Vaccinations for Dogs, Cats & Rabbits

At Estcourt Vets, we routinely vaccinate against the following diseases:

• Canine Parvovirus – most commonly found in puppies, this highly contagious viral disease causes sudden and extreme gastrointestinal illness. A common symptom is severe bloody diarrhoea.
• Canine Distemper – a very serious disease that attacks the respiratory, nervous and gastrointestinal systems. This is an airborne virus and can be fatal.
• Infectious Canine Hepatitis – this virus is transmitted via the ingestion of infected urine, faeces or saliva and symptoms include fever, lethargy, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and more extreme cases display with neurological signs.
• Leptospirosis – this disease affects your dog’s vital organs (liver and kidneys) and is spread through contact with infected animals, their urine or water. This also affects humans and is commonly known as Weil’s disease. Symptoms include fever, reduced appetite, drinking more, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, difficulty breathing and more.
• Parainfluenza – a highly contagious respiratory virus, commonly known as ‘kennel cough’. Coughing, nasal discharge and lethargy are all common signs.

We can also offer dog vaccinations against the following. These vaccines must be requested and are not part of the usual vaccination course:

• Rabies – this is essential if you are planning to travel abroad with your pet. Learn more about pet travel here.
• Leishmaniasis – a parasitic disease usually found in Southern Europe and is transmissible to humans. Chat to one of our vets about whether your dog requires this vaccine.

If someone you know is asking ‘what vaccines do dogs need’, share this page with them and if you would like to book your dog in for their initial course or booster vaccination, use PetsApp or contact our reception team. We recommend starting your dog’s vaccine course when they are 8 weeks old. They will require a follow up booster 2-4 weeks later and then it changes to annual boosters thereafter.

How to use PetsApp to book an appointment

We routinely vaccinate your cats against the following three diseases at Estcourt Vets. Kittens should be vaccinated from 9 weeks old and then again 3-4 weeks later. Following this they require annual boosters to keep their immunity up.

• Cat Flu – a common and debilitating cause of flu that can be fatal to kittens or old cats with underlying illnesses.
• Feline Enteritis – a virus causing severe vomiting and diarrhoea. The virus itself replicates and causes destruction of your cat’s white blood cells, meaning they may need veterinary help and medication to get them back to full health.
• Feline Leukaemia – a virus that attacks the immune system. This is contagious and potentially fatal. Common symptoms are poor coat condition, fever, pale mucous membranes, skin infections, urinary bladder and upper respiratory tract infections.

If you are concerned your cat may be affected by one of these conditions, or you would like to book them in for their vaccinations, please use PetsApp or contact our team.

How to use PetsApp to book an appointment

Domesticated rabbits are susceptible to the same diseases as wild rabbits here in the UK, and with the majority of pet rabbits living outside, it is important owners protect them as best they can. At Estcourt Vets, we are often asked ‘do rabbits need vaccinating’ and we always say yes, it is in the best interest of your pet. We vaccinate against the following diseases and recommend starting your rabbit from 5 weeks old:

Myxomatosis – this can be fatal to rabbits in the UK and often presents with nasal and eye discharge, lethargy, blindness caused by eye inflammation, swelling, redness, ulcers, loss of appetite and respiratory issues.

Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD1 and VHD2) – this highly infectious and often fatal condition is spread with direct contact or through the droppings of an infected rabbit. It causes lethargy, difficulty breathing, lack of co-ordination, loss of appetite and bloody discharge from the nose/mouth. In some cases, the first clinical sign of this disease is death.

How to use PetsApp to book an appointment