This month I am unashamedly going to preach the benefits of vaccination again. I think with all the discussion regarding vaccinations currently in the press, let alone social media, it is worth remembering what we are actually trying to achieve with a vaccination. We are trying to prevent a number of fatal diseases. It helps stop them from becoming commonplace amongst our pets once more. Pet vaccinations are hugely important!

Yes, any medicine can have side effects but genuine vaccine reactions are very rare and when they occur, often mild. The benefits are, however, life-saving. There are few things that serve as a reminder of the importance of vaccination than witnessing pets suffering from the diseases vaccinations could and would have prevented.

Prevention

Last year we treated a dog in liver failure. The diagnosis of Leptospirosis was made promptly but despite treatment, the dog passed away. Very recently a litter of puppies were presented to the surgery with acute and severe gastroenteritis. They were again quickly diagnosed with Parvovirus but despite intensive, round-the-clock care, half the litter was lost.

These cases are thankfully now rare, with these diseases at low levels in the South West. This is due to a high percentage of vaccinated pets and a fairly sparse population, however!

Which vaccinations

Here is a quick reminder of the core vaccinations we recommend:

>Cats are vaccinated against Flu (Herpes and Calici Virus), a common cause of respiratory, eye and oral disease. Feline Enteritis which is closely related to Canine Parvovirus causes vomiting and diarrhoea and lastly, Feline Leukaemia Virus, which can simply be considered a viral form of Cancer.

>Dogs are routinely vaccinated against Distemper, a viral infection of the gastrointestinal, respiratory and neurological systems. Hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver. Parvovirus causes vomiting and diarrhoea with a 50% mortality rate. Finally, Leptospirosis; also known as Weil’s disease, spread by rodents and frequently leading to kidney and liver failure.

I suppose as vets, it’s not only very frustrating but also very sad to lose pets to diseases. Especially those that could have been easily otherwise prevented. This is why pet vaccinations are important. I accept there are people who do not agree with blanket vaccination and I am always open to this discussion. However, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks and do I vaccinate my own pets? Yes, I absolutely do.

And lastly a date for your diaries. We are having an open day at Our Yeovil Surgery, Preston Road on Sunday the 19^th of November. Come and have a look behind the scenes and let the staff take you through a day in the life of your pet at the vets.