VACCINATIONS

Dogs: Vaccinating your dog, cat and rabbit annually is vital to ensure your pet is protected against serious, sometimes fatal, illnesses.

Puppies require 3 initial vaccinations beginning at 6-8 weeks of age, then at 10-12 weeks of age and then at 14-16 weeks of age. Booster vaccinations are required every year for adult dogs.

Dog vaccinations protect against Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Distemper, Canine Cough and Canine Influenza.

Maintaining annual vaccinations are just one of the important aspects of the Wellness Program for Dogs.

Cats: Cat Flu and Cat Aids (FIV) are unfortunately very common in Geelong and can be devasting for cats and their owners. FIV is similar to the human AIDS virus but it just infects cats. Almost 1 in 4 cats that live outdoors in Geelong have cat aids and your cat can be infected if they are bitten by an AIDS positive cat. Thankfully there is an annual vaccination that can be given to your cat to protect it from the deadly disease. Don’t wait or it might be too late!

Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) is far less common but no less devastating and it is transmitted either from queen to kittens or by cat fights.

An F3 vaccination protects against two cat flu diseases: Herpesvirus and Calicivirus and also the cat parvovirus Feline Panleukopaenia.

FIV and FeLV vaccinations will protect against Cat Aids and Leukaemia respectively.

Kittens require two F3 vaccinations initially at 6-8 weeks of age and then at 10-12 weeks of age.

FIV requires three initial injections 2-4 weeks apart.

FeLV requires two initial injections 2-4 weeks apart.

An annual booster for all of the vaccinations is required to prevent these diseases.

Maintaining annual vaccinations are just one of the important aspects of the Wellness Program for Cats.

Rabbits: Calicivirus and myxomatosis are mainly transmitted via mosquitoes. They both almost always result in the death of your rabbit. An annual Calicivirus vaccination is available to protect your pet rabbit.

Unfortunately a vaccination for myxomatosis is not available in Australia so using fly wire over the hutch, especially in summer, is the best way to reduce the risk of myxomatosis.

Maintaining annual vaccinations are just one of the important aspects of the Wellness Program for Rabbits.