Download January 2016 - Mounts Bay Veterinary Centre

The Cornish Vet January 2016
The annual pet MOT
We would like to wish all our readers a very Happy and Healthy New Year!
We recommend that all pets have an annual MOT to check general health and to keep up to date
with vaccination. This year, are focussing on vaccination and Mounts Bay Vets are currently offering
a vaccination amnesty for all clients who find that their pets vaccination has become overdue.
In the west, the human population is extensively vaccinated and this has seen the near eradication
of many serious diseases that were once commonplace. It is the hope of the veterinary profession
that we can achieve a similar situation for our pets, and this month we look at vaccination in dogs.
The standard vaccination programme offered by Mounts Bay Vets covers four main diseases plus
Kennel cough:
Leptospirosis is transmitted via the urine of rats and dogs in water courses such as rivers and canals:
it causes serious illness in dogs and can be contracted by humans, when it is known as Weil’s
disease. Recent studies have shown that the bacteria, which are widely distributed throughout the
UK, have developed several strains, and Mounts Bay Vets offers vaccination against all four of the
most common strains.
Canine parvovirus is a hardy virus that is found in the environment; it is often fatal and remains
widespread in certain areas of the UK.
Canine distemper is now quite rare in the UK thanks to long-term vaccination, although there have
been major outbreaks in Europe; it is usually fatal and is also known as ‘Hard Pad’.
Infectious hepatitis – this disease has been widely vaccinated against over many years and is
therefore rarely seen in the UK. When hepatitis occurs, it is often fatal.
Initial vaccination provides a harmless dose of each disease which causes your pet’s body to mount
an immunity response, so that the dog can fight off these diseases if he/she should encounter them.
Puppies develop short term immunity from their mother if she is vaccinated, through her colostrum
(first milk) when they are new born. This immunity wears off after a few weeks however. It is
possible to immunise from about six-eight weeks of age, so until immunity has developed (this takes
about a week after the vaccination programme is completed) puppies should not be socialised with
other animals.
What about re-vaccination? Often called a booster, a further dose is usually required one to three
years after the first course of vaccination, in order that your pet’s body maintains an adequate level
of immunity to continue to fight off all of these diseases. If the booster is not given in good time, a
full primary course may be necessary. Our vaccination amnesty will get your pet’s vaccination cover
up to date at the same cost as a booster. This offer is only available for a limited period so do take
advantage of it your dog is overdue for a booster!
Vaccination for kennel cough is slightly different to the other common diseases - not dissimilar to the
‘flu job for humans, an annual vaccination is required. Despite its name however, kennel cough is
easy to catch in the park, street, at dog shows, or training classes, not just in kennels as it is very
infectious. Kennel cough is a disease of the respiratory system and is both viral and bacterial.
Symptoms are typically a loud, honking cough and a fever. Once contracted, it can take weeks to
recover, using antibiotics and sometimes, anti-inflammatories and cough suppressants. Prevention
is definitely better than cure, so get your dog vaccinated!