Vaccination is essential to protect dogs, cats and rabbits against the major infectious diseases which continue to circulate in the general population, many of which can be fatal.
We view this as an essential part of your pets healthcare in combination with an annual health check. The health check enables us to monitor the general health of your pet.
At Ardmore Vets this is our following protocol:
Dogs
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Distemper – a highly contagious viral disease that can affect a dog’s respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems.
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Infectious Canine Hepatitis (associated canine adenovirus type 2) – causes liver damage and can be fatal in severe cases.
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Parvovirus – a severe and often deadly infection that causes vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration, especially in puppies.
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Leptospirosis (4 strains) – a bacterial infection that can damage the kidneys and liver and can also be passed to humans.
The DHP (Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus) part of the vaccination is done as a puppy and at the first annual booster, from then on it is only given every 3 years.
We also strongly recommend vaccination against Kennel Cough (infectious tracheobronchitis). Kennel cough spreads easily through the air and can be caught anywhere dogs mix — not just in kennels. We are seeing a steady increase in cases each year and many affected dogs have never stayed in kennels.
Keeping your dog’s vaccinations up to date is one of the best ways to protect them from avoidable illness and help keep our local dog community healthy.
Puppy vaccines can be given from 8 weeks of age with a second vaccination from 10 weeks of age to allow early socialisation and the final part of the course at 12 weeks old.
Cats
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Cat Flu (Feline Influenza): A common and highly contagious illness that can cause sneezing, runny eyes and nose, and mouth ulcers.
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Feline Infectious Enteritis: A severe and often fatal viral disease that causes vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration.
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Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV): We consider this vaccination essential, as FeLV can suppress your cat’s immune system and lead to life-threatening illnesses. This vaccine is only done every 3 years after being done as a kitten and at the first anuual booster.
Vaccination is at 9 weeks and 12 weeks as a kitten. Annual boosters are required to keep up immunity.
Rabbits
To ensure your rabbits live a long and happy life we recommend vaccinating every year against Myxomatosis and two strains of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RVHD 1 and RVHD 2).
All rabbits now need two vaccinations a year:
- ‘Triple’ vaccine to cover Myxi, RVHD1 and RVHD2
- New vaccine to cover RVHD2 highly virulent strain