Rockhall Veterinary: All things vaccines

PIC: Vet Kathy

A puppy and kitten's first vaccine is typically carried out at 8/9 weeks of age, then followed by a second vaccination three to four weeks later. This protocol allows for young dogs and kittens to be socialised early, which is vital for development.

Vaccinations provide your pet with suitable protection from numerous dangerous and life-threatening diseases. There is the option of titre testing, which requires blood samples to be taken from your pet and being tested in a lab to determine your pet’s immunity, to decide if vaccination is required or if their immunity is sufficient. Regrettably, this can prove to be quite expensive and your dog will still require a leptospirosis vaccination. It is for these reasons that we at Rockhall Veterinary recommend core vaccination protocols to ensure that your pet is fully protected.

Having your dog vaccinated is not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended, especially as we see outbreaks of Parvo etc from time to time every year. The majority of kennels, groomers, doggy day-care facilities and dog trainers necessitate that all dogs be up to date with their vaccines in order to use their services.

Here at Rockhall Veterinary, our vets carry out a full physical examination on your pet to ensure they are in good health before administering the vaccine. Like all medications, vaccinations can have mild side effects, a health check is necessary to ensure a proper immune response to the vaccine. Veterinary practitioners are qualified to carry out these vaccinations. It is not advisable that members of the public administer their animals’ vaccines themselves. Additionally, the vaccination needles, syringes, and bottles all need to be stored and disposed of safely and correctly.

If your pet is particularly stressed or anxious during their veterinary visits, you can speak to our team at any time and we can plan to reduce as much stress as possible. This may entail bookings at quieter times of the day, a more minimal physical exam or even providing some anti-anxiety medication for more extreme cases.

Annual boosters typically protect against leptospirosis and kennel cough (can be given every six months). Nevertheless, parvovirus, canine hepatitis and distemper are generally required every three years. It is for this reason a dog would need a vaccination every year to have ultimate protection against diseases. In cats, we protect against the viruses associated with Cat flu such as Calici, Rhinotracheitis viruses and Feline Leukemia virus (FeLv).

Do you have a question for our Vet? Contact us at info@rockhallveterinary.ie 

Ask The RVN

“Does my dog have worms?”

It can be almost impossible to see worms (excluding tapeworm), so it can be difficult to know if your dog does in fact have worms. Their eggs are not visible to the human eye. It is for this reason, that we recommend prevention. Tapeworms can be seen by the naked eye and can look like rice-like grains in faeces or around the anus. It is vital to provide your dog with regular worming treatments, especially if you have children or immune-compromised people in the house. It must be remembered that puppies are at a higher risk of carrying worms and will need intensive treatment. Worms are zoonotic, which means that they can be passed from a dog to its owner.

You will typically not see extreme symptoms unless your pet has an extremely high burden – these symptoms include:

- Poor condition & coat

- Swollen abdomen lethargy nutritional deficiencies

More Extreme Symptoms:

- Dehydration

- Pneumonia/Coughing (lungworm, hookworm, roundworm)

- Diarrhoea

- Vomiting

Under "Ask The RVN" 

Do you have a question for our Vet? Contact us at info@rockhallveterinary.ie  

Contact us on (061) 314 203 to book your vaccines and avail of a free second vaccine.

Our team at Rockhall Veterinary can help with choosing the product that is best suited for you, your pet and your lifestyle. We ensure our teams are educated on the most up to date advice and treatments available. We provide our clients with prescription-only parasite treatments. These products are more effective than over the counter treatments that may be purchased in supermarkets or pet shops. Under the law, only veterinary practitioners can prescribe these medications, this is because a full health check must be carried out on the animal prior to prescribing them.

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