Vaccinations
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN 10% OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PET POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED, THIS MEANS THAT PETS ARE EXPOSED TO VARIOUS DISEASES AND AT A VERY HIGH RISK OF BECOMING ILL. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT PUPPIES AND KITTENS RECEIVE THEIR FULL COURSE OF VACCINATIONS FROM A VETERINARIAN
6-8 weeks of age – First vaccination
10-12 weeks of age – Second vaccination
14-16 weeks of age – Third vaccination
9 months of age – Fourth vaccination (Rabies booster)
The diseases we vaccinate dogs against:
- Parvo Virus - Bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever, inappetence, collapsed. CAN BE FATAL.
- Hepatitis - Fever, Loss of appetite, jaundice.
- Canine parainfluenza virus - Cough; pneumonia.
- Canine adenovirus type 2 -Corona virus– Cough; ocular and nasal discharge; high temperature; pneumonia.
- Bordetella bronchoseptica - Cough; nasal discharge; high temperature.
- Leptospirosis - Jaundice; high temp; vomiting; diarrhea; bleeding. DEPENDS ON STRAIN BUT CAN BE FATAL
- Rabies - Change of temperament; muscle weakness; difficulty in swallowing. FATAL CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS.
- Distemper - Fever,ocular and nasal discharge, behavioural changes, seizures. POOR PROGNOSIS EUTHANASIA OFTEN RECOMMENDED / OR FATAL.
Cat disease which we vaccinate against:
- Bordetella bronchoseptica - high temperature; sneezing; nasal discharge .
- Chlamydia psittaci - sever conjunctivitis; sneezing
- Feline leukaemia virus - Diseases associated: anemia; cancers; immunosuppression EVENTUALLY FATAL.
- Feline calici virus -High Temperature; mouth ulcers; anorexia.
- Feline rhinotracheitis - Sneezing; high temperature; ocular/nasal discharge
- Feline panleucopaenia virus - anorexia; high temperature; vomiting FATAL IN YOUNG KITTENS.
- Rabies - change of temperament; muscle weakness; difficulty in swallowing. FATAL CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS.
Puppies and Kittens
When a kitten or puppy is born it has no antibodies / immunity to diseases. The first milk, the colostrum has antibodies from the mother, maternal immunity. It is essential for the baby to suckle within the first 12 hours to get this benefit.These antibodies only last for +/- six weeks so need to be replaced by antibodies produced by vaccinations.
This is why we give the first puppy / kitten vaccination at 6 weeks of age. This first vaccination primes the body to recognise the vaccination as a pathogen and the body’s immune system then makes antibodies against the disease. It takes the body’s immune system about 3—4 weeks to make the antibodies. We would recommend that that a puppy or kitten is not re-homed until they are 8 weeks old, so the first vaccination is fully effective before they go out in to the big wide world!
Adults
Adult pets should get a Booster vaccination yearly. This booster vaccination is to refresh the body’s immune response to the disease. The annual booster vaccination for adult pets is essential not only to maintain maximum immunity but during the consultation the veterinarian can give your pet a thorough health check, answer any questions that you have, clip nails, express anal glands etc.
