Domestic pets 2

Annual health checks for dogs, cats and rabbits are included with their yearly vaccinations. All pets receiving their puppy, kitten or yearly vaccinations, will receive a full clinical examination by a Veterinary Surgeon. We usually start the puppy vaccination course at 8 weeks of age and give two injections, two weeks apart. We vaccinate puppies against Distemper, Parvovirus, Canine Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and two types of Leptospirosis.

We then give a full booster a year later, followed by yearly Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza boosters. We give Parvovirus, Hepatitis and Distemper boosters every three years. Despite some recent press controversy over frequency of vaccination, all of our Veterinary Surgeons (including the two who use some

homoeopathy) strongly recommend yearly vaccinations. As we live in a rural area, we still see cases of Leptospirosis (an often fatal liver and kidney disease spread by rat urine), in insufficiently vaccinated dogs.

We can also vaccinate dogs against Kennel Cough. This has to be given at least 72 hours before they go into kennels and is an intranasal vaccine (a squirt up the nose - which can be fun for the Vet to administer!). We recommend annual vaccinations to maintain immunity.

We vaccinate kittens against the two types of Cat flu (Herpes and Calicici Virus), Feline Enteritis (Feline Panleucopenia) and also strongly recommend, that owners take up the optional extra of vaccinating their pets against Feline Leukaemia. After an initial course of two vaccines given three weeks apart (the first can be given from 9 weeks of age), vaccine boosters are given on an annual basis, when cats receive their annual health check.

We vaccinate rabbits against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease. The first vaccine can be given at 6 weeks of age and the second one two weeks later. Health checks are given at the same time as the boosters which are 6 monthly for myxomatosis and yearly for VHD. The Myxomatosis and VHD boosters have to be given separately with an interval of at least 2 weeks between the injections. Booster consultations are good opportunities for us to assess the dentition (assessing any need for dental work), discuss any dietary issues and generally perform a good clinical examination of the rabbit.

In addition to the usual full clinical examination that we give at an annual health check - booster consultation, owners fill in a detailed health questionaire, urine samples are analysed and the time allotted is greater than for the usual vaccine consultation. This gives us more time, to concentrate on the often more frequent health problems of older pets. Please inform our receptionists know when you make your appointment, if you would like your pet to have a senior health check - as they will then need to allot more time for your consultation.