Vaccinations

Dog vaccinations

• Vanguard® Plus 5 or Nobivac DHPPi, which contains canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), canine parainfluenza virus and canine parvovirus. It is indicated for the vaccination of healthy dogs as an aid in preventing canine distemper caused by canine distemper (CD) virus, infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) caused by canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), respiratory disease caused by canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), canine parainfluenza (CPI) virus and canine parvoviral enteritis caused by canine parvovirus (CPV). As we take the safety of our patients very seriously, in light of the recent very rare cases of distemper with Vanguard Plus 5 in young dogs, we have decided to switch to Nobivac DHPPi in puppies less than 6 months of age.
• Leptoguard or Nobivac Lepto - For vaccination of healthy dogs as an aid in preventing leptospirosis caused by Leptospira interrogans serotype copenhageni.

Lapsed vaccinations

• If regular vaccines in a previously vaccinated dog have lapsed by more than 6 months, it will require two vaccinations with Leptoguard to get back on track, but only one with Vanguard Plus 5.

Cat vaccinations

Kittens

• Felocel 3 (Feline Herpes Virus, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Panleucopaenia Virus) every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
• Kittens take up to 2 weeks to respond to vaccination. They should not be allowed outside until 2 weeks after the last injection.

Adult cats

• The first booster of Felocel 3 is at 6 months of age
• Subsequent vaccination of Felocel 3 every 3 years, (or yearly if required more frequently by your cattery).
• Optional – Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) - this is no longer available in NZ
• FIV is a potentially fatal disease, which interferes with the immune system of the cat. Eventually, the immune system becomes too weak to fight off infection and cats become unwell and die. It consists of 3 vaccinations 2-4 weeks apart as an initial course (can be started at 8 weeks), then annually. It has been recently shown that there is no protective benefit of the vaccine in New Zealand conditions, though it may help reduce the spread of the virus from an infected cat. Still, this is unproven.

Lapsed vaccinations

• If regular vaccines in a previously vaccinated cat have lapsed by more than 6 months, then one dose is all that is required to get back onto the 3-yearly course.

Dog diseases which vaccination can aid in preventing

Parvovirus

• A highly contagious and often fatal viral gastroenteritis that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Parvovirus is most severe in young dogs.
• What is a Parvo Antibody Test and why should I do it?

Canine distemper

• A highly contagious and often fatal viral disease with a wide range of symptoms such as loss of appetite, runny eyes, and nose, vomiting, coughing, and/or nervous symptoms which may be ongoing.

Canine hepatitis

• A viral disease, mainly in younger dogs, affects the liver, resulting in vomiting, loss of appetite, and jaundice.

Canine cough

• It is a complex, highly contagious disease caused by several organisms affecting the respiratory system. A dry, harsh cough develops, which is seldom fatal but debilitating and can last several weeks.

Canine leptospirosis

• A severe bacterial liver and kidney disease spread in water contaminated by infected animals (commonly rats, sheep & cattle), which is fatal in the majority of cases. Symptoms include fever, jaundice, vomiting, and sore muscles. Importantly, this disease can be spread from infected dogs to their owners.