Vaccination
All dogs should be vaccinated to protect them from the potentially fatal diseases of canine distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis and leptospirosis.
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Canine distemper virus causes a wide range of symptoms; initially vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing and a discharge from the nose and eyes. Damage to the dog’s nervous system can lead to dogs having fits and muscle twitches (chorea), and is ultimately fatal.
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Canine parvovirus causes severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration and collapse. Puppies are most at risk and the disease is often fatal.
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Canine hepatitis is a disease caused by Adenovirus 1, which attacks the liver and can lead to liver failure.
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Leptospirosis is caused by a bacteria which survives in stagnant water, and is commonly carried by rats. This means dogs with higher exposure to contaminated water, or rats and their urine, are at a greater risk. Symptoms include weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea, and jaundice. This can prove fatal through liver and kidney failure.
All these diseases are protected by a single vaccination.
Puppies should receive a course of two injections anytime from 8 weeks of age, the second injection being given 2 weeks after the first. It will be another week before your puppy can go outside.
It is also important for adult dogs to receive a yearly booster vaccination to maintain their immunity.
If your dog goes into kennels, it is also recommended to have a Kennel Cough vaccination, as this is a very contagious disease. It can be treated with antibiotics, but can take several weeks to clear. Kennel Cough vaccination must be given 2 to 3 weeks before your dog is going into kennels.