Vaccinations

Dog Vaccinations

Dogs are prone to a number of infectious diseases, some of which can be protected against by vaccination. We advise an initial vaccination at 7-8 weeks and a second vaccination at 10 weeks. Yearly vaccinations are then required and we sign your vaccination certificate which you will receive with the first vaccinations. Routine vaccination offered by us when you obtain a puppy includes protection against all of the following diseases:

• Distemper
  A serious and frequently fatal virus infection which used to be very common, but has now been largely eliminated by vaccination. The virus attacks all the body systems, but damage to the nervous system is most persistent, leaving the dog prone to fits and paralysis.
• Canine Contagious Hepatitis
  A virus infection which attacks mainly the liver. It can kill your dog in the acute stage, or may cause chronic liver damage.
• Canine Parvovirus
  Another virus infection which appeared suddenly throughout the world in the 1960’s when it was characterised by acute and fatal heart failure in young puppies. It now takes the form of an acute gastro-enteritis, with severe vomiting and passing of blood in the stools. It is highly contagious, and usually fatal. Black and tan breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobermanns appear to have a higher risk of contracting this virus. The virus can survive for many months in surroundings where an ill dog has been kept and is carried under feet and by direct contact.
• Canine Parainfluenza
  Canine Parainfluenza virus is one of the causative agents of Tracheobronchitis or Kennel Cough. It causes a harsh irritating cough in dogs. (There is also an intranasal vaccine that we give to dogs which is against another component of Kennel Cough – see below).None of the above illnesses pose any risk to humans in contact with sick animals.
• Leptospirosis
  Two common forms of Leptospirosis affects dogs:
  L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagica. Both affect liver and kidneys, and jaundice is often a symptom. Infected animals excrete the organisms in urine, and both forms are highly infective to humans who may come into contact with infected urine. If treated in the early stages of an infection, antibiotic treatment is usually successful.

Kennel Cough intranasal Vaccination

All good boarding facilities insist that a vaccination policy is enforced. For dogs there is an additional requirement for a Kennel Cough vaccination. This can be given as late as three days before entry to kennels, but for maximum benefit we would prefer it given at least two weeks in advance. However this vaccination is not only for dogs going into kennels.

These days we have a new, broader spectrum, vaccine which induces immunity for 12 months, and therefore we more often than not give this along with the annual booster vaccination. This vaccination is given in the form of droplets that are squirted in your dog’s nostril.