Pet Vaccinations
We recommend vaccinating your pets against several contagious diseases which can be fatal or debilitating for unvaccinated animals. Come and discuss the options for vaccinating puppies, kittens, rabbits and older animals.
Kittens & Cats
Kittens can start their vaccination programme at 8 weeks of age followed by a booster at 12 weeks, then annual vaccination are recommended.
Diseases we are vaccinating for include “Cat Flu” – Feline Herpes Virus and Calcivirus and Feline Panleucopaenia, which is the equivalent of parvovirus in dogs. These are highly contagious diseases and can lead to severe on-going health problems or even death. If your cat visits a Cattery they will need protection annually.
Rabbits
Rabbits also need vaccination against the deadly Rabbit Calcivirus Disease (RCD). This was introduced to New Zealand in 1997 illegally, and 30-80% of rabbits exposed to the virus will develop the disease and almost 100% will die….. This is a highly infectious disease that is transmitted by breathing it in, ingestion, direct contact or infected urine or faeces. Insects can also carry this disease and the incubation period is only 1-3 days. Rabbit younger than 8 weeks are resistant to this disease. Signs are often just sudden death, other rabbits may present with depression, difficulty breathing, shaking, anorexic, blood discharge and then die 24 hrs later.
Rabbits need to be at least 10 weeks of age for their vaccination and then a booster is needed annually.
Puppies and Dogs
Puppies start their vaccination programme at 6 weeks, followed by a booster at 9 weeks and 13 weeks, then a booster in 12 months then every 1-3 years depending on their particular vaccination regime.
Diseases we are vaccinating for include Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis and Canine Cough. Some of these diseases are life threatening and contagious, Leptospirosis is even contagious to humans.
In Whanganui, we unfortunately see many pups and older dogs presented with the symptoms of Parvovirus (vomiting, diarrhoea and dead) so vaccinating as soon as possible in our region is very important to stop your pet from dying.
Leptospirosis has been diagnosed also in Whanganui, this also is potentially fatal. It is spread by rat bite or access to urine of the rat (in feed containers) or from carrier animals like beef cattle, pigs or sheep (in their urine). Vaccination is certainly better than treating this disease.
All dogs that go into Boarding kennels will need to be vaccinated against Canine Cough. This can either be given as a “squirt” up the nose or an injection, method of delivery will depend on your dog’s temperament and how quickly they need to go into the kennels.
