Vaccinations protect your pet from the most common life-threatening diseases making them essential for every pet. Vaccines guard against diseases that can be encountered in parks, kennels and daycare facilities or just roaming their own yard. It is essential that all pets are adequately vaccinated to help protect the pet population. As with all vaccines across all species including humans, they are not always designed to be 100% preventative. This means that your pet may still contract the disease, such as K9 cough, but if they do it is just like a regular cold rather than a life threatening respiratory infection.

Kittens and puppies normally receive essential antibodies from their vaccinated mother’s milk for the first few weeks of their lives, this offers temporary immunity. In order effectively vaccinate puppies and kittens so they have long lasting immunity, we need to give a series of vaccinations at young ages to ensure they build their own immunity just as that passed from their mothers is wearing off.

We recommend an initial course of vaccinations for puppies and kittens starting at 8 weeks old in most cases and once this is complete, yearly boosters to ensure their immunity is maintained throughout their lives. We follow the World Small Animal Veterinary Association recommendations for vaccinations. We may alter this protocol on a case by case basis depending on circumstance that can be discussed with a veterinarian.

QVCC Recommended Feline Vaccination Protocol

• First vaccination 8 weeks of age F3 and FIV

• Second vaccination 12 weeks of age F3 and FIV

• Last vaccination 16 weeks of age F3 and FIV

• Yearly Boosters for life of F3 and FIV

Kitten Vaccinations We recommend both the Core F3 vaccine and the FIV vaccine as our Gold Standard Protocol. This protocol has been developed with consideration of our local risk factors and the recommendations of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. This protects against the following diseases:

F3 - Core Vaccine

• Feline Respiratory Diseases (Commonly referred to as Cat Flu)

  • Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus Also known as Feline Herpes Virus is an upper respiratory tract disease leading to conjunctivitis, upper respiratory signs and fever. Cats that are infected can have ‘flare ups’ of their symptoms, especially at times of stress and will shed the virus at these times.

  • Feline Calicivirus Most commonly causes an upper respiratory tract infection but can progress to sever lower respiratory pneumonia and in rare cases a systemic calicivirus infection.

• Feline Parvovirus

• Feline Panleucopaenia Virus Feline enteritis affects cats rapidly and is often a fatal disease spread by direct faecal and oral contact or indirectly by contaminated objects like food bowls, bedding, floors and contact by hands.

FIV Vaccine

• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV is a viral infection causing Feline AIDs which is potentially fatal due to affecting the cat’s immune system and leaving them vunerable to other diseases. FIV infection is spread mainly in saliva and so bite wounds from other infected cats is the main mode of transmission.

Adult Cat Vaccinations

Kittens immunity from their initial vaccinations weakens over time – likewise with adult cats! This makes cats again susceptible to disease. Yearly health checks and booster vaccinations are recommended to provide the best protection for the life of your cat.

Adult cats (over the age of 16 weeks) requiring an ‘F3’ vaccinations for the first time will require 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.

Adult cats (over the age of 16 weeks) requiring an FIV vaccination will require a blood test to ensure the cat has not become infected, will then be required to complete a 3 course regime – 3 doses 2 weeks apart.

If your pet misses a vaccine booster then an additional booster vaccination may be required or future tests.

QVCC Recommended Canine C7 Vaccination Protocol

• First vaccination 8 weeks of age C3

• Second vaccination 12 weeks of age C3 + Intranasal K9 Cough Vaccine + C2i

• Last vaccination 16 weeks of age C3 + C2i

• Yearly Boosters for life of C3 + Intranasal K9 Cough Vaccine + C2i

Puppy Vaccinations We recommend the C7 vaccine as our Gold Standard Protocol. This protocol has been developed with consideration of our local risk factors and the recommendations of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. This C7 vaccine is made up of three different parts and protects against the following diseases:

C3- Core Vaccine

• Canine distemper virus is a highly contagious, often fatal viral disease affecting respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and unvaccinated dogs and is spread via airborne exposure. It can also be spread via sharing of food and water bowls. Distemper presents with a variety of respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms.

• Canine adenovirus or infectious hepatitis is a highly contagious disease which spreads to the lymphatic system and damages the liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs. It is shed in saliva, feaces and urine and ingestion of these or contact with contaminated hands, clothing or surfaces are the main routes of infection. Symptoms can vary greatly from a slight fever to sudden collapse and death.

• Canine parvovirus is a viral disease that primarily attacks the bone marrow and cells that line the intestines leading to severe vomiting, diarrhoea and leaking of the intestinal bacteria. It is contracted by contact with the faeces of an infected animal or with contaminated environments and surfaces including clothing. The virus can survive for many months outside a host and is resistant to most household cleaning products. Parvovirus infection is often fatal resulting in death from dehydration, shock and sepsis.

Canine Cough Vaccine

• Parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica cause bronchial inflammation, commonly called kennel cough or canine cough, characterised by a sudden onset of a hacking cough that usually persists for around one to two weeks, however, it can further progress into a life threatening pneumonia. The spread of canine cough is airborne via respiratory secretions or through contact with the organisms on a contaminated surface such as a bowl or toy.

C2I Vaccine

• Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is most commonly spread through the urine of infected animals or contaminated water and can be transmitted to humans. This disease can present in many different ways including severe lethargy, abnormal bleeding and bruising, loss of appetite, vomiting and fevers and cloudy eyes. If dogs survive the acute disease they can develop a chronic form involving kidney and liver damage, recurring fevers, weight loss, poor appetite and uveitis.

• Canine Coronavirus is a gastrointestinal disease that causes a range of symptoms from a mild gastrointestinal upset through to vomiting, severe diarrhoea and in some cases neurological signs and is transmitted through contact with feaces or contaminated surfaces.

Adult Dog Vaccinations

Like kittens, puppies immunity from their initial vaccinations weakens over time – likewise with adult dogs! This makes dogs again susceptible to disease. Yearly health checks and booster vaccinations are recommended to provide the best protection for the life of your dog.

Adult dogs (over the age of 16 weeks) requiring a ‘C7’ vaccination for the first time will require 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.

If your pet misses a vaccine booster then an additional booster vaccination may be required.

Following vaccinations, your cat or dog may be off-colour for a day or two, or may have some slight swelling or tenderness at the injection site. These symptoms are considered normal side effects and if detected are normally mild. Access to food, water and a comfortable bed are usually all that is necessary for a quick recovery. However, if the symptoms seems more severe, or involve facial swelling, vomiting or breathing difficulty you should contact the Centre for advice.