We would recommend that all dogs, both puppies and adults, be vaccinated against a number of major diseases.

Dogs are routinely vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parvovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. Many of these diseases are potentially fatal.

The vaccination that we use against leptospirosis covers four strains of the virus compared to older vaccines that only immunise against two strains. The newer strains have become more prevalent in recent years and we have seen cases in the local area.

We currently recommend giving the first vaccine at eight weeks of age and the second dose at 12 weeks of age. Your puppy is fully protected a week after this and that is the time that they can start to go outside.

The vaccinations can be done later than this if necessary, but it is not what we recommend.

Adult dogs need to have a booster vaccination every year to keep to their optimum level of immunity.

We also vaccinate against kennel cough (bordatella bronchisepta), which we see a lot in this area. This is done at the same time as the normal boosters.

Additionally we can vaccinate against rabies for travelling pets.

At the practice we use vaccines manufactured by Nobivac MSD.