When to vaccinate?
Puppies and kittens are usually protected from infectious diseases by their mother’s milk provided she has been adequately vaccinated. However, this protection only lasts for a short while.
- Puppies and kittens should be vaccinated starting around 6 weeks old, every 3 weeks until they are at least 16 weeks old
- Boosters should be given 6 or 12 months after the date of the first vaccinations depending on the vaccine
- If you have an older pet then your veterinarian will be able to advise the correct vaccination protocol that you should follow.
Dogs
Dogs should be routinely vaccinated against:
- Canine distemper
- Canine parvovirus
- Infectious canine hepatitis
- Rabies
If your dog is going to spending time in kennels, groomed or have play dates with other dogs, then you should also inquire about getting them vaccinated against “kennel cough.” The vaccine protects against bordetellabronchiseptica which is one strain of “kennel cough”, but this cough can also be caused by several other viruses and bacteria that there are no vaccines for.
Cats
Cats should be routinely vaccinated against:
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline herpes virus
- Feline infectious enteritis
- Rabies
Current guidelines recommend that only ‘at risk’ cats are vaccinated against feline leukemia virus. Those deemed at risk include kittens, immune-compromised cats, and cats which will be allowed outdoors.