Vaccinations in Dogs

Dogs are prone to a number of infectious diseases, some of which can be protected against by vaccination. These include:

Distemper

A serious and frequently fatal virus infection which used to be very common, but has now been largely eliminated by vaccination. The virus attacks all the body systems, but damage to the nervous system is most persistent, leaving the dog prone to fits and paralysis.

Canine Contagious Hepatitis

A virus infection which attacks mainly the liver, which can kill your dog in the acute stage, or may cause chronic liver damage.

Canine Parvovirus

Another virus infection which appeared suddenly throughout the world in the 1960’s when it was characterised by acute and fatal heart failure in young puppies. It now takes the form of an acute gastro-enteritis, with severe vomiting and passing of blood in the stools. It is highly contagious, and usually fatal. Black and tan breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobermanns appear to have a higher risk of contracting this virus. The virus can survive for many months in surroundings where an ill dog has been kept and is carried under feet and by direct contact. We have a separate isolation unit at Hampton Park Vets should there be any suspicion of a patient carrying this dangerous disease.

Canine Parainfluenza

One of the causative agents of ‘Kennel Cough’, an acute and troublesome cough, often contracted in boarding kennels

None of the above illnesses pose any risk to humans in contact with sick animals.

Leptospirosis

Two common forms of Leptospirosis affects dogs:

L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagica. Both affect liver and kidneys, and jaundice is often a symptom. Infected animals excrete the organisms in urine, and both forms are highly infective to humans who may come into contact with infected urine. If treated in the early stages of an infection, antibiotic treatment is usually successful.

Routine vaccination offered by us when you obtain a puppy usually includes protection against all of the above. We advise an initial vaccination at 8 weeks and a booster vaccination 2-3 weeks later. Yearly vaccinations are then required and we issue you with a vaccination certificate.

All good boarding facilities insist that this vaccination policy is enforced. For dogs, there is an additional requirement for a Kennel Cough Vaccination. This can be given as late as three days before entry to kennels, but for maximum benefit we would prefer it given at least two weeks in advance. These days we have a new, broader spectrum, vaccine which induces immunity for 12 months, and therefore we more often than not give this along with the annual booster vaccination, thus saving you time and money. This vaccination is given in the form of droplets that are squirted in your dog's nostril. It is not 100% effective as kennel cough also has a bacterial component that we cannot vaccinate against, but it is a requirement for kennels as it is such a contagious virus.