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Vaccinations stimulate the immunity by exposing the dog to a small harmless dose of the specific disease.

Immunity in puppies:

Puppies are protected in the first few weeks of life by antibodies taken in from the mother's milk. This fades after this period leaving the dog susceptible to these diseases unless follow up vaccination is given.

Puppies are vaccinated twice a few weeks apart and can be started as early as six weeks of age but this can be done at any age as unfortunately some dogs aren't vaccinated until they are much older. At the time of vaccination the vet and or nurse can give your dog a good checkover for any other conditions which may need attention and also can answer any questions you may have.

Once the vaccination course is complete a week or so must pass before the newly vaccinated dog can mix with potentially unvaccinated ones in public places etc.

Yearly assessments of your dog allow early detection of problem areas and also allow us to 'boost' your dog's immunity to the diseases we vaccinate against. Some of the diseases require yearly boosters, others up to three years pass between boosters. Specifically research has shown that Leptospirosis cover starts to wane after one year regardless of the vaccine used. The vet will advise which vaccine is necessary in your dog's case.

All these vaccinations will be recorded on a vaccination card which serves as a handy reminder as to when boosters are required but also needs to be up to date when your dog needs to go into boarding kennels or to training lessons.

Which diseases do we vaccinate against?

Canine Parvovirus

This is an extremely long lived virus which survives a long time in the environment. There were major outbreaks of the disease in the UK in the 1970s and is still widespread. The disease causes horific vomiting and diarrhoea leading to septicaemia and shock. Parvovirus is usually fatal in dogs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWs2lg8a7YE

Canine Distemper (Hardpad)

This is another severe and usually fatal disease which has thankfully become very rare in the UK due to vaccination of dogs. Major outbreaks still occur in Europe. The virus casuses vomiting, diarrhoea and also severe respiratory disease. The name 'hardpad' is dervied from the virus' effect on the pads of the feet which thicken dramatically in affected dogs.

Infectious Hepatitis

Again thankfully this disease has become rare due to vaccination across the UK but still exists and causes severe liver infections which if not fatal leads to lifelong problems with the liver.

Leptospirosis

This disease is contracted from the urine of rats and other infected mammals. This can be from contaminated canals and rivers and is widespread in the UK. Affected animals can develop severe liver and kidney problems. Humans can also become infected (Weil's disease) and this is a potential problem for canooists and other water enthusiasts.

Kennel Cough

This is a very unpleasant 'whooping cough' like infection transmitted from dog to dog not only in kennels but anywhere dogs come together such as parks, lessons, dog shows, shoots etc. This disease can be life threatening in puppies but also can be very problematic in dogs with concurrent lung and heart disorders (bronchitis, obstructive disease such as pugs and bulldogs, heart disease).

See these links for videos of dogs with kennel cough. Please note some of these videos can be quite distressing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZusGtj3NxcU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amGKQX9zdug

Other diseases that can be vaccinated against by prior arrangement:

Rabies

A fatal disease which thankfully is not found in the UK although vaccination is required when your dog is travelling abroad and is to return to the UK.