Canine Vaccinations
Protecting them against infectious diseases
Vaccinating your dog is essential for protecting them against infectious diseases. We recommend starting with a series of vaccinations as a puppy, followed by annual boosters to maintain their immunity. Most puppies receive their first vaccines between 8 and 12 weeks of age, though they can be given as early as 6 weeks.
If your dog’s vaccinations lapse and become overdue, they may need a restart course, which your vet will discuss with you. Vaccination appointments also provide an opportunity for an annual health check and weight assessment. The specific vaccines given may vary each year based on the schedule, but all dogs require vaccination against at least one disease annually.
Core Vaccinations for Dogs
- Distemper: A potentially fatal virus that attacks multiple body systems, including the respiratory and nervous systems. It spreads through direct contact with infected urine, blood, or saliva from other dogs.
- Infectious Canine Hepatitis: A viral disease affecting the liver, kidneys, eyes, and lungs. It is transmitted through contact with saliva, urine, faeces, blood, or nasal discharge from infected dogs and can remain in the environment for months.
- Parvovirus: A highly contagious virus that causes severe vomiting and bloody diarrhoea, often leading to death. Puppies are most at risk, but older dogs can also be affected. Sadly, many dogs with parvovirus do not survive even with intensive care, making vaccination crucial for prevention.
- Leptospirosis: This bacterial infection spreads through contact with infected urine or contaminated water. Dogs that drink or swim in stagnant water, especially in areas with high rat populations, are at increased risk.
Additional Vaccinations
- Kennel Cough: Recommended for dogs that stay in kennels or frequently interact with other dogs. The vaccine is administered either orally or nasally and is given annually.
- Rabies: Required for pets traveling abroad, the rabies vaccine must be administered every three years.
Titre Testing: An Alternative to Some Annual Boosters
- Titre testing is a blood test that measures your dog's immunity levels against certain infectious diseases, serving as an alternative to some annual vaccinations. However, it is not available for leptospirosis, meaning your dog would still require an annual booster for this disease.
- While titre testing can help determine whether a booster is necessary, there are some drawbacks. It tends to be more expensive than routine vaccination, and the results do not guarantee that your dog will remain immune for the next 12 months.
Vaccinations for Cats
We recommend vaccinating your cat whether they live indoors or outdoors. Your vet will discuss with you the best protocol for your cat depending on their lifestyle.
These vaccines protect against serious and potentially fatal diseases, including:
- Cat Flu (Feline Herpesvirus & Feline Calicivirus): Can cause severe illness in vulnerable cats and may lead to chronic infection.
- Feline Parvovirus (Panleukopenia): A severe and often fatal gut infection.
- Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV): A lifelong infection that can be fatal. It is primarily transmitted through saliva or bites from infected cats.
Regular vaccinations are essential to keep your cat protected from these diseases. We recommend starting with a series of vaccinations as a kitten, followed by annual boosters to maintain their immunity. Kittens can receive their first vaccines from 8 weeks of age and require a second vaccination 3-4 weeks later. If your cats’ vaccinations lapse and become overdue, they may need a restart course, which your vet will discuss with you. Vaccination appointments also provide an opportunity for an annual health check and weight assessment. The specific vaccines given may vary each year based on the schedule, but all cats require vaccination against at least one disease annually.
Rabbit Vaccinations
A combination vaccine is available to protect rabbits against the three most common and fatal diseases:
- Myxomatosis – A highly infectious and often fatal disease that causes swelling and discharge from the eyes, nose and mouth.
- Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease 1 (RHD1) – A highly contagious virus with a high fatality rate.
- Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RHD2) – Another strain of RHD, equally contagious and deadly.
This vaccine is required annually to ensure continued protection.