vaccination

Why vaccinate?

We are very keen on vaccination.   We all vaccinate our own pets and we urge you to do the same.

Why?  Because the diseases that we vaccinate pets against are all serious, often life threatening, and some can even present a risk to owners too.

There is, in our profession, nothing more upsetting than being unable to save a pet's life when the cause is avoidable.

Are vaccines safe?

All the drugs that vets are allowed to use in this country have had to undergo strict clinical trials to prove that they are safe and that they work.   Occasional mild adverse reactions can occur but these are short term and have no long term effects.   More serious adverse reactions are very, very rare and the benefits of reducing the known risk of some very unpleasant diseases far outways the disadvantages.

We have chosen to use predominantly one make of vaccines so that we can combine different vaccines in different situations, for example rabies vaccination with standard boosters.  

The vaccine manafacturers and vets have acknowledged public anxiety about possible over vaccination and you will notice that annual boosters may not include every component every year.

Kittens and puppies

The timing of vaccinations for kittens and puppies aims to have the immunity from the vaccine in place by the time the antibodies that they have received from their mothers has waned.   If we give vaccines too early the mothers antibodies mop up the vaccine, but we don't want to leave young animals vulnerable for any longer than absolutely necessary.   The compromise is to give two vaccinations with the second after 10 (puppies) or 12 (kittens) weeks of age.   The first vaccination can be given from 6 weeks in cases of high risk but usually is given at 8-9 weeks.

Kitten vaccinations

Kittens need to be protected agains 'flu and enteritis and can also be protected against feline leukaemia.  2 vaccinations are given by injection 3-4 weeks apart, usually at 8-9 and 12 weeks of age.  All components can be given together.  Some kittens may benefit from vaccination against chlamidophyla and bordatella as well, depending of where they live.  You can discuss this when you come to the surgery.

Puppy vaccinations

Puppies need protection against distemper, parvo, hepatitis, parainfluenza and leptospirosis.   They receive 2 vaccinations by injection 2-4 weeks apart, usually at 8 and 10 weeks. 

Some puppies may benefit from an earlier parvo injection at 6 weeks.  

Puppies can be vaccinated against kennel cough with their 2nd injection.  

Certain breeds (rottweilers and dobermans) may have a lowered immunity to parvo virus and should have a top up parvo vaccination at 6 months.

The first annual booster at one year of age is very important to confirm immunity and should not be given late.

Boosters

Booster vaccinations are given annually and are crucial to keep the immunity active.  Some components last for more than a year, so the booster may be slightly different each year.

Boosters should continue throughout a pet's life.

If boosters are late or forgotten a  course of 2 vaccinations are required to bring back good levels of immunity

Kennel cough vaccine

Any dog going into a kennel should receive this vaccine, ideally 2-3 weeks before.  In an emergency it can be given 72 hours before going into kennels.

Not all kennel cough is caught at kennels and we recommend all dogs who socialise with other dogs should receive the vaccine.

Immunity lasts for 1 year and can be given with normal boosters.

The vaccine is given by putting a small volume of fluid up the nose.  Most dogs don't mind this too much!

Rabies

Pets travelling abroad will probably require rabies vaccination.   For the pet passport a blood test confirming immunity is also required.  To make sure that almost every dog passes this test first time, we recommend a course of 2 rabies vaccinations - a small number of dogs fail after 1 injection and repeat blood tests are expensive and delay issue of the passport.   Most cats will produce a good immunity with 1 injection

Boosters are required every 3 years for return to the UK but other countries may require them more frequently.   BOOSTERS MUST BE GIVEN ON TIME - ONE DAY LATE IS TOO LATE!

Please refer to the page on pet travel for further information

Rabbits

2007 has been dreadful for myxomatosis in pet rabbits.   No rabbit is safe since it appears to be midge or mosquito borne.  Indoor rabbits can get myxomatosis.

Rabbits should be vaccinated every 6 months, immunity takes about 2 weeks to come into force and vaccinated rabbits can still get a milder form of the disease.   Myxomatosis in unvaccinated rabbits is almost always fatal.

Rabbits ideally are also vaccinated against VHD - viral haemorrhagic disease - every year 

The 2 vaccines need to be given 14 days appart

Ferrets

Ferrets also need to be vaccinated.  Although no vaccines are specifically designed for them, we can use the dog vaccines to provide some useful immunity.   Ferrets over 12 weeks of age should receive a single injection followed by annual boosters.