For kittens or puppies, the first round of vaccinations (which usually consists of two or three vaccines), are generally administered from the age of around eight weeks old onwards. They will then usually be vaccinated three times in a period of six months, and after that, it could be yearly or even triennially top ups. Once at an adult age though, it is generally accepted that pets are vaccinated on an annual basis, although recent studies have shown that certain vaccinations are effective for over a year. Indeed, for the core vaccines, your vet may recommend that these are administered only once every three years, but this will depend on the pet’s condition and also the environment they reside within.

Veterinary professionals will often use the terms ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ to describe pet vaccines. Generally speaking, core vaccines are considered vital for your pet’s health, whereas non-core vaccines are recommended dependant on your pet’s lifestyle. For example, if your pet is frequently outdoors and mixing with other dogs, we may advise some non-core vaccines to provide your dog with additional immunity due to their particular environment.

Ensuring your dog is vaccinated can help prevent them from catching the following diseases (amongst others):

• Canine distemper – a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system. Puppies and young dogs are more susceptible to this virus.

• Canine parvovirus – an often-deadly viral disease that commonly causes acute gastrointestinal illness in puppies. The disease most often strikes in puppies between six and 20 weeks old, but older animals are sometimes also affected.

• Parainfluenza virus – A mild respiratory infection which is highly contagious and usually transmitted by nasal secretion. It is not fatal but being vaccinated against this disease can prevent your dog catching other more dangerous related infections.

• Canine adenovirus (hepatitis) – can lead to a decreased appetite, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, edema (fluid swelling under the skin) of the head and neck, and possibly jaundice. Such cases are often fatal.

• Bordetella bronchiseptica (more commonly known as kennel cough) – highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs which causes inflammation of the trachea and bronchi. If your dog is in close contact with other dogs, or is very young or very old, it will be more at risk of infection if not vaccinated.

• Canine leptospirosis – an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Leptospira. The disease causes serious damage to the kidney and liver, and may be fatal in severe cases.

• Canine Coronavirus – a highly contagious intestinal infection seen mostly in young puppies. Symptoms are generally vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite and diarrhea, and can be especially dangerous for puppies and young dogs.

• Rabies – this highly dangerous disease can be fatal to both dogs and humans. There is no known cure and infected dogs act as carriers, spreading the disease through their saliva when biting or scratching another animal or human. Generally, puppies receive their first rabies vaccine between 12 to 16 weeks of age, which stimulates the immune system to make antibodies.

Ensuring your cat is vaccinated can help prevent them from catching the following diseases (amongst others):

• Feline Parvovirus – This viral illness, also known as feline distemper, is known to harm blood cells in the body that divides quickly, including the cells in the cat’s digestive tract and bone marrow. This causes the cat to develop a feline version of anemia, leaving it susceptible to bacterial or viral infections in the future.

• Feline Calicivirus – This illness is a typical respiratory condition that affects the mouth, nose, lungs and possibly the intestines and musculoskeletal system in felines.

• Feline Herpesvirus – A most frequent respiratory infection in cats and can result in congestion, watery eyes and sneezing.

• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus – Your cat's immune system is compromised by this virus, making them more susceptible to other diseases. This virus is slow acting, but once the disease takes hold, it can lead to a severely impaired immune system. It is like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in that it can be present without symptoms for many years after the original infection.

• Feline Leukaemia Virus – This retrovirus can cause astrophic conditions including blood cancer and is spread through the nasal or salivary secretions. Since this vaccination is optional, you and your veterinarian can decide whether your cat needs it based on your cat’s daily activities and environment.

• Chlamydia Felis – A Gram-negative bacterium that is an obligate intracellular parasite of cats. Chlamydiosis typically affects young cats under 9 months of age and does not survive outside of the host so close contact between cats is required for transmission, usually via ocular discharges.

• Bordetella Bronchiseptica – A bacterium that lives in mammals' respiratory tracts and is thought to be the main pathogen of domestic cats. It makes sense to think of Bordetella Bronchiseptica as an extremely uncommon source of zoonotic infections.

The last thing we want to see is our pets become ill, and as caring pet parents, our main responsibility is to ensure their welfare and good health. Vaccines provide essential immunity from a wide range of infectious diseases and keeping vaccinations up-to-date is crucial in maintaining your pet’s good health. Schedule a visit at our clinic today and our expert vets will recommend the specific vaccination programme best suited for your pet.