Vaccinations

Vaccinations are very important and protect your pets against infectious and potentially fatal diseases. It is essential that all domestic pets are adequately vaccinated to help protect the population as a whole.

Responsible pet care requires pets to be given their initial course of vaccinations, but this cannot protect them for the rest of their lives. Adult pets require regular vaccination to maintain immunity against disease.

Puppy Vaccination

Puppies are ‘temporarily’ protected against many diseases by antibodies received through their mother’s milk (only if the mothers have also been vaccinated). These maternal antibodies decline in the first few months of their lives and from here we need to boost their immunity to ensure they are protected. This is why a series of vaccinations is necessary in a puppy.
In the first 14 weeks of your puppy’s life we will vaccinate them against the following diseases – Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Canine Cough (kennel cough).

Adult Dog Vaccination

The immunity from puppy vaccination weakens over time and your dog can again become susceptible to disease. Annual health checks and booster vaccinations, as required, will provide the best protection for the life of your dog.

Kitten Vaccinations

Just like puppies, kittens require vaccinations to protect them against dangerous and sometimes even life threatening diseases. Kittens also receive some immunity through their mothers milk but as this begins to decline we need to boost their immunity by vaccinating them with a course of injections.

Kittens are vaccinated with an F3 or F4 vaccine which protects them against Feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, panleucopenia and Feline Leukaemia Virus. The vaccination course begins between 6-8 weeks of age and continues with a further two injections 4 weeks apart.

Here at Mt Helena Vet Clinic (MHVC) we also highly recommend that any kitten that will be allowed access to the outdoors should also be vaccinated against Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). This can be given at the same time as the F3 vaccination. Please chat with our friendly team if you are not familiar with the FIV vaccine and they will explain how it works and help you determine if your kitten needs this extra protection.

Adult Cat Vaccination

Regular vaccinations are an important part for routine health care for your cat and helps to ensure your cat remains fit and well. The adult cat vaccines will be determined by the lifestyle in which it leads. Cats require vaccinations once every twelve (12) months to maintain a full immunity. The vaccines will protect them from diseases such as feline enteritis, cat flu and FIV.

After Vaccination Care

Following vaccination your pet may be off-colour for a day or two, or have some slight swelling or tenderness at the injection site. Access to food and water and a comfortable area to rest are usually all that is required for a quick recovery. However, if the response seems more severe, you should contact us for advice.