Pooch Vaccinations
- Gigi
- Jul 7, 2023
- 2 min read
As a pet parent you are expected to ensure your pooch is vaccinated, see below the important vaccinations for your awesome Pooch!
The People's dispensary for sick animals (PDSA) recommends that all dogs living in the UK should be vaccinated against:
Parvovirus – a highly contagious, potentially deadly disease that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea. After an initial primary course, parvo vaccination is usually necessary every three years.
Distemper – a very serious, often fatal disease that affects several different organs in the body including the guts, heart, immune system, lungs, brain and nerves. After an initial primary course, distemper vaccination is usually necessary every three years.
Infectious Hepatitis – a virus that attacks the liver, kidneys, eyes and blood vessels. Infectious hepatitis spreads in bodily fluids and can survive in the environment for up to a year. After an initial primary course, infectious hepatitis vaccination is usually necessary every three years.
Leptospirosis – a bacterial disease that causes serious illness by damaging vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. In humans, leptospirosis is known as ‘Weil’s disease’. After an initial primary course, leptospirosis vaccination is usually necessary every year.
Some dogs need other vaccines, such as:
Kennel cough – recommended if your dog mixes with a lot of other dogs, or has a health condition that could make kennel cough more serious. It’s usually a requirement if your dog spends time in kennels, doggy day care, has a dog walker, or attends dog events and shows. Kennel cough vaccination should be given each year your dog is at risk.
Rabies – necessary for dogs that travel in and out of the UK. Rabies vaccination is given every one to three years (depending on the vaccine) – your vet will discuss the best schedule to keep your dog safe if you are travelling abroad.
Adult boosters
Adult dogs need a leptospirosis booster every year, and a distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis booster every three years, to stop their immunity decreasing over time.
Vaccines for travel
If you want to travel outside of the UK with your dog, you need to vaccinate them against rabies, and check the specific entry requirements for the country you are visiting. Each country has different rules, so it’s important to be sure about what you need to do long before you travel. It’s also important to find out what your dog needs to get back into the UK.
Keeping a record
Once a puppy is vaccinated, your vet will give you a vaccination certificate that gives a record of exactly when the puppy was vaccinated and which products were used. Make sure to keep this safe, as it may be needed if the dog stays at boarding kennels, goes to dog-training classes, or if they’re taken abroad.
References
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