Vaccinations
Puppies (vaccinate at 8 and 10 weeks old)
Our normal practice is to give the first injection from 8 weeks old and the second injection two to four weeks later. The pup must be at least 10 weeks old at the time of the second injection. (Puppies can be vaccinated from 6 weeks in some circumstances).
The course protects against distempter, infectious canine hepatitis, canine parainfluenza virus, canine parvovirus, canine coronavirus and two forms of leptospira.
The manufacturer of the vaccine currently used in the practice indicates that the onset of immunity is from two weeks after the second injection. This should be used as a guide since individual animals will respond differently to vaccines, and indicates when it is likely to be 'safe' to take your puppy out and about.
Annual boosters are recommended (see below).
Kittens (vaccinate at 9 and 12 weeks old)
Our normal practice is to give the first injection from 9 weeks old and the second injection is given three to four weeks later. In some cases the first injection can be given from 8 weeks old depending on the vaccine used.
In the majority of cases we recommend vaccinating your cat against cat 'flu, feline enteritis and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). FeLV is a serious fatal virus spread by close contact in cats. If you cat never goes out and will never go out in the future, there may be reasons to vaccinate for flu and enteritis only(they are the requirements for going into a cattery).
The manufacturer of the vaccine currently used in the practice indicates that the onset of immunity is two to four weeks after the second injection. Consider keeping your kitten indoors until he/she has been neutered at around 5-6 months old.
Annual boosters are recommended (see below).
Rabbits (from 6 weeks for myxomatosis and 10 weeks for VHD)
Rabbits can be vaccinated against myxomatosis from six weeks old with a single injection. The manufacturer of the vaccine currently used in the practice indicates that the onset of immunity is two weeks after the injection. The duration of immunity is at least six months. Annual booster vaccinations are recomended, best given in the late spring/early summer.
Note that if there is a high risk of myxomatosis, vaccinations can be given every six months. This requires discussion with a vet about your particular circumstances. This is not our normal practice for most pets.
Rabbits should also be vaccinated against viral haemorrhagic disease from 10 weeks old with a single injection. The manufacturer of the vaccine currently used in the practice indicates that the onset of immunity is three weeks after the injection. The duration of immunity is one year. Annual booster vaccinations are recomended.
Myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease are both fatal, untreatable diseases.
Boosters (annually)
Annual booster vaccinations are recommended for dogs, cats and rabbits. In dogs and cats, some parts of the vaccines protect for longer than one year, but crucially some do not. There have been some concerns about 'over-vaccinating' animals causing certain illnesses. It seems likely that any potential risk is very small indeed, and the great proven benefit of regular vaccination outweighs any small theoretical risk.
If it has been more than one year since your pet had a booster vaccination, then you should consider restarting with an initial two injection course as for puppies & kittens. It is just not possible to give a definite time when you must restart. This has to be done on an individual case by case basis. Unless you have requirements of a boarding kennel to meet, it is your choice how frequently you vaccinate your pets.
Kennel Cough (single dose from 3 weeks old)
Often boarding kennels insist that dogs are vaccinated against 'kennel cough'. This is in addition to the normal dog vaccinations. It is a liquid vaccine, administered into the nasal passages and protects against B bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus.
The manufacturer of the vaccine currently used in the practice indicates that the onset of immunity is from three days for B bronchiseptica , three weeks for canine parainfluenza virus, and the immunity lasts for one year. You should follow the policy for your chosen kennels as to how recently your dog needs to have had the vaccine.
Manufacturers of most vaccines (including the above) recommend that no more than one vaccine product is given at the same time, and that there should be a two week interval between different vaccines.
However, it is worth noting that this has been common practice for many years, with little or no reason to suggest that it poses any problems.
Identichip - 'Vaccinate' against getting lost!
What a great idea! One single injection to give you and your loved pet the best chance of being reunited, if he or she gets lost for whatever reason! Expect the unexpected to happen - an open door, your pet taking fright, an 'adventurous' dog walk, or an unfortunate accident. We all too frequently see cats or dogs brought to the surgery, injured with no collar and no chip, with an urgent need to contact their owner to allow the best care to be provided. Help us to help you and your pet.
An ID chip is approximately the size of a grain of rice, and is injected under the skin. This stores a 'barcode', which allows us to trace and contact you, or identifies your pet for many reasons. Don't delay - just do it!