Laredo Pet Vet and their staff believe in preventative care. Annual vaccinations and heartworm testing along with year round heartworm and flea and tick prevention is the best medicine! Vaccines given on an annual basis helps protect our pets from dangers in the environment or illnesses they can get from other animals - wild or domestic. Flea and tick preventative help stop the spread of tick borne illnesses not just to animals but to people as well. Most heartworm preventatives also treat intestinal parasites keeping your family safe from Zoonotic parasites. Vaccinations should be started no later than 8 weeks for cats and dogs and be boostered every 2-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old.