Vaccinations are recommended in order to prevent certain illnesses and require annual boosters to maintain protection which also gives an opportunity for a thorough health check. They are available for dogs, cats and rabbits.
Initial vaccinations are given from 8 weeks of age, involving 2 injections 2-4 weeks apart, followed by yearly boosters.
Routine vaccinations cover 7 potentially fatal diseases alongside 2 optional vaccines:
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Two forms of leptospirosis
- Parvovirus
- Adenovirus
- Parainfluenza
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough) optional
- Rabies (if requiring passport) optional
- Leishmania (for travelling abroad) optional
Vaccination normally starts from 9 weeks of age and involves 2 injections 3-4 weeks apart followed by yearly boosters.
Outdoor cats are advised to have the full vaccines while for some entirely indoor cats the basic cover will be sufficient. Diseases covered are:
- Two forms of 'flu' (feline rhinotracheitis and calicivirus)
- Feline enteritis (fatal form of diarrhoea)
- Feline leukaemia (fatal)
- Rabies (if requires a passport)
Rabbits should be vaccinated against 2 fatal diseases: myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD).