Vaccinations

When a new pet enters the family, it is essential that all their vaccinations are up to date. There is a wide range of diseases that can be fatal to your pet’s health if they are not vaccinated against them. Vaccinations are important for preventing the contraction of any potential life-threatening illnesses. Parramatta Veterinary Hospital offers all the essential vaccinations to keep your new family member healthy. The process of vaccinating cats and dogs slightly differs so here you can read a little about what to expect.

It is essential that dogs receive the full set of vaccinations while they are still young. Following this, they should receive boosters annually to reduce the chances of contracting serious diseases. Puppies need to follow a vaccination schedule to ensure that they are protected. Puppies that are still drinking milk from their mom receive their antibodies this way. However, these diminish over time in the same way vaccinations will. Vaccinations and boosters are extremely important to avoid contagious and harmful diseases.

There are a few diseases which the vaccinations are aimed at preventing, including:

• Distemper
• Parvovirus
• Canine cough (kennel cough)
• Hepatitis
• Leptospirosis
• Canine Coronavirus

Vaccinations often cause side effects. You can expect your dog to seem a bit under the weather, inflammation and pain is also common following a vaccination. Provide food, water and a comfortable place to sleep to help your dog recover fast. If you notice any major symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian.

There are a few diseases which you should ensure your cat is vaccinated against. The amount of vaccines required differs according to the diseases which are being vaccinated against.

2 vaccines: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, chlamydia, leukaemia virus and feline panleukopenia.
3 vaccines: feline immunodeficiency virus

These vaccinations are recommended for kittens and unvaccinated cats. It is best to get your cat vaccinated from 8 weeks and older. After these initial vaccines, annual boosters are essential to maintain protection.

Like dogs, your cat may act a bit different post vaccinations. This will only last a short while as they need to recover. You can expect inflammation and tenderness at the vaccination site. This should heal fairly fast. To boost the healing process you can create a comfortable environment for your cat and allow lots of rest. Food and water should be made to access easily. If any symptoms seem unusual, your veterinarian should be contacted immediately.

Below is a description of each disease that your cat may potentially contract if they are not vaccinated:

• • Calicivirus, or the cat flu, can affect any age cat. You can expect symptoms of sneezing, runny eyes, coughing, nasal discharge and tongue ulcers.
  • Chlamydia can lead to a severe case of conjunctivitis. This disease attacks kittens, even more if they have a compromised immune system.
  • Panleukopenia is especially common with young cats, it is very contagious and has a high rate of death. If pregnant cats contract this disease it can result in a miscarriage or kittens with birth defects.
  • Feline leukemic is a disease which causes a drop in the immune system. Symptoms can include apathy, appetite loss, diarrhoea or vomiting.