Vaccinations

Why Vaccinate Your Pet?

Vaccinating your cat, dog, puppy or kitten is one of the most important things that you can do as a responsible and caring owner. It will help your pet to live a long and healthy life.

These vaccines stimulate the body to produce antibodies against the most common and contagious, life-threatening diseases that your dog or cat will come across during their lifetime. Many of these diseases either have no cure, or would involve long, expensive and often unsuccessful treatments for your pet.

When should I vaccinate?

During the first few weeks of your life, your puppy or kitten will be protected from disease by immunity passed on by the mother before birth and through her milk (these are known as naturally derived antibodies). Unfortunately, this immunity only lasts until your puppy or kitten is around 12 weeks of age. This is why it is so important to get the vaccinations completed as soon as possible.

We recommend that puppies have their first vaccination at 6-8 weeks, and their second 4 weeks later.

In cats, the first vaccination can be given at 8-9 weeks old in kittens, with the second 3-4 weeks later.

After the primary course, an annual ‘booster’ vaccination is essential, providing your loved pet with continuous protection. Annual boosters are very important as, unlike humans, the effect of vaccination only lasts a limited time.

What Diseases Does The Vaccine Cover?

Cats

Feline Herpes Virus / Viral Rhinotracheitis – 'CAT FLU'

Easily transmitted from one cat to another
Causes sneezing, fever, lack of appetite, discharges from the eyes and nose and coughing
Even if a cat recovers, symptoms may occur on and off for life

Feline Calicivirus

Another major cause of ‘cat flu’
Widespread and highly contagious
Causes ulcers in the tongue and mouth and pneumonia (lung inflammation), sneezing and runny eyes
Treatment is difficult
Infected animals will continue to spread the disease to other cats, and may have lifelong problems

Feline Panleucopenia – cat 'Parvo' or Enteritis

This disease can survive for up to a year outside of your cat's body
Most cats will come into contact with it in their lifetime
Causes diarrhoea, vomiting, severe dehydration and fever
Once infected, a cat can spread the disease to other cats in the area
Vaccination is essential for this potentially fatal disease – treatment is very difficult, and not always successful

Dogs

Canine Parvovirus

Spread via infected faeces dog to dog
Highly contagious and often fatal
Causes fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea with blood
The disease can stay in the environment for months, continuing to infect other dogs

Canine Distemper

Often fatal and very difficult to treat
Spread dog to dog by eye and nose discharges
Causes fever, coughing, diarrhoea, vomiting, fitting and paralysis

Infectious Canine Hepatitis

Spread dog to dog by infected urine, faeces or saliva
Symptoms similar to Distemper
Causes liver failure, eye damage and breathing problems
Can be fatal

Leptospirosis

Infected dogs can suffer from liver and kidney damage
This disease will need a long period of treatment if they are to fully recover
Often fatal and CAN INFECT HUMANS

Infectious Tracheobronchitis – 'Kennel Cough'

Transmitted from dog to dog easily
Caused by various airborne bacteria and viruses just like the human cold
Causes a dry, hacking cough – often resulting in vomiting
Requires a separate vaccine given by squirting liquid up the nose