Why do I need to vaccinate my pet?

Vaccination is very important for dogs and cats – it protects them from all sorts of nasty diseases that could make them very ill and perhaps even kill them.

Vaccinations are needed to

• Protect our pets from nasty, life-threatening diseases
• Give peace of mind
• Create or boost our pets immunity to certain diseases
• Prevent pets from passing on a disease

Sadly, a lot of the diseases your pet can catch if they aren’t vaccinated are fatal in most cases. Even if your pet catches one and is able to recover, they will often be left with long-term problems, which can put them through a lot of pain and distress and leave you with some costly vet bills. 

If you’re thinking of going away with your pet, they will need to be vaccinated. Most catteries and boarding kennels ask for proof of vaccination upon admission, and your pet will need to be fully vaccinated if you plan on taking them abroad.

Smell is how dogs communicate and explore the world, so it’s expected that they will stick their nose into anything. Unfortunately, this is what makes them so susceptible to infectious diseases. Even on your everyday walk, your dog can be exposed to the risk of serious infection.

Cats love nothing more than to wander, and on their travels, they can meet many other cats – both domestic and feral. There’s no way to know if other cats are vaccinated, so they can be exposed to potentially lethal diseases on their travels.

Vaccination will help protect your pet from the risk of infection, providing them with immunity for a certain length of time

What diseases do vaccinations protect against?

Vaccines can protect against some of the most common viruses and bacteria. Dogs and cats are at risk from different diseases, and so require different vaccinations.

The most common diseases in cats that can be vaccinated against include feline leukaemia (FeLV), feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus (FHV) and feline panleukopenia virus (FPV).

For dogs, the main vaccinations are for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis.

Rabbits are vaccinated against Myxomatosis, Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease 1 (RHD1), and Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease 2 (RHD2).

Since 2014, there has also been a steady increase in reported cases of distemper and parvovirus in the UK. These diseases can be devastating for the dogs that catch them.

Vaccination is the only way to keep these diseases from becoming too widespread.

When should I vaccinate my pet?

Pets need to be vaccinated when they are young to protect them. Vaccination programmes for kittens and puppies start from around eight weeks old. Rabbits can have their vaccines from as early as five weeks.

Booster vaccinations are required every year to ensure your pet remains fully protected throughout their life.

Just like young pets, our older pets are also at risk of catching diseases. As your pet gets older, they might not be quite as strong and find it difficult to recover from illnesses. Being older doesn’t mean they are more resistant to disease – if anything, they are more at risk. You must continue to get your pet vaccinated regularly to protect them.

How do I book?

You can book an appointment with one of our vets online once you’ve registered, or by calling one of our branches. Members of our Pal For Life pet health scheme get free vaccinations for life, and we can sign you up at your first appointment.