Vaccinations

Our advice about vaccinating your pet

We strongly recommend vaccinating your dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets.

We will look at each individual and recommend a vaccination and parasite strategy tailored to your pet and their specific risk.

Parvovirus in particular has been on the rise in the last few year, possibly linked to lower vaccination level in the general dog population. This is a serious and potentially fatal disease.

There has also been a rise in Leptospirosis and this can be a risk to humans too, it is important to keep up to date with yearly vaccines.

Dog and Puppy Vaccinations

We recommend injecting all dogs against Parvovirus, Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis.

First vaccinations are generally started at 7-9 weeks and second vaccinations need to be when the puppies are 10 weeks or older, with a 2-4 week gap in between.We stock Nobivac vaccines (compatible with Canigen). Many have had a first vaccine with the breeder and the second vaccine must be the same brand. We will discuss when they can go out at time of consultation, as it depends on several factors.We now recommend  extra Parvo vaccinations at 16-20 weeks, as per WSAVA guidelines, as there has been an upsurge of parvovirus in the area in young vaccinated dogs and unvaccinated dogs and it is thought that a small percentage of dogs may still have maternal antibodies at 10 to 14 weeks which interfere with the puppies immune response to vaccines and there is no way to check which individuals may be affected.

It is important that the first booster is given on time one year later to ensure immunity is kept high. We shall send email and text reminders but please do not rely on hearing from us to book this in. It will cost you more to re-start.

Leptospirosis is a yearly vaccine, so it is still important to have yearly vaccines but we have chosen a modern vaccine so that the other components only need boosting every 3 years after this. We have chosen to use the newest Leptospirosis vaccine which covers for more strains which are emerging in this country and are common abroad.

For more information see our blog https://www.emscotevets.co.uk/uncategorized/intorducing-the-new-nobivac-lepto-4-vaccination/

Kennel Cough vaccination is not an injection but administered straight into the nose to create a local immunity. We have chosen a vaccination with action against the virus Parainfluenza, and the bacteria Bordatella, to give the best cover for your pets. This is a live vaccine, so should not be given where owners have immunosuppression, such as being on chemotherapy. please talk to us if you are worried.

This is a yearly vaccine and we would strongly recommend you consider this as a routine as there have been regular kennel cough outbreaks in the local area over the last few years. Contrary to popular belief it is not only spread in kennels but where ever dogs have contact, so anywhere you walk .

Dogs which travel abroad may also require Rabies vaccinations and a passport. This need to be done at least 3 full weeks before travelling and the minimum age for vaccination is 12 weeks. Please note that this may change with Brexit, please read the pet travel link below.

There is also now a vaccine for Leishmaniasis, a potentially fatal disease, which would be relevant for many areas of travel. For more details on taking your pet abroad talk to us or visit the DEFRA website.

Cat and Kitten Vaccinations

We would recommend all cats are vaccinated against Cat flu and Infectious Enteritis. Outdoor cats should be vaccinated against Leukaemia which is a virus and spread by close contact, licking and biting. It can cause fatal anaemias and tumours. Chlamydia vaccination is also appropriate for some cats. Please talk to us about your cat’s lifestyle so we can ensure we choose the most appropriate vaccine course for your cat.

Kittens can have their first vaccination at 9 weeks and their second 3-4 weeks later. Cats require annual vaccinations for cat flu, we use Nobivac and the leukeamia is only needed every 2 years.

Cats travelling abroad may need rabies vaccination.

Rabbit Vaccinations

There is now one core vaccination available, a combined myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic (RHD) disease yearly vaccine which can be done from 5 weeks old. It is very important that all rabbits are vaccinated even in towns as myomatosis can be carried by fleas and biting insects and we have had fatal cases of myxomatosis in Warwick in pet rabbits in the last year. RHD is untreatable and fatal, and in the last couple we have many confirmed cases of RHD2, and many more suspected with multiple, tragic sudden deaths. RHD  is in the wild rabbit population and can be transmitted by  normal flies and bird faeces for instance, and can carried in on shoes and it is very resistant in the environment .

The latest vaccine include RHD1 and 2 and one dose is suitable for those vaccinated all 3 diseases previously and for rabbits receiving their first vaccine. Rabbits vaccinated for Myxomatosis and RHD1 only previously will need a second vaccine.

Get your pet's annual vaccinations included on the Pet Health Club!

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