Vaccinating your Dog
We recommend you let your new dog settle in to its new home for around a week before starting its vaccination programme. Start thinking about behaviour and socialisation at this early age, it is vital to you having a healthy well-behaved dog.
Vaccination can be started as early as 6 weeks of age. Initially, we give a course of injections 2 - 4 weeks apart. Puppies get a certain amount of immunity from their mother's milk but this can sometimes interfere with their vaccination and so it is important that the second vaccination is given no earlier than 10 weeks of age. After the initial course your dog needs a booster every year to keep up the immunity.
Finishing the vaccination course at the earliest opportunity of 10 weeks of age allows more time for your puppy’s vital socialisation period. This and other aspects of puppy health will be fully discussed at your pup’s first vaccination consultation with the vet. The vet will also give you a 'puppy pack' containing lots of information and vouchers including offers for a FREE flea & tick treatment, a FREE worming treatment and 4 weeks FREE insurance with Petplan.
The vaccination course (DHP + L) gives protection against the following diseases:
- D is for Distemper - A viral disease, which can cause a large spectrum of signs ranging from breathing difficulties and coughing to vomiting and diarrhoea. The most concerning symptom of this virus is its effect on the nervous system causing abnormal contraction of muscles, paralysis and seizures.
- H is for Hepatitis - A disease which damages the liver and results in a wide range of signs starting with vomiting and diarrhoea and progressing to effects on the nervous system as the liver begins to fail. In those animals with no immunity at all death can occur within hours.
- P is for Parvovirus - This is a virus which attacks cells that are actively dividing and so it attacks the organs where rapid growth or cell replacement is occurring, such as the heart and digestive tract. The most common signs are those of fever and severe vomiting/diarrhoea. The dog will dehydrate rapidly and this can lead to shock and, in the worst cases, death.
- L is for Leptospirosis - Animals that have recovered from this disease will continue to shed the bacteria in their urine and so wild animals can be a source of infection. Similarly it can therefore be found in the environment out on walks near contaminated water/vegetation etc. This disease affects both the liver and the kidneys and can send animals with little immunity into failure of these organs which can be life threatening. Leptospirosis can also affect people causing severe disease in some cases.
IMPORTANT
A booster vaccine is required every 12 months to keep your dog's immunity to the above diseases high. Some components of the vaccine now only need boosting every three years. We give a booster vaccination against leptospirosis and influenza every year.
Other conditions we vaccinate against include rabies and kennel cough.
Rabies vaccinations are reserved for those animals going abroad as part of the Pet Passport travel scheme and are therefore at risk of coming into contact with affected animals abroad. Click here for more information about travelling abroad with your pet.
Kennel cough is the name given to a respiratory syndrome in dogs which is caused by several different viruses and bacteria. It causes a variety of signs from sneezing and coughing to pneumonia in the worst case. The vaccine provides protection against the bacteria bordetella bronchiseptica. Although this bacteria is not the sole cause of kennel cough it does cause the most severe infections and can leave animals with lasting damage. We recommend that if your dog is going into kennels or regularly meeting other dogs, for example at training classes, that you consider using the vaccine. Kennel Cough vaccines are given by intra-nasal drops and repeated once a year. Please ask for advice if you wish your dog to be vaccinated against kennel cough.
If after vaccination your dog develops any worrying symptoms please ring for advice - it is not unusual however for your dog to be slightly off colour for a day after vaccination or to develop a lump at the injection site. These will resolve quickly with no long term problems.
We do send out vaccine reminders when an annual booster is due as a complimentary service, but we all know that no computer or postal system is infallible so we also recommend that you make a note of when your dog is due for the booster.
If you have any queries or concerns regarding your dog's vaccinations or starting a vaccination course, please do not hesitate to contact the surgery on 01729 823538.