Vaccinations
Our pets are an important part of our lives and family, offering unconditional love and affection. In order to give them the best start in life, we need to make sure they are vaccinated against preventable diseases.
Why should you get your pet vaccinated?
For the cost of a yearly vaccination you are protecting your pet against potentially fatal diseases such as Canine Parvovirus and Feline Calicivirus. Vaccinations have been successfully protecting our pets in Australia since the 1960’s. Regular boosters are necessary to continue this protection for life. Without regular booster vaccinations of the majority of the pet population, outbreaks of deadly diseases such as Distemper and Parvovirus may occur.
Animal shelters and lower socioeconomic communities generally see higher rates of infectious diseases due to already lower vaccination rates in these populations of animals. Canine Parvovirus is still seen in dogs of all ages at Doyalson Animal Hospital. This serves as a reminder that maintenance of vaccination and protection against such diseases is vital.
During your pets vaccination appointment with one of our veterinarians, a full health check will be performed. This also allows you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like regarding your pets health, nutritional requirements, tick, flea and worming treatments for example.
What diseases are my pet being vaccinated against?
Dogs
- Parvovirus – Severe gastroenteritis causing vomiting and bleeding from intestines. This virus can survive for extended periods of time in the environment (in excess of 12 months). This highly contagious viral disease spreads easily between dogs. Early symptoms include a loss of appetite, watery, bloody diarrhoea and vomiting. If your puppy or dog shows any of these symptoms, immediate veterinary attention is required.
- Distemper – Virus leading to flu like symptoms and severe seizures and paralysis with a mortality rate of 50%.
- Hepatitis – Virus leading to acute liver failure with complications including blindness.
- Canine Cough – The most common disease seen in practice that we can vaccinate for. Dogs develop an highly contagious cough that may develop into pneumonia.
Leptosporosis – is a zoonotic bacterial disease, which means it affects both animals and humans.
Cats
- Flu – Caused by Herpesvirus and/or Calicivirus, symptoms include sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis & fever. Eye & mouth ulcers are seen in severe cases and the disease can be fatal in susceptible cats.
- Enteritis – Severe virus causing vomiting and bloody diarrhoea and often fatal.
