Vaccinations

Vaccinations are given to prevent certain illnesses.

Vaccinations are available for dogs , cats and rabbits.

Regular boosters are needed to maintain protection & provide an opportunity to give your pet a health check.

• Dog vaccinations
• Cats vaccinations
• Rabbits vaccinations

Dog vaccinations

Dogs are routinely vaccinated against 7 diseases, many of which are potentially fatal.

An additional two vaccines are available against Bordetella, which is definitely recommended, and Rabies, if you require a Pet Passport.

Annual Boosters are essential to maintain protection.

We normally vaccinate puppies from 8 weeks of age.

Puppies are vaccinated twice against the 7 diseases, usually 2-4 weeks apart.

We also advise an additional vaccination against Parvovirus at 18 weeks of age, as some dogs do not respond to the vaccine as well as we would like.

Bordetella is like Whooping Cough. This disease is sometimes called Kennel Cough, but can also be contracted anywhere. Having this vaccine is strongly recommended. It is normally given to puppies after the first two vaccines.

Rabies is given if you require a Pet Passport. This cannot be started before 3 months of age.

Annual booster are recommended for the 7 diseases and Bordetella.

7 Diseases

The seven diseases are :

• Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Two forms of Leptospirosis
• Parvovirus
• Adenovirus
• Parainfluenza

Parvovirus

This is our most virulent disease. Many dogs die from this illness & treatment is very expensive and not guaranteed to be successful.

The symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea with blood and often is fatal.

The virus has mutated over the years and unless your dog has regular vaccinations then previous vaccines may not have the protection against the new strains of virus. Annual vaccination is essential to protect from this fatal disease.

Bordetella / Kennel Cough

This disease is like Whooping Cough. It is often called Kennel Cough. This is a misleading name for two reasons.

It can be contracted just as easily outside of kennels.
There are other causes of “Kennel Cough” ie a dog goes into kennels & comes out with a cough.

Bordetella is distressing disease & can last between 2-4 weeks.

The vaccine is administered up the nose.

Annual Boosters are essential

Cat vaccinations

Cats are routinely vaccinated against 5 diseases, some of which are fatal.

Vaccination normally starts from 9 weeks of age, involving 2 sets of vaccines, 3-4 weeks apart.

Annual boosters are essential.

Cats can also be vaccinated against Rabies if you require a pet passport.

5 Diseases

• Two forms of ‘flu (Feline Rhinotracheitis and Calici virus)
• Feline Enteritis (Fatal)
• Feline Leukaemia (Fatal)
• Chlamydia (like Flu)

Rabbit vaccinations

Rabbits should be vaccinated against two fatal diseases. These are Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD).

Rabbits can start vaccination against Myxomatosis from 6 weeks of age and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease from 10 weeks of age.

Rabbits should be vaccinated every 6 months against Myxomatosis and every year against VHD.

Myomatosis vaccination can be put under threat if your rabbit is bitten by too many mosquitoes.


Myxomatosis

This is a virus disease that is usually fatal. It is transmitted by rabbits being bitten by mosquitoes & fleas.

It shows itself initially as lumps on the eyes, ears & genitals but essentially attacks the whole body.

The vaccine should not be totally relied on for full protection as the rabbits’ immune system can be overwhelmed if too many mosquitoes bite a rabbit injecting extreme numbers of virus. Mosquitoes bite early evening and so the use of a net curtain over the hutch is helpful. The use of certain insecticides such as Xeno and Advantage can also be useful.

Boosters are every 6 months.

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD)

This is a viral disease that attacks the body, usually causing the rabbit to die from internal bleeding.

Annual Boosters are recommended.