Vaccinations

The importance of vaccinations and health checks

Your new pet: If the mother's vaccinations are current then she is able to pass a certain amount of immunity to her offspring. This immunity decreases with time leaving your pet susceptible to disease. Vaccinating at this point takes over when the maternal immunity can longer protect. This initial visit provides us with an opportunity to perform a health check and advise on feeding, worming, weight, behavioural problems and general health.

Your adult pet: Returning with your pet for an annual vaccination not only maintains protection against disease but ensures they get an annual check up. Often serious health problems can be averted if picked up early, sometimes even before you realised anything was wrong.

Dog Vaccinations | Cat Vaccinations | Rabbit Vaccinations

Vaccinating your puppy or adult dog

Puppies need a primary course of two injections. These are usually given 2 - 4 weeks apart depending on the age of your puppy. We advise the first vaccination is given at 9 weeks of age and the second at 12 weeks. It is recommended that you wait a further week following the second vaccination to allow the immunity to develop fully before your puppy ventures outside.

Adult Dogs require yearly boosters to maintain an adequate level of immunity to continue to protect against disease. You should remember that your dog will not be allowed into boarding kennels or training classes if vaccinations are not current. We will provide you with a certificate as a record of vaccinations. Please keep this in a safe place and remember to bring it to the surgery when we vaccinate your dog so it can be updated.

What diseases are covered by vaccination?

CANINE DISTEMPER (HARD PAD)

Although incidence of this disease has been greatly reduced there still exists many areas where infection and outbreaks do occur (especially in large cities). Infection is passed from one dog to another by inhalation. First signs are vomiting, diarrhoea and coughing with discharge from the nose and eyes. Several weeks following infection there may be nervous signs such as twitching or fits. Treatment is often unsuccessful and euthanasia is necessary to alleviate suffering. In dogs that do survive many develop nervous signs later in life. Vaccination is the best way to protect your dog against Canine Distemper.

CANINE PARVOVIRUS

This disease killed thousands of dogs in the 1970s when it first appeared as an epidemic. It is usually young dogs which are affected, often very young puppies. Signs are rapid and usually consist of vomiting with smelly, bloody diarrhoea, depression and abdominal pain. The dogs quickly become dehydrated and unless treated immediately with intravenous fluids often die.

Parvovirus is particular in that it can survive in the environment for a very long time, even years. It is possible for the virus to be transferred on shoes, clothing and on the pads of dogs. Therefore it is not necessary for your dog to have direct contact with an infected dog to contract the disease.

INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS

Canine Hepatitis causes high temperature, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and pale gums and jaundice. It primarily affects the liver and can quickly prove fatal. Dogs of all ages are susceptible, but it mostly affects dogs less that a year old. As with Canine Distemper treatment is often unsuccessful. Vaccination remains the best protection.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread in the urine of infected animals. Humans in contact with infected urine can contact Leptospirosis and the effects can be serious. Dogs are vaccinated against two forms of the bacteria:

Leptospira icterohaemorrhagia

This may be more familiar to you as Weil's Disease. Infection arises from contact with infected rat urine or rat-infested waterways. The disease mostly attacks the liver and kidneys. Signs include high temperature, extreme thirst, increased urination, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and jaundice. Death can occur very quickly.

Leptospira canicola

Source of infection is from the urine of infected dogs. This mostly affects the kidneys and in dogs that recover the kidneys can remain damaged for life. The bacteria can be excreted in the urine of dogs that recover for up to a year and therefore pose a serious health risk to their owners.

KENNEL COUGH SYNDROME

Kennel Cough is a highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract (URT) i.e. trachea and bronchi. It is caused by a variety of viruses and a bacteria. Signs are a harsh, dry cough, often with retching that can last several weeks. Very occasionally it can lead to pneumonia. Treatment is usually successful but can be prolonged and costly. Your dog can remain contagious for other dogs for many weeks after recovery.

Kennel Cough is contracted when dogs are in close proximity to each other, not necessarily in kennels. Therefore your dog can be at risk at dog shows, training classes or even in a crowded park.

The annual booster injection provides protection against one of the viruses responsible. There is also a vaccine available against the bacterial form. This is administered in the form of nose drops to stimulate immunity at the site of infection in the URT. The nasal vaccination lasts for 6 months and should be administered at least 5 days before a period of risk, i.e. entry in a dog show or kennels. Many good kennels now insist on Kennel Cough vaccination before you can board your pet.

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Vaccinating your kitten or adult cat

Kittens need a primary course of two injections. These are usually given 2 - 4 weeks apart depending on the age of your kitten. We advise the first vaccination is given at 9 weeks of age and the second at 12 weeks. It is recommended that you wait a further week following the second vaccination to allow the immunity to develop fully before your kitten ventures outside.

Adult Cats require yearly boosters to maintain an adequate level of immunity to continue to protect cat against disease. You should remember that your cat will not be allowed into a boarding cattery if vaccinations are not current. We provide you with a certificate as a record of vaccinations. Please keep this in a safe place and remember to bring it to the surgery when we vaccinate your cat so it can be updated.

What diseases are covered by vaccination?

FELINE INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS

Feline Infectious Enteritis is caused by a virus which is capable of living in the environment for a long time. It is highly contagious and can be spread on shoes, clothing, litter trays and food. It commonly affects young kittens and can be very severe. Signs include high temperature, a profuse watery diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. In severely affected animals death can be rapid. Kittens born to infected mothers can suffer from brain damage. The occurrence of this disease has been greatly reduced over recent years following the introduction of vaccination. Ensure your cat is protected by annual vaccination.

FELINE INFECTIOUS RESPIRATORY DISEASE (CAT FLU)

Cat Flu is mainly caused by two viruses (Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus and Feline Calici Virus). It is a common problem often severely affecting kittens and elderly cats, in which it can be fatal. In healthy adult cats it rarely causes death but can be debilitating and cause on-going problems of sneezing and conjunctivitis the cat's whole life. Signs are sneezing, running nose and eyes, high temperature, conjunctivitis, loss of appetite and painful mouth ulcers. Recovered cats often become virus carriers and can be a source of infection for other cats for years.

FELINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS (FeLV)

FeLV is an important cause of death in young adult cats. It is spread by close contact between infected cats (grooming, sharing food bowls etc) and from an infected queen to her kittens while still in the womb.

It can take several years before signs develop in an infected cat. This means infected cats are a risk to other cats. Many older cats will eventually clear the infection from the body and not show signs of any disease.

In cats that do become ill the affects are varying. Cats can develop tumours in various parts of the body, leukaemia or generalised infections due to a suppressed immune system. There is no specific treatment; specific illnesses are treated as they arise but the disease invariably proves fatal.

Vaccination can protect your cat against FeLV. A blood test is available to identify cats already infected.

FELINE CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydial infections are a common cause of conjunctivitis in cats. Vaccinating against chlamydia has proved helpful in controlling infectious conjunctivitis especially when many cats live together.

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Vaccinating your rabbit

Rabbits are routinely vaccinated against two diseases

MYXOMATOSIS is caused by a virus. It affects domestic rabbits as well as wild rabbits. It is spread mostly in this country by the rabbit flea, (and less commonly the mosquito).

HAEMORRHAGIC VIRAL DISEASE (HVD) is also a viral disease. It is easily spread between rabbits via contaminated food, hutches, bedding and can even survive on clothing for up to 3 months. Death, which occurs in 50% of infected rabbits can be very sudden; often as quick as overnight. In acute cases blood clots form on the lungs and the rabbit finds it difficult to breathe.

KENNEL COUGH SYNDROME

Kennel Cough is contracted when dogs are in close proximity to each other, not necessarily in kennels. Therefore your dog can be at risk at dog shows, training classes or even in a crowded park.

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FELINE INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS

FELINE INFECTIOUS RESPIRATORY DISEASE (CAT FLU)

FELINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS (FeLV)

FeLV is an important cause of death in young adult cats. It is spread by close contact between infected cats (grooming, sharing food bowls etc) and from an infected queen to her kittens while still in the womb.

It can take several years before signs develop in an infected cat. This means infected cats are a risk to other cats. Many older cats will eventually clear the infection from the body and not show signs of any disease.

In cats that do become ill the affects are varying. Cats can develop tumours in various parts of the body, leukaemia or generalised infections due to a suppressed immune system. There is no specific treatment; specific illnesses are treated as they arise but the disease invariably proves fatal.

Vaccination can protect your cat against FeLV. A blood test is available to identify cats already infected.

FELINE CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydial infections are a common cause of conjunctivitis in cats. Vaccinating against chlamydia has proved helpful in controlling infectious conjunctivitis especially when many cats live together.

Rabbits are routinely vaccinated against two diseases

MYXOMATOSIS is caused by a virus. It affects domestic rabbits as well as wild rabbits. It is spread mostly in this country by the rabbit flea, (and less commonly the mosquito).

Rabbits can be vaccinated against Myxomatosis from 6 weeks of age and HVD from 2½ to 3 months of age. Booster vaccinations are given every 12 months.