Vaccinations

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Vaccinating your pet is an important part of being a pet owner and protecting the health of your pet. Read here about vaccinating cats, dogs and rabbits. Vaccines help lessen the severity of diseases and certain vaccines can prevent infection altogether. Today a variety of vaccines are used by vets as preventative care for animals. The cost of vaccination includes a clinical health check and weight check for your pet. Why not spread the cost of vaccinating your pet by joining our Pet Health Club.

How often should my pet be vaccinated?  Vaccination keeps your pet safe from common diseases. After their initial vaccination course, your pet may only need a regular booster for continued protection. Keeping up to date with vaccinations is very important as immunity is reduced once the date for the repeat vaccination is passed. Most pets respond well to vaccines. Side effects are very rare and usually mild and short-term. Please call us if you have any concerns. Contact us immediately if your pet has repeated vomiting or diarrhea, whole body itching, difficulty breathing, collapse, or swelling of the face or legs. These signs may indicate an allergic reaction that needs urgent attention. Not every vaccination needs to be given every year, and we can advise you on this.

Your pet may have individual vaccination needs  We usually tailor a vaccination schedule to suit your pet's needs. For many years annual vaccinations were considered necessary for dogs and cats but there is increasing evidence that some vaccines provide protection beyond one year. Talk with us about what is best for your pet.

It is now possible to do a simple blood test to assess the need for a vaccination.This blood test known as a Titre test. Based on the results of the Titre test an individual vaccination programme is devised for your pet. This means that each year, instead of vaccine, a Titre test can be done.  If the test comes back low, then the vaccine would be given.

Dog vaccinations protect against these diseases:
Leptospirosis
Canine Parvovirus
Canine Distemper Virus
Canine Adenovirus (Hepatitis)
Canine Para Influenza Virus

Cat vaccinations protect against these diseases:
Feline Panleucopenia
Feline Calicivirus
Feline Rhinotracheitis virus
Feline Chlamydia psittaci
Feline Leukaemia virus

Kittens

When you register your kitten with us, information about the importance of vaccinations is included in your Kitten Pack. Very young kittens are highly susceptible to infectious diseases as the natural immunity provided in their mothers' milk gradually wears off. To provide protection against disease for the first few months of life a series of vaccinations are usually scheduled, usually 3 weeks apart. After the second vaccination you should wait a further seven days before allowing your cat outside, to ensure he or she is fully covered. After this, booster vaccinations are required yearly to maintain protection. Not every type of vaccination needs to be given every year and we can advise on this. You are welcome to come to our FREE Puppy & Kitten Clinic.

Puppies

When you register your puppy with us information about the importance of vaccinations is included in your Puppy Pack. Very young puppies are highly susceptible to infectious diseases so it is important to vaccinate them, especially as the natural immunity from their mothers' milk wears off. When you purchase a new puppy always check that it has been vaccinated. A series of vaccinations are usually scheduled 2 weeks apart. The first vaccination can be given as early as 8 weeks and then a second vaccination two weeks later. After the second vaccination, you will need to wait a further seven days before taking your puppy out for walks, to ensure that he or she is fully covered. After this, a booster vaccination is required every year. Not every type of vaccination needs to be given every year, and we can advise on this. You are welcome to come to our FREE Puppy & Kitten Clinic.

Kennel cough  This is a vaccination against Bordetella bronchiseptica or Kennel cough. It is an intra-nasal vaccine which provides 12 months cover and this should be done at least 72 hours before going into kennels or when mixing with lots of other dogs (ie in training classes or at shows) to be effective.

Rabbits

Just like cats and dogs you should also vaccinate your rabbit. Rabbits need to be vaccinated against Myxomatosis and VHD (Viral Haemorrhage Disease).

Myxomatosis can be vaccinated against from 6 weeks old and then every 6 months to keep up immunity. Myxomatosis is spread mainly by blood sucking insects, such as fleas and mosquitoes. From biting a wild rabbit with the disease and then going on to bite a domesticated rabbit. Some signs of Myxomatosis - puffy swellings on the head and face (severe swelling can cause blindness), swollen lips, swellings on the inside of the ears and around the genitalia and anus, difficulty in breathing and eating and drinking.

VHD is spread by direct contact between rabbits, (both wild and domesticated), also through indirect contact from people, clothing, other objects and fleas. VHD can be vaccinated against from 8 weeks old and then yearly boosters will keep up their immunity. VHD can be fatal and once infected there is as yet no cure. Some symptoms of VHD include loss of appetite, bleeding from the nose, difficulty breathing, high fever and paralysis.