MICROCHIPPING
We highly recommend that pets are microchipped. It is a quick and cost-effective injection under the skin between the shoulder blades, and provides immeasurable reassurance should your pet ever go missing. It makes everything so much easier for us when a stray animal is brought in, and we can identify them by their microchip, and resolve the situation timeously.
VACCINATIONS
Current Veterinary vaccination recommendations
Here are the current veterinary recommendations, from SAVA, around cat and dog vaccinations (www.sava.co.za)
**Blue Hills Vets highly recommend you discuss your specific pet (and demographic) needs, risks, exposures, with them, and so have an informed and tailor-made vaccination protocol, meeting your and the Department of Agriculture’s requirements**
Please click here to view BHVH Vaccinations Protocol (PDF)
Vaccinations protect your pet from several highly contagious, and potentially fatal diseases
such as canine distemper (an irreversibly progressive virus attacking the nervous, respiratory, and intestinal systems) and parvovirus infection ( a virus stripping the intestinal lining), which had the crazy name of “cat flu” (but has nothing to do with cats, nor the respiratory system)
Vaccines also protect against transmissible diseases such as rabies that also pose a risk to humans. Vaccination will not cure a pet that is already sick. Only healthy pets should be vaccinated. A veterinarian or a veterinary nurse administers vaccines.
Are there any risks?
The majority of pets experience no adverse effects following vaccination. A small number of animals may become feverish and have a reduced appetite. These reactions are mild and of short duration. In extremely rare cases, an animal may experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Such an animal can be treated successfully if attended to immediately. The possibility of such an event occurring does not justify considering not to vaccinate your pets, however, as that will leave them susceptible to a range of life-threatening infectious diseases.
Against what diseases should I have my pet vaccinated?
Vaccines used for the protection of pets are currently divided into core vaccines and non-core vaccines. The former are vaccines that should be given to all pets in all regions because they protect against diseases that are widespread and have serious effects. Non-core vaccines are only given strategically when a particular disease is prevalent in an area or when circumstances predispose to the appearance of the disease. Non-core vaccines are only administered after discussion with your veterinarian to evaluate the risks.
Core vaccines for dogs
Canine distemper
Canine adenovirus infections
Canine parvovirus infection
Rabies
Non-core vaccines for DOGS
Leptospirosis
Kennel cough
Canine coronavirus
Canine herpesvirus
Core vaccines for CATS
Feline panleukopenia
Feline herpesvirus infection
Feline calicivirus infection
Rabies
None-core vaccines for cats
Chlamydiosis
Feline leukaemia
Feline immunodeficiency virus
Basic vaccination programme for dogs
First vaccination at 8–9 weeks
Second vaccination at 11–12 weeks; includes the first RABIES vaccination
Re-vaccinate at 14–16 weeks; includes the second RABIES vaccination
Re-vaccinate at one year of age
Re-vaccinate every 3 years, including RABIES
Basic vaccination programme for cats
First vaccination at 8 weeks of age
Re-vaccinate at 12 weeks of age; includes RABIES vaccination
Re-vaccinate at 16 weeks in environments with high infection pressure or in breeding catteries. If not applicable, only give the second RABIES vaccination
Re-vaccinate at one year of age
Repeat every three years, including RABIES