Dr Catrien van Rooijen
Estcourt Veterinary Clinic

In the past few weeks our veterinary clinics have had an alarming number of sick puppies coming in with signs of severe gastroenteritis (inappetance, vomiting, diarrhoea, acute death).
We fear that most of these pups were infected with deadly Parvovirus (catflu, ‘katgriep’) due to them not being vaccinated or not coming in for their very important booster vaccines.

This disease is often fatal, despite intensive care in hospital, so sadly there have been deaths in some puppies. In this article we hope to explain how vaccines work and why they are so important.

Vaccines are usually administered as an injection and help to prevent disease by imitating an infection to make an animal’s immune system produce antibodies against a particular disease.
This ‘imitation’ does NOT cause illness or the disease itself. Puppies born to well-vaccinated mothers are protected by their mother’s antibodies that they receive in mother’s milk while nursing.

At about five to six-weeks of age this protection starts to fade, leaving them susceptible to disease. That is why it is so critical to start with vaccination at 6 weeks of age, so that the puppy’s own immune system can start to produce its own antibodies to protect itself.
Vaccines do however take time to work so protection only starts two weeks after the first vaccine.

Vaccines also need to be boosted to ensure that the puppy’s immune system develops adequate, good quality antibodies. Adult pets also need boosters to ensure that their immune systems are reminded to make antibodies to continuously protect them from disease.
Although we cannot vaccinate against all diseases, we do administer core vaccines that will protect your dog from common deadly infections.

Our core vaccines protect against Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Infectious Hepatitis Virus, Parainfluenza Virus, Corona virus and Rabies Virus.
Remember that rabies is deadly to humans and animals, so it is critical that all pets should be regularly vaccinated against it.
The following vaccination schedule is recommended for puppies: first vaccine at six-weeks of age, first booster vaccine at 10-weeks of age and second booster vaccine at 14-weeks of age.

Adult dogs that have received vaccines as pups need a yearly booster.
Remember, if you should buy a puppy, or rescue a stray dog or adopt a dog from an animal shelter or owner, and the breeder, shelter or previous owner cannot provide you with the animal’s vaccination card that has been dated, signed and stamped by a veterinarian, you can assume that the animal has NOT been vaccinated.

The animal should be taken to the vet immediately for a check-up and to start the vaccination process.
Be very wary of people giving you a pet stating that it has been vaccinated, without giving you the proof.

Our feline friends also need their vaccines to keep them healthy.
Their core vaccines protect them against Feline Calicivirus, Feline Herpes Virus, Feline Panleukopaenia virus, Chlamydia and Rabies. Kittens should be vaccinated at eight-weeks of age, with boosters at 12 and 16-weeks of age. Adult cats need yearly boosters.
To own, maintain and take care of a pet can be a costly matter but when it comes to vaccinations, prevention is better, and more economical, than cure.

With the amount of money an owner will spend on a puppy being admitted to hospital with Parvovirus, he or she could have paid for a full set of puppy vaccinations and two yearly adult boosters!

We encourage all current and prospective pet owners to do the necessary planning and research.
You are investing in your pet’s long-term health by having them properly vaccinated!