Vaccinations are vital to keep your pet in good health

Published on Saturday 6 June 2009 11:34

VACCINATING pets is important as, just with human disease, it helps animals fight infection. When an infection does occur having a pet vaccinated means that the severity of the disease is reduced.

During June, owners are being encouraged to make sure that their pets are vaccinated as part of National Vaccination Month. For the first time this year, horses will be included in the initiative as well as pets including dogs and cats.

The Dick Vet Equine and Small Animal Practices at Easter Bush, both part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, are taking part in National Vaccination Month when animals starting a new vaccination course, including restarting lapsed vaccinations, will be entitled to the second vaccination dose for free.

Dr Kirstie Pickles, a lecturer in equine practice at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, says: "Ensuring that animals are vaccinated is important, because without vaccination certain diseases may prove fatal.

"The reason that nasty diseases such as parvo and distemper in dogs and flu epidemics in horses are now quite rare is largely due to the success of vaccination but this does not mean owners should become complacent. Immunisation is most effective when a high percentage of the population is vaccinated."

Vaccinations for horses include protection against equine influenza and tetanus. Horses are particularly susceptible to tetanus, which is caused by a common soil bacterium and invades the body through cuts and grazes and is usually fatal without protection.

Horse owners are advised to vaccinate against equine influenza, especially if their horse comes into contact with other animals at livery yards and shows.

Dogs should be vaccinated against a number of deadly diseases; parvo, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and influenza. Cats require vaccination against influenza, feline infectious enteritis and feline leukaemia. The Dick Vet Small Animal Practice is urging pet owners to protect against these devastating and often fatal diseases by vaccination.

Dr Pickles says: "Vaccines stimulate an immune response by tricking the body into believing that they are being attacked by a disease so that protective antibodies and other immune mechanisms are produced. Over time this immune protection wanes, which is why booster vaccinations are necessary."

To qualify for a free vaccination dose, dogs and cats must be older than 18 months and not have been vaccinated for at least 18 months and horses must be more than a year old, and unvaccinated or overdue for an annual booster by at least three months.

For more information or to make an appointment call the Dick Vet Small Animal Practice on 0131-650 7650 or the Dick Vet Equine Practice on 0131-445 4468.