Vaccinations
(03) 5281 1221Keeping up to date with your pet’s vaccinations is one of the most important things you can do to ensure they lead a healthy life.
Some of the most important reasons for vaccinating your pet:
- Vaccinations protect against preventable diseases
- Vaccinations are substantially less expensive than the cost of vet treatment for the diseases they protect against
- Vaccinations protect your pet from transmissible diseases in boarding facilities, at parks and even when they visit the vet. If your pet has to be hospitalised for any illness, their immune system may already be compromised so you want to make sure they are protected.
Vaccinating your Dog
A puppy’s first vaccinations are at 6 – 8 weeks, 10 – 12 weeks, 14 – 16 weeks, and annually after that. One week after the puppy’s third vaccination they are allowed to go outside and socialise with other dogs.
Canine vaccinations are known by the codes C3, C4, C5 and C7 and these vaccines protect against:
- Distemper: coughing, diarrhoea and sometimes twitching, seizures, loss of balance and blindness
- Hepatitis: vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and possibly liver failure
- Parvovirus: causes potentially fatal diarrhoea, especially in pups and dogs under 2 years
- Parainfluenza: a viral disease causing a nasty cough
- Bordetella bronchiseptica: bacteria causing a harsh, dry cough and lethargy
- Leptospirosis: is a potentially life threatening disease affecting the liver and kidneys of dogs
- Coronavirus: causing severe vomiting and diarrhoea
Vaccinating your Cat
A kitten’s first vaccinations are at 6 – 8 weeks, then 10 – 12 weeks, 14 – 16 weeks, and annually after that.
The most common feline vaccinations are known by the codes F3, F4 and FIV. The 5 most common diseases that cat’s in the area are vaccinated for are:
- Enteritis (Feline Panleukopenia): can be very severe especially in unvaccinated kittens less than 12 months of age. It causes fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, liver failure and sudden death
- Feline Calicivirus: part of the “cat flu”
- Feline Rhinotracheitis (Feline Herpes Virus): is another part of cat flu and can lead to permanent nasal and sinus infection
- Chlamydia: a bacterial disease causing conjunctivitis, respiratory disease, infectious arthritis and even abortion
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV or Feline AIDS): must be vaccinated against if your cat EVER goes outside. It is a potentially fatal disease spread between cats via bites, for which there is no treatment or cure.
To book your pet in for their upcoming vaccinations or for general enquiries, please call us on (03) 5281 1221 to make an appointment.