Vaccinations

Our practice offers routine vaccinations for dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets. Vaccinations play an important role in protecting your pet from severe and potentially fatal infectious diseases, and also prevent these dangerous infections from being spread to others.

Dogs

Core Canine Vaccines: Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis

Recommended Canine Vaccines: Kennel Cough

Additional Vaccines: Rabies (if you plan to travel abroad)

Initial course: two vaccinations 2 – 4 weeks apart (depending on the vaccine), usually starting from 6-8 weeks old (most puppies have their first vaccination whilst still with the breeder).

After your puppy’s second vaccination, we recommend waiting at least 1 week before taking them outside for walks so that they are fully protected. You should also ensure that a microchip has been implanted and is up to date with your details.

A booster vaccination is recommended annually to keep immunity topped up.

Cats

Core Vaccines: Cat flu (Calicivirus, Herpesvirus), Infectious Enteritis (Panleucopaenia/Parvovirus), Leukaemia

Additional Vaccines: Rabies (if you plan to travel abroad)

Initial course: two vaccinations 3 – 4 weeks apart, usually from 8 – 9 weeks of age.

Until your kitten is fully vaccinated, microchipped and neutered it is advised to keep them inside your home.

A booster vaccination is recommended annually to keep immunity topped up.

Rabbits

Core Vaccines: Myxomatosis, RHD1, RHD2 (RHD = Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease)

Rabbits only require a single dose of vaccine to offer up to 12 months protection.

A booster vaccination is recommended annually to keep immunity topped up.

Ferrets

Core Vaccines: Distemper virus

There are no specific ferret vaccines licensed for use the UK. However, a dog distemper vaccination is administered to ferrets instead. There is evidence to suggest that this is effective although its use is off-licence, so each ferret will be assessed to decide if vaccination is advisable. Distemper is an uncommon but serious disease in ferrets that often starts with coughing, sneezing and discharge from the eyes and nose and is invariably fatal.

Initial course: Two injections 3- 4 weeks apart. A booster vaccination is recommended annually to keep immunity topped up.

Make a vaccination appointment

During your vaccination appointment we will conduct a health check, discuss your pet’s health and any questions you may have, and do our best to make your pet feel comfortable and at ease. The vaccines are usually combined into a single injection, which is given under the skin. The exception to this is the kennel cough vaccine, which is administered into the nose or mouth. You will be given a vaccination record card to bring back each year for us to complete whenever a vaccination is given. This is for your own records, and any kennels or dog care services you may want to use will usually require this.

If your vaccination is late or overdue, please contact the practice as soon as possible for our advice. For some vaccinations, there is a short period of time that can pass before the course needs to be restarted, but this depends on the vaccine and the age and stage of vaccination of the pet. Our vets can advise you of the best option.