We recommend that newly acquired puppies are given several days, at least, to settle into their new home before being given any vaccinations.

The vaccination course, which consists of two injections, two weeks apart, can be started from 8 weeks of age. Each injection needs two weeks to produce some immunity, so the earliest we would suggest a puppy starts walks outside of the house and garden is at 12 weeks of age.

Once an animal has had their first two injections (called a primary vaccination course) they then require annual booster vaccinations to maintain their immunity. We do not give exactly the same vaccination every year because the various parts of the vaccine produce immunities lasting different periods of time.

The diseases the vaccination course provides protection against are:

• Canine Parvovirus
• Canine Distemper Virus
• Infectious Canine Hepatitis
• Leptospirosis

We can also vaccinate against:

• Kennel Cough
• Rabies virus

More information about the diseases vaccinated against:

Canine Parvovirus (CPV)

The most common of the serious viral diseases. It causes a severe gastro-enteritis, which can result in rapid dehydration and death. Young puppies are especially susceptible, but it can be fatal in any age of dog. The virus is very resistant and can survive on the ground for several years - meaning that a dog does not have to meet another dog to become infected.

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

Not as common now as it used to be (mainly because of widespread vaccination). It causes a multitude of signs, from a severe respiratory infection with a cough, runny eyes and nose, to diarrhoea and even fits. It is usually fatal and is very infectious between dogs.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus infection or CAV)

This virus can cause a rapidly fatal liver infection which can produce signs similar to Parvovirus and distemper infection.

Leptospirosis

Caused by a peculiar type of very mobile, spiral-shaped bacteria. It is usually transmitted by being passed in the urine of infected rats and dogs. Because the organism can penetrate the skin, swimming in infected water is an important route of infection. It can also affect humans.

Kennel Cough

Several organisms can cause this distressing respiratory infection, but the main culprit is a bacterium called Bordetella bronchiseptica. It is very infectious, making kennels a common place for infections to be transmitted. Though not usually fatal, it is distressing for the animal and usually requires antibiotic treatment. The vaccination is not given using a needle but is administered as drops which are run down the dog's nose. A new version of this vaccine now gives a full 12 months protection from this organism. (see http://www.intervet.co.uk/species_pages/dog/news.asp)

Rabies Virus

Although this disease is not present within the dog population in the U.K. it is present in certain parts of Europe. It is transmitted via the saliva of an infected animal and targets the nervous system rapidly causing death through respiratory muscle paralysis. Because of the PETS travel scheme, we can now provide routine vaccinations against rabies