We are very lucky to have vaccines for our beloved pets to help prevent serious and fatal infectious diseases. However, because vaccination has been so widespread and successful, it is easy to forget how serious these diseases can be, and the importance of keeping vaccinations up to date.

Often we allow vaccinations to lapse for pets that do not go outside or mix with other animals very much, as they are at low risk on a day to day basis. However emergency vet visits or an emergency stay in a boarding facility can put these animals at risk as their immunity has been allowed to wane, and (even with the best of intentions) facilities where many animals are brought together with illness or stress can be a source of infectious disease.

New puppies and kittens are at high risk until they have completed their puppy/kitten course of vaccinations. There has recently been an outbreak of feline panleukopenia virus in Melbourne and some unvaccinated cats have died as a result. Also, cat flu in unvaccinated cats is a serious disease, resulting in nasal and ocular infections and ulceration, as well as inappetence for up to 2 weeks.

Infectious respiratory diseases, such as kennel cough in dogs and cat flu in cats, can also severely complicate management of the common heart and respiratory problems we see in our older pets.
If you need advice on the right vaccinations for your pet or you need to bring your pets vaccinations up to date, please call the clinic on 9372 2733.