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Vaccination Service and advice

We recommend that cats, dogs and rabbits are vaccinated annually and ferrets every third year

There are unfortunately some highly contagious and often fatal diseases out there our pets can contract - we must take every measure to protect our pets and limit the spread of these diseases. We recommend that cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets are vaccinated annually. Booster vaccines are very important to maintain your pets immunity - we also love to see you and your lovely pet for a catch up.

Cat Vaccination

Cats require a course of two injections to start their vaccination protection and yearly booster thereafter. 
There should be three to four weeks between the first and second injection. The earliest a kitten can start its vaccination programme is at nine weeks of age. 
Flu and enteritis vaccinations are the basic requirements and also essential for admission to catteries, but there are several other diseases we can vaccinate against.

Diseases we can vaccinate your cat against

  • Feline bordetellosis : The equivalent of kennel cough in cats. This is not a vaccine we use very often and would tend to only use if a cattery insisted your cat was vaccinated for this disease or there was a known risk.
  • Cat flu: This is caused be two different viral infections, feline herpes virus and feline calici virus. Although rarely fatal 'cat flu' is easily transferred. It can be severe resulting in chronic incurable eye and respiratory symptoms - your cat will be vaccinated against these diseases as part of their basic vaccination course.
  • Feline enteritis: Feline Panleukopenia also known as the feline version of parvo virus.  The more famous canine parvo virus evolved from this disease. 
    It is a horrible disease that causes severe gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting, haemorrhagic diarrhoea and gastric ulceration, anorexia and weight loss.
    There is no cure for this disease, and it can often be fatal. This vaccine is given as part of the basic protection program for your cat.
  • Feline chlamydia: In cats chlamydia mostly produces symptoms similar to flu so will affect the eyes, nose and may cause breathing problems. 
    It is a serious disease but is rarely fatal and can be treated with antibiotics. We tend to recommend this vaccination for high-risk cats such as show and colony cats as it is highly contagious between cats, but any cat may be at risk. This vaccine is not given routinely so please talk to the vet about it if you require it.
  • Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) : The most common infectious cause of death in cats and the second largest cause of death in young cats after car accidents. 
    FeLV is a retrovirus like HIV or feline immunodeficiency virus. It can produce virtually any symptom of disease but most commonly causes immunosuppression and cancers.
    Cats can have this disease for months or years without symptoms, but once symptoms begin time is usually short. 
    This vaccine is not given as part of a basic vaccination program so please discuss this with your vet if you require it for your cat.

Dog Vaccination

Dogs vaccinations have changed in recent times, there is now a new leptospirosis vaccine available that gives much improved protection against strains of Leptospirosis that are becoming more common. Dogs require at least two injections initially to give full immunity. There must be a four-week interval between the first and second leptospirosis injection and the second injection cannot be given before ten weeks of age. 
Puppies can start their vaccinations from as young as six weeks though we usually suggest giving the first vaccination at eight weeks of age, their second (giving second doses of distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccine) at 10 weeks and their third ( for their second leptospirosis vaccine) at 12 weeks

In order for your adult dog to get the full level of protection from the new Leptospirosis vaccine, a second injection will be required 4 weeks after the booster. We are charging just £6.00 for this upgrade known as an L4 UPGRADE. If you choose not to upgrade, the old level of protection will be maintained by the new vaccine - please talk to your vet beforehand if you have any questions or concerns about this new L4  vaccine.

                                                                                 Diseases we vaccinate dogs against:

Distemper: although not very common in this area (thanks to vaccination) it is still important to vaccinate against it as this disease can be fatal and may often cause permanent disabilities. It is still prevalent in other areas of the UK and abroad.

Hepatitis: a serious, potentially fatal liver disease. 

  • Parainfluenza: one of the many causes of 'kennel cough'.
  • Parvovirus: A serious, commonly fatal gastroenteritis. This disease has been well controlled for the past decade however cases are again becoming more common. 
  • Leptospirosis: This is a very serious and often fatal infectious bacterial disease causing liver and kidney damage.  Dogs can pick it up anywhere by coming into contact with contaminated water or the urine of an infected animal. It can also be passed on to people. This disease requires yearly vaccination to maintain immunity.
  • Bordetellosis: one of the causes of kennel cough. This produces a particularly nasty variety of kennel cough that can be fatal in young, old or weak dogs. It is not included in the normal booster injection and requires yearly vaccination. It is given as a few drops of liquid up the dog's nose. Most kennels require that this be given before they will accept dogs to board. It is also particularly important for dogs involved in training classes or competitions such as shows or agility work and for puppies attending puppy parties or training classes. Dogs will often find the experience of something being put into their noses a bit disagreeable, so its a good idea to get them used to gentle nose handling when they are little and reward them afterwards.
     

Rabbit Vaccination

Rabbits need vaccinating against myxomatosis and two strains of viral haemorrhagic disease; RVHD1 and RVHD2. Vaccination in order to protect your bunnies from these diseases can begin from 5 weeks of age - these diseases are usually fatal and do not require direct rabbit to rabbit contact as they can be spread by several different ways, so even rabbits kept as house rabbits are at risk. The newest vaccine requires yearly vaccination to protect your bunny. (Older rabbit vaccines required twice yearly vaccination for adequate cover.) For more information regarding rabbit vaccination please follow this link.

 

Ferret Vaccination

Ferrets can unfortunately contract distemper - an uncommon but often fatal disease. There isn't a licensed ferret vaccine for this disease but it has been common practice for many years to use the dog distemper vaccine 'off licence'. This seems to be safe and give protection with few side effects - it may be advisable for your ferret to stay with us for a short time after their vaccine, to monitor for a reaction, but this is unlikely.

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