Vaccinations
What are vaccinations and why does my animal need them?
A vaccine is defined as a biological preparation that improves the animal’s immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine contains an agent(s) that resembles the disease-causing organism(s). This agent stimulates the immune system to recognise the agent as foreign. Recognizing these agents as foreign enables the immune system to destroy these foreign agents. The immune system is also stimulated to remember the foreign agent for future protection.
Pros
- When your pet comes in for its annual vaccination, your Veterinarian will perform an annual health examination. It’s during this annual health examination that your Vet can detect diseases that would otherwise have gone undetected allowing earlier treatment and a better quality of life for your pet.
- Annual vaccinations protect your pet, other pets as well as humans from serious disease.
- Vaccinating your pet against Rabies is required by law.
- Annual vaccinations are a smart way to give your pet a good quality of life and help you save money down the line.
Cons
The majority of animals being vaccinated experience no side-effects to the vaccinations. One of the potential risks when having your pet vaccinated is allergic reactions. These can differ from a full on anaphylactic reaction to a small lump where the vaccination was given. In a very small number of cats, there has been an association between vaccinations and tumour formation. Please make sure to notify your vet if any reaction or signs of illness develop after having your pet vaccinated.
Costs
Please feel free to call the practice on 011 887 8158/9 and we will gladly assist you with a quotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Canine and feline initial vaccinations: Puppies and kittens should be inoculated at least 3 times between the ages of 6 to 16 weeks, with a 3-4 week interval between vaccinations.
It is recommended to follow-up with yearly boosters to ensure your pets best possible protection for life.
“Core” vaccinations are a handful of vaccines that should be administered to your pet, thus protecting your pet against common and potentially harmful diseases.
Core vaccinations for dogs are given to prevent the following diseases:
- Canine distemper caused by Canine Distemper (CD) virus,
- Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) caused by Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1),
- Respiratory disease caused by Canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) and Canine parainfluenza (CPI) virus,
- Canine parvoviral enteritis caused by Canine parvovirus (CPV)
- Rabies caused by Lyssavirus sp.
Core vaccinations for cats are given to prevent the following diseases:
- Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) caused by Feline herpesvirus-1,
- Feline respiratory disease caused by Feline calicivirus (FCV),
- Feline panleukopenia (FPL) caused by feline panleukopaenia virus,
- Rabies caused by Lyssavirus sp.
Non-core vaccinations are vaccines that are not necessary for all dogs or cats. The decision to administer is dependent on the animal’s risk for exposure and infection.
Non-core vaccinations in dogs:
- Leptospirosis
- Kennel cough
- Canine coronavirus
- Canine herpesvirus
Non-core vaccinations in cats:
- Chlamydiosis
- Feline leukaemia
- Feline immunodeficiency virus
As mentioned previously one of the potential risks when having your pet vaccinated is allergic reactions. Please make sure to notify your vet if any reaction or signs of illness develop after having your pet vaccinated.