Dog Vaccinations

What vaccinations does my dog need?

There are a heap of nasty infections and disease out there that your precious pooch could easily contact if not sufficiently vaccinated against. Generally, we recommend routine injections against the following (but don’t worry these are all covered in our standard puppy vaccinations and boosters):

  • Canine Distemper is a highly infectious virus that affects a dog’s urinary, digestive, and nervous systems. Although this disease is relatively uncommon in the UK, its lack of a known cure and contagious nature means it’s imperative to vaccinate your dog against it.

  • Canine parvovirus, or ‘Parvo’, is much more common and is a highly contagious viral illness affecting the intestines. Due to the fact there is no known cure for Parvo we highly recommend vaccinating against this often fatal illness. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and lack of appetite.

  • Leptospirosis, or Lepto, is a bacterial disease spread by the urine of an infected animal. Dogs are prone to pick this up through drinking from an infected water source as well as through open cuts. Whilst this disease is fairly uncommon (thanks to routine vaccinations!) it is very serious and can even be fatal. Luckily it can be treated and managed with antibiotics.

  • Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) is an incurable infection affecting the liver and kidneys. Although the disease is uncommon, there have been periodic outbreaks which reinforce the need for continued vaccination. In severe cases ICH can cause jaundice, liver failure, seizures or coma, and can even be fatal.

  • Kennel Cough – also known as Infectious Tracheobronchitis, KC is vital if you’re checking your pet into the kennels. As the name states, Kennel Cough affects the respiratory system causing dogs to cough, similar to a human chest infection. If your dog has Kennel Cough we can prescribe treatment to help them recover faster but most boarding kennels will insist on an up-to-date vaccination history, so plan ahead of your trip to the dog hotel!

  • Thankfully we do not have Rabies in the UK. However, if your pet is going abroad, they must have a passport and a Rabies vaccine. The vaccine will generally last for 3 years, can only be given to pets over 12 weeks of age and requires 3 weeks to reach full immunity – so plan well ahead before travelling with your pet!

Does my puppy need vaccinating?

Due to their weakened immune system, puppies can be more prone to picking up nasty diseases.

 

That’s why we recommend getting your precious new bundle of joy vaccinated as soon as possible – usually with their 1st vaccine being administered as early as 6-8 weeks of age. The 2nd vaccine is then given around 2-4 weeks later (but at least 10 weeks of age).

 

It’s also important to keep your new puppy indoors and away from unvaccinated dogs until they’re fully protected – normally two weeks after their booster shots.

Did you know?

That we have three amazing value healthcare plans that include your dog’s vaccinations? So if you’re looking for an affordable treatment plan to care for your dog or puppy, check out our amazing value healthcare plans here.

healthcare plans

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