Why are Vaccinations Important for my Dog?

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It’s recommended that all dogs should start their vaccinations from around eight weeks of age.

Your puppy or adult dog should be vaccinated against:

• Parvovirus
• Distemper
• Kennel Cough
• Leptospirosis
• Infectious Hepatitis

To prevent infectious diseases in the future, all dogs should be continue to be protected throughout their life with annual boosters. These are often included in preventative health care plans such as The Healthy Pet Club.

Vaccinations for your puppy

Your new puppy is likely to have been protected during its first few weeks of life against a range of infectious diseases by the immunity passed on from its mother. Unfortunately this protection is temporary and wears off within the first 2-3 months of life.

As your puppy starts to live life to the full and explore its new world, they can be exposed to a range of serious and potentially fatal infectious diseases.

By ensuring early vaccination, your new puppy is able to quickly develop more durable immunity, giving peace of mind on protection and ensuring that we limit the likelihood that these diseases occur.

Many diseases are difficult to treat effectively and can prove fatal. Ask your vet about the diseases they see most commonly in your area to find out more.

It’s recommended that your puppy’s vaccinations start from eight weeks of age, with a follow-up required around two weeks later.

What will happen at the vets?

A veterinary professional will perform a thorough assessment to ensure your dog is healthy prior to their vaccinations and they’ll advise you on all aspects of keeping them healthy.

This will include worming, nutrition, exercise and behavioural advice as well as covering any concerns you may have. They will advise you about when your puppy can be mixed with other dogs and exercised freely off the lead.

Are there any adverse effects with the vaccinations and boosters?

Discomfort can sometimes occur at the time of injection and it is not uncommon for your furry friend to be off colour for a day or so after being vaccinated.

It’s important to contact the practice if you have any concerns or you notice anything unexpected after the vaccination.

What about health checks and boosters in the future?

A regular health examination is required at least annually, normally at the time of the booster vaccine, or sometimes more frequently to help keep your dog healthy and happy throughout their life.

An annual health check for your dog is a valuable opportunity to assess all potential risks for your dog’s health including those posed by infectious disease.

Top-up vaccines are recommended throughout your dog’s life to help ensure cover is maintained. Whilst not every vaccine component is needed every year to maintain protection, some such as those for leptospirosis and those for kennel cough are required annually if protection is to be maintained.

To successfully control infectious diseases, vaccination programmes require high levels of uptake within the canine population. If vaccinations are routinely missed, the likelihood of these diseases becoming more common will increase.

Preventative care schemes, such as The Healthy Pet Club, offer benefits that include your dog’s vaccinations and health checks.

Looking for puppy insurance?

Did you know that MiPet Cover offers four weeks’ free WalkawayCover puppy insurance*? *Your puppy must be between 8 weeks and 1 year old and is subject to a CVS health check. WalkawayCover is immediate for illness and accidents. Not all breeds of dog are eligible.

It’s always wise to have a dog insurance policy in place just in case of unexpected illness or an accident.