Annual Health Checks and Vaccinations

Annual Health Checks
and Vaccinations

Before your pet is vaccinated, one of our vets will perform a thorough health check and physical examination.
During your 30 minute appointment we will discuss any concerns you have regarding your pet’s health and any other problems that we may find during the examination.

Annual health checks are an integral part of tracking your pets health.
The vet will advise you on what may require attention either in the immediate future or over the long term.

Vaccinations are essential for your pet for the protection from serious disease.
There are no specific treatments for many of the viruses we vaccinate against so prevention is the key.

Vaccines contain deactivated viruses or bacteria which stimulate the body’s immune system to produce protective antibodies in the blood, creating immunity. If your pet encounters the real virus or bacteria in the future, the body quickly responds to attack and kill it.

What do we vaccinate against and why?

Distemper
This disease can affect dogs of all ages however puppies are most at risk. It is both highly contagious and fatal and transmitted through discharges from an infected dog's nose and eyes. The first symptoms will include nasal and ocular discharges, coughing, fever, appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhoea. Distemper can be fatal or lead to permanent brain damage.

Hepatitis
This disease is highly infectious and damages the liver. It is contracted through an infected dogs urine and can remain contagious in an infected dog 6 months after they have recovered. The symptoms include inappetance, lethargy and depression, abdominal pain and diarrhoea and it can be fatal. It can be fatal and dogs that do recover can have long-term kidney and liver problems.

Parvovirus
This virus causes a severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is transmitted through contact of infected dog faeces. It can also attack the white blood cells causing damage to the heart muscle and cause lifelong cardiac issues. The symptoms include severe bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy and inappetance. Dehydration occurs quickly and death can follow within 24 hours. Parvovirus is extremely hardy and can survive within the environment for 12 months+.

Kennel Cough
A highly contagious respiratory disease affecting the trachea and bronchi. Kennel Cough is an air-borne disease and can be passed on anywhere your dogs socialise including the local park, dog groomer or day care. The symptoms are a dry, painful 'honking' cough along with retching and some nasal discharge. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia.

Vaccination Schedule:

1st Puppy Vaccine
Given 6-8 weeks old

This vaccination known as C3 is for DHP-Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus.
This vaccination will have usually been done prior to adopting your puppy.

2nd Puppy Vaccine
Given 10-12 weeks old
This C3 vaccination should take place one month after the first vaccination.

3rd Puppy Vaccine
Given 14-16 weeks old
This vaccination is known as C5 which is DHP plus the two components of Kennel Cough - Bordetella and parainfluenza.
It is safe to socialise your puppy 2 weeks after the third and final vaccination.

Adult Canine Vaccinations

At 18 months of age, your dog will require a booster of the C5 Vaccination.

Kennel Cough vaccines are then required yearly.
Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus boosters are then dosed every 3 years.

Feline Panleukopenia is a highly contagious and life threatening disease of cats worldwide caused by feline parvovirus. The virus is shed in high levels through the faeces.
It is a very resistant to disinfectant and can stay in the environment for up to a year.
Kittens between the age of 2-6 months are at the highest risk of severe symptoms.
Symptoms include vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, dehydration and even death.

Feline Respiratory Disease “Cat Flu”- there are two main viral components to this disease:

i) Feline Herpes Virus Type 1 is contracted through direct contact, inhalation of sneeze droplets, sharing of bowls/bedding/litter trays or transmitted from the lactating queen to her kittens.
Cats will develop flu-like symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, fever, depression, anorexia, conjunctivitis or nasal and ocular discharge.
Cats who have been previously infected will become carriers of the disease and the symptoms can flare up from time to time during periods of stress.

ii) Feline Calicivirus is the second viral component of cat flu. It can be contracted the same way as Feline herpes virus but it is more resistant to disinfectant and can remain in the environment for long periods of time.
Cats who have been previously infected can also become carriers of the disease.
Symptoms for this disease are the similar and can also develop ulcers in the mouth.

Vaccination Schedule:

1st Kitten Vaccine
Given 6-8 weeks old

This vaccination known as F3 and is usually given prior to adopting your kitten.

2nd Kitten Vaccine
Given 10-12 weeks old
This F3 vaccination should take place one month after the first vaccination.

3rd Kitten Vaccine
Given 14-16 weeks old
This F3 vaccination should take place one month after the second vaccination and is the final kitten vaccine.

Adult Feline Vaccinations

At 18 months of age, your cat will require booster to maintain immunity, we recommend vaccinating every year to maintain immunity.

Rabbit Calicivirus or Haemorrhagic Viral Disease

Calicivirus is a disease periodically released by the council to keep wild rabbit populations under control.
The virus is spread either by direct contact with flying insects (eg mosquitoes), direct contact with infected wild rabbits or contact with contaminated food or materials.

The virus causes acute hepatitis and widespread internal bleeding leading rapidly to death.

Calicivirus is almost always fatal and there is no treatment for this disease.

To minimize risk of infection it is best to keep your rabbit in an insect proof enclosure and avoid any contact with wild rabbits.

It is recommended to quarantine any new rabbits for 7 days before introducing them to others, maintain good husbandry and most importantly have your rabbit vaccinated every year.

Bilgola Vet Clinic stocks ‘Filavac’ which is a vaccination which covers both deadly strains of Calicivirus and provides your rabbit with optimal protection.

Vaccination Schedule:

1st Vaccine
Given 10 weeks old

Only one dose of vaccine is required for kits

Adult Rabbit Vaccinations

One dose of vaccine is recommended every year to sustain immunity