We vaccinate dogs against Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parvovirus. Distemper is a disease that causes coughing, sickness, diarrhoea, temperature spikes and sometimes neurological signs and fits. Infectious Canine Hepatitis is a liver disease; leptospirosis affects the kidneys and is spread by rats, and parvovirus causes bloody diarrhoea and vomiting. All these diseases have a high mortality rate.

Puppy vaccinations can be started at 8 weeks of age with the final injection being given at 10 weeks giving full protection 2 weeks later. This means that puppies can be safely socialised at a young age. (See factsheet ‘Socialisation of puppies’) Two doses are required before immunity develops properly and annual boosters are necessary to maintain protection.

We also recommend vaccination against Kennel Cough (or infectious laryngitis to give it its proper name!) This is now the commonest infectious disease we see, and dogs pick up the infection from other dogs whilst being exercised, not just in a kennel situation. Vaccination comes in the form of intranasal drops and is also required annually; there is a discount if both vaccinations are done together. Apart from protecting your pet in everyday life, the other advantage is that if he ever does need to go into kennels at short notice, his vaccinations are up to date.