Vaccinations
It is essential that we give your pet a full clinical examination every year to make sure that nothing has developed that may effect their health. We all want our pets to live a long, happy and healthy life. We will consider every aspect of their health to make sure they are with us for years to come.
We will also review the vaccines they might need. We tailor the vaccination schedule according to your pet’s age and general health. Sometimes we suggest checking immune system antibody levels to check to see if vaccinations are even required that year or not.
Pets need a host of other regular treatments and we will make sure your pet gets the most appropriate ones at the right time. These may include treating internal and external parasites and preventing the dangerous heartworm.
Dog Vaccinations
We all know that keeping our pooch’s vaccinations up-to-date are important, but what are the diseases that we protect against, and why are they so important?
The vaccines we administer to dogs are termed “C5”. These vaccines offer protection against:
- Parvovirus – This virus is present in the soil and spread by the vomitus and faeces of affected dogs. It is a devastating gastroenteritis causing severe vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. Affected dogs require intensive hospitalisation however, the disease is often fatal.
- Distemper – Due to vaccination of the dog population in Australia this disease is luckily now quite rare. It causes respiratory and neurological disorders and can be fatal
- Infectious Hepatitis – A viral disease that leads to liver damage that can be irreversible and in some cases, fatal.
- Parainfluenza – The viral component of Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis (sometimes referred to as kennel cough) which causes a severe respiratory infection resulting in coughing. Contrary to popular belief, your dog does not need to be in a kennel to contract this disease.
- Bordatella bronchiseptica – The bacterial component to Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis.
Prevention against these debilitating diseases is as simple as ensuring your dog’s vaccines are up to date. If you have any queries about vaccinations, please contact our clinic – we are more than happy to assist!
Cat Vaccinations
Just like dogs, cats need annual vaccinations and health check-ups too.
The vaccination most commonly received is termed “F5” however we also offer the “FIV” vaccine. The F5 protects against:
- Feline Infectious Enteritis – Also known as “Feline Panleukopaenia”, this disease causes vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dehydration and Dorothy Eldridge Outdoorsreduced white blood cells. If a queen contacts the disease while pregnant, the kittens will often be born with neurological problems. It is often fatal.
- Feline Herpesvirus – Once of the causes of “Cat flu”, causing sneezing, nasal and ocular discharge, depressed appetite, mouth ulcers and conjunctivitis. This can develop to chronic disease leading to deformation of the nasal bones. The infection can also become latent, meaning in times of stress the disease will recur.
- Feline Calicivirus – Another cause of “Cat flu”.
- Feline Chlamydiosis – A bacterial disease that is mostly seen in multi-cat environments and causes a local infection of the mucous membranes of the eyes but may also involves the lungs
- Feline Leukaemia FeLV – A virus that can result in a multitude of serious health problems for your cat, including everything from cancerous conditions such as leukaemia to a wide range of secondary conditions caused by the destruction of the immune system. Cats may not show symptoms of its presence for months, if not years, yet all the while infect others.
- FIV (additional vaccine) – refers to “Feline Immunodeficiency Virus”. It causes immune deficiency that hinders the cat’s ability to protect itself against other infections, consequently leading to severe infections, chronic disease and death. This disease is predominately spread through bite wounds during cat fights. We strongly recommend protecting your cat against FIV, especially if they ever venture outdoors.
Prevention against these debilitating diseases is as simple as ensuring your cat’s vaccines are up to date. If you and any queries about vaccinations, please contact our clinic – we are more than happy to assist!
