Vaccinations

At Braid Vets we approach vaccination from an individual animal basis – we tailor protection to your pets needs. If you have any concerns regarding our vaccination protocols please feel free to discuss them at your pet’s annual wellness examination.

All puppies, kittens and rabbits receive a fantastic vaccine package.

• Two 20 minute Veterinary consultations
• A Veterinary Nurse consultation
• A free Veterinary checkup at 6 months of age and free Nurse check-ups at 9 and 12 months of age (puppies and kittens.) 
• Puppies also get invited to our highly popular puppy parties. 

We feel those initial visits are essential for developing a good relationship with your pet. They also provide the perfect opportunity to advise on preventative healthcare, training, diet and so much more.

All adult dogs, cat and rabbits are invited back for a free Veterinary Health Examination six months after their annual booster/vaccination when added to our Braid Vet HealthPlan.

As it is estimated that over 50% Scottish dogs are not vaccinated the approach to protection is different to population control in people. For this reason most dogs require repeat protection annually against some of the diseases described below to ensure optimal protection.

Puppies can be vaccinated from 6 weeks of age although we usually recommend 7 weeks as optimal. Whatever age your puppy has its first vaccination, the second injection of the vaccine course must be given from 10 weeks. at your puppy’s first vaccination he (or she) will receive a full health examination plus advice from both the vet and veterinary nurse on worming and flea control, diet, neutering, pet insurance and socialisation. We recommend that you join our Braid Vets Health Plan.

You will also receive your invitation to a Braid Vets Puppy Party!

At Braid Vets, as part of the puppy vaccination package you will also be invited back for free health checks at six, nine and twelve months of age. These checks are excellent opportunities to check your pup’s development.

Diseases routinely covered by our vaccination protocol:

• Parvovirus
• Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Leptospirosis
• Kennel Cough ** NOW included as part of our ROUTINE, ESSENTIAL vaccines **

Options in addition to routine course:

• Rabies

CANINE PARVOVIRUS

Parvovirus is perhaps the most serious of canine infectious diseases that we see in Edinburgh on a regular basis.

The onset is sudden, with vomiting and foul, bloody diarrhoea that leads to rapid dehydration and collapse. The heart may also be attacked by the virus. The death of your pet can occur within 24 hours.

The only protection against this distressing disease is by vaccination.

CANINE DISTEMPER

Not as common as it used to be but highly contagious and often fatal. pets that survive the initial attack are often left with permanent disability such as deformed teeth, nervous twitches or predisposition to epileptic fits.

Treatment is lengthy, expensive and often unsuccessful. As the incubation period is long – up to three weeks – it is usually too late to vaccinate when an outbreak occurs.

CANINE HEPATITIS

Another very contagious, often fatal disease, the virus attacks the liver and can cause death within 24-36 hours.

Pets that recover may become carriers and spread the virus to other dogs.

LEPTOSPIROSIS (L.canicola, L.icterohaemorrhagiae, L. Australis & L. Grippotyphosa)

Four major forms of disease. One is caught from rats, causing illness and jaundice; the other can lead to chronic kidney failure over several years.

Humans can contract this disease by skin contact with infected urine.

KENNEL COUGH (Bordetella Bronchiseptica)

Kennel cough is a syndrome not a disease. As the name suggests it has most commonly been associated with dogs who have been kennelled. However in recent years we have seen a  dramatic increase in cases of dogs who are dog walked in groups either friends or professional dog walkers. For this reason we think it is absolutely essential that all ‘professionally dog walked’ dogs have regularly protection.

The commonest cause by far, of this very nasty disease is Bordetalla Bronchiseptica. Vaccination against Bordetella is achieved by placing the vaccine drops up your dog’s nose – this stimulates a strong local immunity in their airways. This immunity lasts for 12 months and can be given at the same time as your puppy or your dog’s routine vaccinations.

RABIES

Rabies protection is necessary as part of the UK Pet Travel Scheme (PETS.) All the Braid Vets are able to oversee all parts of the scheme. Please contact us for details for the PETS scheme. DEFRA also have an informative website, go to www.defra.gov.uk and follow the links for PETS.

BOOSTER VACCINATIONS

It is recommended that your dog’s protection against these diseases be maintained by single booster injection given once a year throughout life. This is usually given at the time of the annaul health examination. At Braid Vets twice yearly examinations are recommended and if you maintain annual booster you receive a free 6 monthly check.

Diseases routinely covered by our vaccination protocol:-

• FELINE INFLUENZA SYNDROME (herpes and calici virus)
• FELINE PANLEUCOPAENIA (enteritis)
• FELINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS (Felv)

It is the policy of this practice to recommend vaccination of all cats against influenza, enteritis and Chlamydophila infections and, for all cats that go outdoors or live in closed colonies to also receive vaccination against feline leukaemia virus.

FELINE INFLUENZA SYNDROME (Cat Flu)

This is a respiratory disease that can be fatal in very young or very old cats. In all cats it causes chronic recurring bouts of sneezing, snuffling, discharge of pus from eyes and nose, and occasionally pneumonia. Spread between cats is by direct contact or through sneezing.

FELINE PANLEUCOPAENIA (Enteritis)

This is a serious, usually fatal, disease causing sudden death in young kittens or severe haemorrhagic vomiting and diarrhoea in adult cats. The virus is spread via faeces or vomit of infected cats and can survive in the environment for up to six months – this means that direct contact with an infected cat is not necessary for infection to occur.

FELINE LEUKAEMIA VIRUS (FeLV)

We are also able to offer protection against the group of diseases caused by Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV).

As well as causing leukaemia, this virus causes tumours (cancers) or AIDS-like disease where the cat’s ability to fight common infections is destroyed.

Spread is from mother to young either BEFORE birth or via the milk just AFTER birth. Spread can also occur from direct contact – most likely by mating or fight wounds. We consider ALL outdoor cats are potentially at risk.

AS FOR AIDS, THE VIRUS CAN BE CARRIED FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE ANY SIGN OF DISEASE.

It is estimated that up to ONE IN FIFTY urban cats carry the virus. It is recommended that all susceptible cats undergo a simple blood test to ensure that they are free of the virus before they receive their primary course of two vaccines. A single annual vaccination maintains this protection.

BOOSTER VACCINATIONS

It is recommended that your cat’s protection against these diseases be maintained by single booster injection given once a year throughout life. This is usually given at the time of the annual health examination. At Braid Vets twice yearly examinations are recommended and if you maintain annual boosters you receive a free 6 monthly check when signed up to the Braid Vets HealthPlan.

All vaccinations are given after a thorough clinical examination including a dental check, aural (ears) and eye examination. Diet and body weight will be discussed and nails clipped if necessary.

MYXOMATOSIS

Myxomatosis is a viral disease of wild rabbits which is easily transmissible to the pet rabbit. It is transmitted by the wild rabbit flea or the common fly.

With the warmer weather of summer, rabbits are at higher risk of contracting infection.

The virus causes purulent conjunctivitis, swelling of the eyelids and genital areas and eventually rabbits become blind and very distressed. Most affected rabbits die within 3 weeks of contracting the disease.

THERE IS A VACCINE AVAILABLE. All rabbits, unless pregnant, can be vaccinated from 6 weeks of age onwards. Six monthly vaccination is recommended in high risk cases e.g. if your rabbit is in contact with wild rabbits; lower risk cases (indoor and hutched rabbits) are vaccinated at 12 monthly intervals.

VIRAL HAEMORRHAGIC DISEASE

V.H.D. is a highly infectious viral disease of rabbits, causing 100% fatality in those rabbits exposed to it. The infection can be transmitted on fomites, e.g. inanimate objects like foodstuffs, bedding, or even your clothing!

At Braid Vets twice yearly examinations are recommended and if you maintain annual booster you receive a free 6 monthly check. when signed up to the Braid Vets Health Plan.

The virus has reached Scotland, having originated initially in China. Often the first sign of disease is the sudden death of the rabbit infected.

THERE IS A VACCINE AVAILABLE. This can be given 3 weeks prior to, or after the myxomatosis vaccine, from 10-12 weeks of age, and the rabbit is fully protected after one injection. Yearly vaccination thereafter is necessary to maintain immunity.