies start a core series at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old. Kittens follow a parallel FVRCP series. Adult dogs and cats stay protected through scheduled boosters that match their lifestyle, exposure, and risk.

Core vs Non-Core Vaccines

Core vaccines for dogs include rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Core vaccines for cats include rabies and FVRCP. Non-core vaccines such as bordetella, leptospirosis, and feline leukemia are added based on your pet's exposure to other pets, parks, daycare, or outdoor environments. The veterinary team builds a vaccine plan that fits your specific pet.

Booster Schedule and Immunity Titers

Most adult dogs and cats follow an annual or three-year booster schedule depending on the vaccine. In some cases, the veterinarian may recommend immunity titers to confirm protection levels before redosing. A booster schedule is reviewed at every wellness exam and adjusted if your pet's lifestyle changes.

Wellness Exams and Physical Exams in San Francisco

A wellness exam is the single most useful visit on your pet's calendar. The veterinarian examines your dog or cat nose to tail: eyes, ears, mouth, heart, lungs, abdomen, joints, skin, and coat. A body condition score is recorded at every visit. Subtle changes that owners often miss at home, including a new heart murmur, a lymph node, mild stiffness, or early tartar, are usually first noticed during a routine exam. Senior pets benefit from twice-yearly wellness visits.

Parasite Prevention in San Francisco

San Francisco's mild, year-round climate means fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites are not a seasonal worry, they are a year-round one. Continuous flea and tick prevention is recommended for every dog and cat, indoor or outdoor. Routine deworming and an annual fecal exam catch what is not visible. Heartworm is less common in San Francisco than in southern California, but the veterinarian will assess your pet's exposure risk based on travel and lifestyle and adjust prevention accordingly.

Microchipping in San Francisco

A microchip is a small, permanent ID about the size of a grain of rice placed under the skin between the shoulder blades. It is the single most reliable way to reunite a lost dog or cat with their family. Microchipping is quick and can be done during a routine visit or paired with a spay or neuter. Owners register the chip with their contact details and update the registry any time they move or change phone numbers.

Routine Care: Nail Trims, Ear Cleaning, and Anal Glands

Routine grooming tasks are easy to put off but matter more than most owners realize. Overgrown nails change how a dog or cat walks and can lead to joint strain over time. Untreated ear buildup is uncomfortable and often masks infection. Anal glands that do not empty naturally can become impacted, which is painful and easy to address in clinic. We handle all three during regular visits.

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Kitten first-year guide

FAQs

How often should my dog or cat see a vet for a wellness exam?

Adult dogs and cats benefit from a wellness exam at least once a year. Puppies and kittens need more frequent visits during their first year for their vaccine series. Senior dogs (over 7) and senior cats (over 9) do best with twice-yearly visits so age-related changes are caught early.

Which vaccines does my San Francisco dog actually need?

Core vaccines for dogs include rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Lifestyle vaccines such as bordetella, leptospirosis, and canine influenza are recommended based on whether your dog visits daycare, dog parks, or trails. The team builds the plan around your specific dog.

Do indoor cats really need flea and tick prevention?

Yes. Fleas can hitch a ride on shoes, on other pets, or through an open window. Once they establish in a home they are difficult to clear without prevention. Year-round flea and tick prevention is recommended for every cat in San Francisco.

Where is my pet's microchip registered after the procedure?

We register the chip with a national pet recovery database at the time of the visit. You receive the chip number and registration login so you can update your contact details any time you move or change phone numbers.

Can I bring my puppy for a wellness visit before all their vaccines are done?

Yes. We see puppies and kittens for their first wellness visit as early as 6 to 8 weeks. The veterinarian uses the visit to start the vaccine series, check overall health, and answer the questions every new pet owner has.

Book your dog or cat's next wellness visit at Urban Pet Hospital, open every day of the week in San Francisco. Call (415) 400-5754 to schedule a preventive care appointment that fits your week.