VACCINATION
o Vaccination is a simple treatment once a year to prevent your pet catching some very nasty and often fatal infections
o Puppies and kittens are most at risk of catching these diseases, so we recommend early vaccination
o Vaccinations can be started from 8 weeks old in Puppies, and from 9 weeks old in Kittens.
o The first vaccination is a course of two injections which are given 2 weeks apart in puppies, and 3 weeks apart in kittens
o Your Dog or Cat may be a little quiet and sleepy for a day or two after vaccination. This is quite normal and is not usually cause for concern
DOGS
o DISTEMPER (Hard pad) is a serious and often fatal disease which can cause coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhoea and seizures.
o Infectious canine HEPATITIS is a virus which attacks the liver and can be fatal. Some affected dogs can also develop a white colour in the eye.
o PARVOVIRUS is a common virus which causes very severe vomiting and diarrhoea and can be fatal
o PARA-INFLUENZA is a very common virus which causes coughing and sneezing
o LEPTOSPIROSIS is a bacterial infection spread by rats and contact with infected dogs. It causes liver failure and can be transmitted to humans.
o KENNEL COUGH is a virus and bacterial infection which causes a very infectious and unpleasant cough.
CATS
o CAT FLU (Feline Herpes virus and Calicivirus) is a very common problem in cats. It is only very rarely fatal in very young or old cats, but once caught; cats remain infected for years or even for life and can have regular coughing, sneezing and runny eyes and nose. Calicivirus can also cause mouth ulcers in cats.
o PANLEUKOPAENIA is fortunately rare now due to vaccine protection. It causes rapid dehydration and death
o FELINE LEUKAEMIA (FeLV) is probably the most important virus in cats. The virus can lay dormant in infected cats for years before causing fatal diseases such as tumours and immune system failure
RABBITS
o MYXOMATOSIS is a highly contagious virus spread by biting insects such as fleas and mosquitos so even indoor rabbits can catch this virus which causes swellings of the eyes, nose and genitals and is usually fatal. We recommend vaccination boosters every 6 months.
o VIRAL HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE causes severe bloody diarrhoea, with very rapid dehydration and death.
REMEMBER
o Vaccination is vital to give your pet a long and healthy life.
o We always offer a free health check and full examination with our annual vaccinations to help pick up the early warning signs of many other problems.
o Annual boosters are just as important as the first vaccination, and should be continued throughout your pets life
o Older Dogs and Cats have a reduced immune system response as they get older, and this makes it even more important to keep their vaccination boosters up to date.
o Just ask your vet for more information and to discuss the benefits of vaccination for your pet.
