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Vaccination is the process by which we can protect your dog/cat
against some of the most serious diseases, by giving injections as a puppy/kitten
and by "topping up" the cover with the all important annual boosters.
When do I vaccinate my dog/cat?:
Normally, we vaccinate puppies/kitten from eight weeks of age.
We can give an additional temporary vaccine at six weeks of age to
high risk puppies/kittens. Please ask, if you are worried.
Puppies/kittens normally receive two vaccinations, the second
one being three weeks after the first, or at twelve weeks old, whichever is the
later.
Adult dogs/cats who have had no vaccines or where the boosters
have been neglected can receive what we call an "adult starter". This comprises two
injections, given two to six weeks apart and this will bring the protection up
to level.
At Europets Hospital we schedule sufficient time for a thorough
check of your pet at the time of the vaccination and we are happy, at the time,
to discuss any concern you may have.
Boosters are given twelve months after
the starter course and every twelve months thereafter
Vaccinate against What?:
For your Dog
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Parvovirus, common in UAE
This is an extremely unpleasant dysentery type of
disease. Affected dogs are profoundly depressed, they vomit, have abdominal pain
and pass large amounts of foul smelling, bloody diarrhea.
When we see cases, prompt and aggressive treatment is
the only hope of a cure and most estimates give only a 50% chance of
survival. The mainstay of treatment is replacing the fluid loss by
intravenous drip, whilst the infection runs its course. It is not uncommon
to give more fluids than the whole body weight of the the patient during
treatment. Those dogs lucky enough to survive, take a long time to recover,
fully, as they lose a tremendous amount of weight
-
Distemper, common in UAE
This is one of the oldest dog diseases known and is
still to be found in virtually every city in the UAE. Usually, dogs start
with a runny nose and eyes and have a cough. Later on they develop vomiting
and diarrhea. If they survive, they can go on to develop thickening of the
foot pads (this is why distemper is sometimes called hard pad), and damage
to the teeth, which become yellowed and are lost, prematurely. The most
sinister long term consequence of distemper, in those dogs who survive, is
the damage to the nervous system which can lead to fits in later life. In my
experience, most of the older dogs presenting with fits are those who have
not been vaccinated or where the annual boosters have been neglected.
-
Para influenza, common in UAE
This virus accounts for some dogs affected with
"Kennel cough" syndrome. The hepatitis part of the vaccine protects against
adenovirus 2, another virus involved in "kennel cough".
- Rabies, uncommon in UAE
It is wise and obligatory, in the UAE,
to give your dog a rabies vaccination. It is possible for rabies to be
transmitted to humans and can be fatal. Therefore, it is very important to
protect yourself, your family and your pet from getting this disease by
having regular vaccinations.
- Kennel cough, common in UAE
Canine infectious
tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) is one of the most prevalent infectious
diseases in dogs. Fortunately, the majority of cases are not serious
resolving on their own in 1 to 2 weeks . But because some dogs develop life-
threatening complications, you should take precautions to prevent your pooch
from becoming infected with this highly contagious disease.
Kennel cough can be caused by a number of different airborne
bacteria (such as Bordetella bronchiseptica) and viruses (such as canine
Para influenza) or a mycoplasma (an organism somewhere between a virus and a
bacteria). Typically, more than one of these pathogens (disease-causing
agents) must bombard the dog at once to trigger illness. Such a multifaceted
attack is most likely to occur when a dog spends time in close quarters with
many other dogs. Dogs that attend dog shows, travel frequently, or stay at
kennels have a higher risk of developing kennel cough than do dogs that stay
at home most of the time.
Viral causes of kennel cough (such as
distemper, adenoviruses, and Para influenza virus), are covered by the "DHLPP"
vaccination that all dogs should receive annually. The major bacterial agent
associated with the disease, Bordetella Bronchiseptica, may be vaccinated
against as well. That is what we call the kennel cough vaccine. As
preventative measure it is advisable to give your dog a booster against
Bordetella seven to 10 days prior to a show or kenneling, and annual
boosters if you feel your dog is at high exposure to other dogs.
- Leptospirosis, uncommon in UAE
- Infectious hepatitis, uncommon in UAE
For your Cat
- Cat 'flu
'Flu is a respiratory disease causing
conjunctivitis and discharge from the eyes and nose. The mouth can be
ulcerated and the cat becomes fevered and depressed. As you will know the
smell of food is important to your cat and 'flu cats often stop eating and
drinking completely resulting in rapid weight loss and dehydration. Prompt and
aggressive treatment is required to support the animal whilst the cat's
defense mechanism tries to get rid of the virus. Fortunately the majority of
treated cats do survive and some manage to rid themselves completely of the
virus. However, a sizeable number are left unable to clear the virus and
although they appear to recover, they carry the virus for the rest of their
lives being potentially infectious to other cats. The carrier cat tends to
exhibit 'flu symptoms again and again, when under stress or ill for another
reason.
Cat 'flu symptoms are usually as a result of one of two viruses,
Rhinotracheitis or Calicivirus. Calicivirus is the most difficult to deal with
as there are many strains, most causing 'flu but others cause joint pain and
lameness.
Vaccination is the only preventative measure that we have but even
vaccinated cats can, on occasions, show Calicivirus symptoms from these more
unusual "wild" strains. Research is constantly ongoing to incorporate extra
strains within the vaccine.
Calicivirus is one of the major causes of the distressing mouth problems (stomatitis)
we see in cats. The virus attacks the edges of the gums causing redness and
ulcers. This leads to pain when eating and usually a loss of appetite and
weight. Repeated and fastidious dental cleaning combined with long term
medicines are usually required to help these cats. In extreme cases all the
teeth need to be extracted to allow healing of the gums.
- Chlamydia
This is another respiratory disease causing a
particularly nasty conjunctivitis, but also general 'flu symptoms, fever and
depression. Fortunately we cure almost all cats of the disease but a lengthy
course of antibiotics and eye treatment is usually necessary. It is thought
that Chlamydia causes over a third of conjunctivitis in the cats we see.
Chlamydia can also cause infertility in breeding queen cats
- Rabies, uncommon in UAE
It is wise and obligatory, in the UAE, to
give your cat a rabies vaccination. It is possible for rabies to be
transmitted to humans and can be fatal. Therefore, it is very important to
protect yourself, your family and your pet from getting this disease by having
regular vaccinations.
- Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
This is a sinister viral disease
which destroys the immune system allowing the cat to fall victim to all sorts
of infections and certain tumors. It has been shown that 80% of diagnosed
cats succumb to one of the consequences within three years. Cats can contract
leukemia before birth, or from mating or being bitten by infected cats. In
addition saliva exchange during mutual grooming in multi cat households can
spread the disease over time.
Unfortunately there is another immune destroying virus called Feline
Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). There is, as yet, no vaccine against this
disease.
At Europets Hospital we can test all the suspicious cats for FIV/FeLV. For
this test we take a little bit of blood and then we have the result in 10
minutes.
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