Vaccinating your pet

Don’t put your pets at risk…ensure their vaccinations are up to date.

Why is vaccinating our pets so important?

Many of the diseases that we vaccinate against can be fatal. Recently there have been cases of Leptospirosis reported in our area. Leptospirosis can be picked up from watercourses, particularly where rats have been and it can be passed on to humans, known as Weil’s Disease. Leptospirosis causes kidney failure in dogs and is often fatal, but it can be prevented by vaccinating annually. We provide the most up to date version of the leptospirosis vaccine which protects against four strains of the disease.

Are we over-vaccinating?

We follow the WSAVA guidelines on vaccinating dogs that states that the core vaccinations for Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus should be given every three years. We also offer blood testing to check your dog’s titre levels, if the levels are high it means that there is still some protection from the vaccination and we wouldn’t need to vaccinate again until the following year. However, the vaccination against Leptospirosis must be given annually and currently there is no titre testing available for this disease.

Are there any other benefits of performing annual vaccinations?

When your pet has a vaccination we also perform a health check, this allows us to pick up any problems which may have gone un-noticed, we can then advise on the appropriate steps to resolve the problem or provide further diagnostics and treatment. We can also weigh your pet, advise on nutrition and discuss a parasite treatment protocol tailored to your pet and lifestyle.

Should I vaccinate against Kennel Cough if my dog doesn’t go in kennels?

The name Kennel Cough implies that the disease only occurs when the dog goes into kennels. However, the disease can be transmitted whenever your dog is in contact with other dogs, for example on a walk, at the park or at the groomers. The disease is spread through droplets when the dog coughs or sneezes and can result in contamination of surfaces. The vaccine doesn’t completely prevent the disease but does reduce the severity of clinical signs and reduces the chance of it spreading to other dogs. Most kennels will require evidence of vaccination before allowing your dog to stay at the kennels.

What about my cat?

Cats also need to be vaccinated annually, especially if they are outdoor cats as they can come into contact with stray cats who may be harbouring fatal diseases. Some cat diseases can go un-noticed for a long time and only become apparent when the animal is stressed or suffering from another condition, making it even more important to have them checked annually and to keep them up to date with their vaccinations.