Vaccinations
Why vaccinate?
Vaccination is vital in protecting your pet from various diseases that cause pain, distress and can be fatal.
Annual vaccination appointments also provide an opportunity for regular health checks for your pet.
Vaccinations for cats and dogs usually consist of a primary course of two vaccinations to stimulate an immune response, followed by annual boosters as the initial immune response gradually fades over time.
Dogs
For dogs, the first vaccination is done at eight weeks, with the second vaccination given two to four weeks later.
Core vaccinations for dogs are distemper, parvovirus, canine infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis.
Your puppy can go out and enjoy walks and meeting other dogs or start puppy training classes one week after their second vaccination.
All dogs should have an annual booster to keep them fully protected. It is important to ensure that you keep these timescales otherwise you may need to restart a full course.
Cats
Cats can be vaccinated from nine weeks of age, with a second vaccination three to four weeks later.
Core cat vaccinations include feline herpesvirus, calicivirus and feline panleukopaenia virus, which causes feline infectious enteritis. We also recommend vaccinating your cat against the feline leukaemia virus, a virus which suppresses the immune system and is potentially fatal.
Grown up cats should receive annual booster vaccinations to keep themselves covered and particularly if cats are entering catteries.
It is important to keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date, as a delay in their booster allows for a decrease in immunity, and may mean that your pet needs to restart their primary vaccination course.
Rabbits
Rabbits receive two vaccinations per year to protect them against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease.
Indoor and outdoor rabbits are at risk and should receive yearly boosters of both, however high risk rabbits such as breeding rabbits, show rabbits, those who go into boarding or those in contact with wild rabbits outside should receive six monthly boosters.