Vaccinations and my pet
With our shiny new Vaccination cards about to be delivered we thought it would be a good time to remind everyone why and when you should vaccinate your pet.
Why vaccinate my pet?
Vaccinations are highly recommended as a preventative against some very nasty diseases. They are routine injections which can save your pet from getting very ill, or dying – and save you a lot of money. Prevention is much cheaper – and better for your pet – than treating a disease.
How often do I need to vaccinate my pet?
Vaccinations stimulate the immune system, or put simply activate the body’s defence system to produce antibodies, and these protect your pet against the targeted diseases. As young animals usually haven’t been exposed to the disease, they require a series of injections to stimulate their bodies immune system. Even as adults an ongoing vaccination program is essential to keep your pet healthy.
Dogs
The diseases targeted for prevention in dogs include;
- Parvovirus: Commonly called Parvo
- Canine Distemper: Commonly called Hard Pad Disease
- Canine Adenovirus: Commonly called Infectious Canine Hepatitis
- Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis: Commonly called Kennel Cough
Puppies
Vaccination schedule:
- 6 – 8 weeks First vaccination
- 10 – 12 weeks Second vaccination
- 14 – 16 weeks Third vaccination
Adult Dogs
Dogs require a Canine Cough vaccination every year (mandatory if attending a boarding facility)
Booster Vaccinations 12 months after your dog’s 14 week vaccination another booster vaccine is required, this is to ensure long-term immunity against the contagious diseases.
Not all dogs require vaccination on a yearly basis, and this depends on the challenge that they are likely to encounter. We do recommend yearly health checks, and for animals that attend kennels yearly vaccination is a requirement. However, if your pet has an autoimmune disease or adverse reaction to vaccination, or you prefer to minimise vaccinations, titre testing for antibody levels is available on request.
Cats
The diseases we are trying to protect your feline friend from include;
- Feline Panleukopenia; Commonly called Feline Parvo
- Feline respiratory disease; Commonly called Cat Flu
- Chlamydia Felis
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV); Commonly called Feline AIDs
Kittens
Core Vaccination schedule:
- 6 – 8 weeks First vaccination
- 10 – 12 weeks Second vaccination
- 14 – 16 weeks Third booster vaccination
Adult Cats
Cats require booster vaccinations to ensure long-term immunity against the contagious diseases. We can discuss options with you.
FIV is an elective vaccination to protect your cat from acquiring the FIV virus from another cat, usually through fighting. It is strongly recommended for any cat that goes outdoors.
Of course if you have any questions about the right vaccination program for your pet please call and discuss with one of our friendly nurses, or book a consult to go through options in details with one of our Vets!