for all your pets
Dogs
Vaccinations
We recommend regular vaccination of dogs against:
• Distemper (D)
• Hepatitis (H)
• Parvovirus (P)
• Parainfluenza (Pi)
• Leptospirosis (L2)
Only two of the above diseases, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza, need to be boosted every year. The other three only require a booster every 3-4 years if kept up to date after initial vaccinations have been given.
Vaccination protocol, with the vaccines we use, is:
Primary Vaccine Course:
• 8 weeks DHPPiL2
• 10 weeks DHPPiL2
• 1st Annual Booster DHPPiL2
• 2nd Annual Booster L2Pi
• 3rd Annual Booster L2Pi
• 4th Annual Booster DHPPiL2
• 5th Annual Booster L2Pi......subsequent yearly Booster continues cycle
Kennel Cough Vaccination:
Kennel Cough is the name given to the irritating cough some dogs can get when they have been in kennels. Kennel cough is not just a problem at kennels as the bugs are very widespread, the name was acquired as kennels have a high density of animals, often barking etc, thus spread is more likely - in a similar way that colds are spread at sporting events etc.
It is not caused by just one bug (pathogen), but several. Most of the bugs are viruses and one of them is a bacteria. Often it causes a mild infection/irritation of the nose and throat (upper respiratory tract) resulting in your dog coughing, but it can cause so much coughing that your dog retches (paroxsysmal retching).
Puppy Socialisation:
Advise used to be to keep pups isolated until 2 weeks after the 2nd injection (which used to be as late as 16 or 20 weeks old for some dogs). Nowadays vaccines have improved to allow early finishes. The advantage of this is that pups can be out and about socialising at an earlier age when they are more receptive to new stimuli, thus hopefully preventing the development of behavioural problems.
Whilst there is a risk of infection, as not all dogs are vaccinated, we advise pups are allowed to socialise from an early age, by taking them to areas were few dogs visit. The Guide Dogs for The Blind have their puppies walked from 6 weeks of age. They have the same vaccine protocol that we use, and whilst understanding potential risk of infection they recognise the benefits of early socialisation.
We would also encourage our clients to bring your growing dogs to see our RVN′s for an adolescent health check, to ensure they are growing in a healthy manner. The nurses can discuss the advantages of neutering again with at this time. You may choose to book an appointment whilst you are with us.