IS YOUR PET READY FOR THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAY?

For those pets that will be going into boarding kennels and catteries for their holidays, they must be fully vaccinated before going to board. At some kennels your dog must also be vaccinated against Kennel Cough. All vaccinations must be given at least 10 days prior to boarding so maximum immunity is reached, a copy of an up to date vaccination card must be produced as well. We recommend you have your flea and worm treatments up to date before going in.

As part of a vaccination amnesty Premier Vets is offering a full vaccination course for the price of a booster. So if your pet's vaccinations have lapsed take advantage of this offer.

Starting on 1 May, the campaign comes as research by animal health company Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health shows that vets are reporting an increase in a number of serious and deadly diseases in Gateshead. The increase coincides with more than a quarter of vets nationwide reporting worries over falling levels of vaccination due to the credit crunch.

One of the potential increasing threats is leptospirosis, which is carried by Britain’s rapidly rising rat population. The disease, which is transmitted through rats’ urine and can be picked up by dogs as they swim in rivers or even drink from puddles, is often fatal. It can also be transmitted to people. Once thought of as a rural danger (in people, the disease is more common in those who work on farms or near rivers or take part in water sports), leptospiriosis in the nation’s pets has also been shown to be a risk in an urban context as rat infestations in towns and cities have reportedly doubled. A recent You Gov survey, however shows widespread lack of awareness among the pet owning public of the disease.

Data from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health’s most recent survey of disease in the nation’s pet population shows that 57 per cent of veterinary practices reported suspected or confirmed cases of the killer dog disease, parvovirus, during the previous 6 months.

Cat flu was seen by 87 per cent of the nation’s vets during the past six months making this the most common cat disease reported.

Recent trends towards higher average temperatures favour fleas and other external parasites which can carry the fatal rabbit disease, myxomatosis, which is particularly prevalent in Summer and Autumn but is now increasingly been seen outside the main risk period.

If your dog or cat has not been vaccinated in the last 18 months, or the last nine months for rabbits, then please ring the surgery to book an appointment
Restart the full course for the price of a booster (£29.12) for dogs and (£32.70) cats.

Dog's are also at risk of kennel cough 'infectious tracheobronchitis'. It is a dry, retching 'honking' cough that affects dog's of all ages. Rarely it can cause serious disease resulting in pneumonia and even death. The infection can last for days to weeks. Less than half of all reported outbreaks originate in kennels and dogs are as likely to encounter the infection anywhere they meet other dogs eg parks, shows and training class.

Kennel cough vaccination is discounted to £15 when done at the same time as an annual booster in May and June.