Pet Vaccination

At Aireworth Vets we strongly recommend that all dogs, cats and rabbits, which go into a public area or mix with other animals of the same species, be vaccinated annually to protect them from the major infectious viral diseases.

Dogs initially require 2 injections at least 2 weeks apart. They can start vaccinations as 6 week old puppies but must be over 10 weeks old when they have their second vaccination.

Puppies will not have full immunity and be safe to go out for a walk until at least one week after the second injection.

All dogs then require a yearly booster vaccination check throughout their adult life.

This vaccination protects against distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospira canicola, leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, canine parainfluenza, canine coronavirus and canine adenovirus 2.

Dogs going into kennels should also be vaccinated against kennel cough. The vaccine is given intra-nasally approximately 3 weeks before going into kennels and gives immunity for 1 year.

Cats initially require 2 injections three weeks apart. They can start their vaccines as 9 week old kittens.

All cats then require a yearly booster vaccination check throughout their adult life.

This vaccination protects against feline infectious enteritis, feline calicivirus (cat flu), feline rhinotracheitis virus (cat flu), feline leukaemia and feline chlamydia.

Rabbits should be vaccinated from 6 weeks old for myxomatosis and should receive annual boosters except in high-risk areas when 6 monthly boosters are recommended.

They can be vaccinated against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD). Vaccination for VHD can be given from 11 weeks then yearly boosters are required.

Both VHD and myxo. vaccinations are a single injection but cannot be given within 2 weeks of one another.