Pet Vaccinating – Animal Sitting

Vaccinating your pet

• Make sure you protect your pets and keep them safe by keeping up to date with their vaccinations.
• In the past many animals became severely ill because of diseases which, thanks to vaccination, are now rarely seen. Although these diseases are now less common, they have not been completely eradicated.
• If the number of pets protected by vaccines drops our animal companions could be at risk from an outbreak of infectious diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans.

Protect your pet by ensuring they receive regular vaccinations.

When to vaccinate

• When puppies and kittens are born they are usually protected from infections by their mothers’ milk, providing she has been regularly vaccinated. However, this protection only lasts a few weeks so they need regular vaccinations from an early age.
• Puppies are typically vaccinated at eight and 10 weeks, kittens at nine and 12 weeks, with an initial course of two injections. Rabbits can be vaccinated from six weeks of age.
• Your young pet should then be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination.

Older pets need protecting too, as their immunity can decline. Speak to your vet as the regularity of your companions vaccinations can vary depending on the diseases prevalent in your area.

Vaccines against infectious diseases

• Vaccines for dogs, cats and rabbits protect against many different infectious diseases.

Dogs

Dogs should be routinely vaccinated against:

• Canine parvovirus
• Canine distemper virus
• Leptospirosis
• Infectious canine hepatitis

If your dog will be spending some time in kennels they may also be given a kennel cough vaccine. This vaccine is usually given intra-nasally (into a nostril) and protects against parainfluenza virus and bordetella bronchiseptica.

Dogs travelling abroad may require a rabies vaccination.

Cats

Cats should be routinely vaccinated against:

• Feline infectious enteritis
• Feline herpes virus
• Feline calicivirus
• Feline leukaemia virus*

*Current recommendations are that only at risk cats are given vaccine against feline leukemia virus. See our cat’s vaccine factsheet for more information.

Rabbits

Rabbits should be routinely vaccinated against:

• Myxomatosis
• Viral haemorrhagic disease