Vaccination

We promote effective protection from disease rather than blanket vaccination throughout life, and will always try to keep vaccine use to a safe minimum.

Many of the diseases that we vaccinate against are now thankfully quite rare, but parvovirus gastroenteritis in dogs, cat flu and feline leukaemia are still common, very contagious and devastating when they occur.

Puppies and kittens should have their first vaccines at 8-10 weeks and a second dose at 10-12 weeks old. Most puppies respond fully to this regime, but some are not able to develop full protection from parvovirus by 12 weeks of age, so we advise either a blood test or third vaccine dose at 16-20 weeks old to make absolutely sure that they are all protected from this fatal disease.

Cats and dogs should all have a first annual booster vaccine at 15 months and thereafter
A full health check at least once a year (rather like you going to the doctor at least once every 5 years), is the time to establish a programme of protection based on their lifestyle and risk. We will periodically recommend  a simple blood test to check your pet's antibody levels.