Vaccination of your pet is an essential part of their health care and provides protection against a variety of diseases. Young animals will often require a primary course of vaccines with an interval between injections to provide immunity. Ongoing protection is essential and an annual vaccine is required to provide continuous immunity. This yearly booster forms part of the annual health check.
Dog vaccines
The primary course for puppies and the ongoing annual booster provides protection for the following diseases.
Distemper causes listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhoea and vomiting. Convulsions and paralysis may also occur in the final stages. This disease is often fatal. It is highly contagious and is spread by discharge from the nose and eyes of infected dogs. The distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which may cause permanent damage if the dog recovers.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis symptoms are similar to those of early stage distemper, causing liver failure, eye damage and breathing problems. The disease is transmitted via bodily secretions such as urine, faeces and saliva.
Parvo Virus is a very contagious and widespread disease. Spread through infected faeces, this highly resistant virus can remain in the environment for many months. Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting (usually haemorrhagic), listlessness and high fever. The disease is severe in young puppies and often fatal.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease which attacks the liver and kidneys. It is transmitted via contact with water contaminated with infected urine. Symptoms are variable and may include vomiting, lethargy and abdominal pain.
Additional vaccines for dogs are available and are administered on an individual basis according to requirement.
Rabies has been eliminated from the UK, vaccination is only indicated if you are planning to take your dog abroad.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease of the dog’s respiratory tract. Dogs of all ages can be affected and signs include a harsh, dry, convulsive cough. It is passed from dog to dog via airborne droplets and by direct nose to nose contact.
Cat Vaccines
The primary course for kittens and the ongoing annual booster provides protection for the following diseases.
Feline Herpes is one of the viruses that causes ‘cat flu’, it usually causes respiratory symptoms (e.g. sneezing) or eye infections, these will often re-occur throughout the cat’s life.
Calici Virus is the other virus often associated with ‘cat flu’. It will often cause oral ulceration and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums).
Feline Enteritis or Feline Panleukopaenia is a severe gastrointestinal infection causing extreme vomiting and diarrhoea. Feline enteritis is often fatal if not treated early.
Feline Leukaemia virus causes the cat’s immune system to become weakened leaving it vulnerable to a number of diseases, including anaemia and cancer. There is no cure for this virus and the diseases caused are often fatal.
Rabbit Vaccines
The vaccination for rabbits provides protection for the following diseases.
Myxomatosis is a severe viral disease spread by biting insects such as fleas and mosquitoes.
Symptoms include weepy, puffy eyes leading to blindness, thick discharge from the nose, puffy fluid filled swellings around the head, face and genitals. Rabbits also become anorexic, depressed and death usually results within 12 days.
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a fatal virus spread by direct contact between infected rabbits (both wild and domesticated) as well as indirect contact by fleas, people and even on your clothing. Symptoms include fever, anorexia, paralysis and seizures, internal bleeding leads to organ failure and death 1-2 days later. Some rabbits may not show any outward signs of the disease.