Are your pet's vaccinations up to date?
Experience has shown how important it is to keep your pets up to date with vaccinations to protect both your individual animal, and to stop the spread of harmful & life-threatening diseases within the dog population.
Why vets recommend vaccinations every year
Protection against certain diseases has been shown to require annual boosters to maintain sufficient levels of immunity. This is the case for Leptospirosis & Kennel Cough in dogs, Cat Flu in felines, and all diseases vaccinated against in rabbits.
We also give some boosters at longer intervals to minimise the number of vaccinations your pets receive at one time. For example after their first year dogs are now given Distemper, Hepatitis & Parvovirus vaccinations every 3 years, and cats are also given Feline Leukaemia boosters every 3 years.
Recommended Puppy & Dog Vaccinations
Puppies can start their vaccination course as early as 6 weeks and each year they will require a booster vaccination for optimal protection. Find out about our New Puppy Clinics and our Dog Wellness Plan which includes all standard vaccinations.
The below viruses can be spread between even healthy dogs and remain in the environment for months:
- Canine Parvovirus – attacks bone marrow and gut lining, weakens immune system, causes bloody vomiting & diarrhoea, puppies can die from dehydration and sepsis.
- Canine Hepatitis – causes severe liver disease, including jaundice, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
- Canine Distemper – attacks brain, lungs, and intestines.
The below diseases are covered by separate vaccines:
- Leptospirosis – causes liver and kidney failure, can be difficult to diagnose and treat, potentially transmitted by rat’s urine, usually picked up from farms, puddles, canals or other watercourses.
- Kennel Cough – highly contagious, can be picked up from anywhere your dog comes into contact with infected dogs (not just ‘in kennels’), not often a serious condition but can make dogs feel unwell. Click here for more information.
Recommended Kitten & Cat Vaccinations
The kitten vaccine can be given from 9 weeks of age and gives protection against diseases that can be fatal or potentially infect cats for life. Annual boosters are then important for the highest level of protection. Find out about our New Kitten Clinics and our Cat Wellness Plan with included vaccinations.
Feline diseases include:
- Feline Infectious Enteritis (Panleukopenia/Feline Parvovirus– FPV) – a highly contagious, severe infection that causes gastrointestinal, immune system, and nervous system disease.
- Cat Flu (Feline Herpes Virus & Calicivirus) – causes runny nose and eyes, sore throat, aches & pains in muscles & joints, mouth ulcers, dribbling, sneezing, loss of voice, and fever.
- Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) – damages the immune system, easily spread by mutual grooming or cat bites, recommend for outdoor cats.
Recommended Rabbit Vaccinations
The most common infectious diseases that affect pet rabbits are often fatal. Vaccination can be used to help protect rabbits from 5 weeks of age, followed by annual boosters.
Rabbit vaccinations can help to protect your pet against:
- Myxomatosis – a viral infection that spreads through insect bites or contact with an infected rabbit, which attacks eyes, skin, lungs, and genitals.
- RVHD & RVHD-2 – both strains of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (a Calicivirus) are highly contagious and have high mortality rates as a result of internal bleeding.
Pet Travel Vaccinations
We can also provide Rabies vaccinations for pets heading overseas. Please contact us for more information at least 1 month before travelling to Europe or Northern Ireland, and 4 months in advance of your travel dates to other destinations.
