Vaccination of dogs and cats

Dr W J Grobler BVSc

The following vaccination program is used by the vets at Protea Animal Clinic. It may differ considerably from the program your vet uses, so if in doubt please ask him/her for advice. In light of different circumstances vaccination programs may vary to an extent and if disease prevalence change, so must the program. This is not meant as a do-it-yourself guide, but merely to edify pet owners.

Always insist on a vaccination booklet when purchasing a new pet. This is your only real proof that an animal has been vaccinated, but remember that no vaccination is 100% effective, even when vaccinated, pets may still contract those diseases.


Vaccination of dogs
6-8 weeks oldCombination-vaccine
10-12 weeks oldSecond Combination-vaccine
14-16 weeks oldThird Combination-vaccine (or Parvo) and Rabies
9 months laterCombination-vaccine and Rabies
AnnuallyCombination-vaccine
After the second Rabies vaccination, Rabies is administered every three years. By law all dogs in South Africa have to be vaccinated against Rabies.


The combination-vaccines of dogs

The combination-vaccines of dogs consist of the following organisms:

Parvovirus ("Cat flu")
A very contagious, deadly virus that affects dogs younger than a year old. Treatment is expensive and often of no avail.
Distemper
A virus of equal danger, but much less contagious. Dogs of any age are susceptible if not vaccinated properly.
Adenovirus
Vaccination protects against upper airway disease as well as a liver disease that occurs seldom these days.
Parainfluenza
Causes upper airway disease.

Some vaccines include the following organisms:

Coronavirus
On its own causes light diarrhoea, but causes severe disease if simultaneous infection with parvovirus occurs.
Leptospirosis
Can cause liver and kidney disease. Associated with rodents.
Bordetella
This bacterium is one of the causes of Kennel cough. The vaccine is administered by nose and provides immunity within a few days. It is required by some dog kennels over and above the combination-vaccine and rabies.

At present there is a vaccine against biliary fever. Click here for more information. Unfortunately there is no vaccine against tick bite fever, so early recognition and treatment is very important.


Vaccination of cats
8 weeks oldCombination-vaccine
12 weeks oldSecond Combination-vaccine and Rabies
9 months laterCombination-vaccine and Rabies
AnnuallyCombination-vaccine
After the second Rabies vaccination, Rabies is administered every three years. By law all cats in South Africa have to be vaccinated against Rabies.

The combination-vaccines of cats

Panleucopaenia
A similar disease to "cat flu" in dogs. Although not common these days it is still deadly.
Rhinotracheitis
This herpesvirus causes eye and upper respiratory infection.
Calicivirus
Causes upper respiratory and joint infection.
Chlamydiosis
Causes pneumonia in cats, but could also infect humans.

The virus of Feline leukaemia is available for vaccination. This disease is very important in catteries.

Vaccines are being developed against Feline AIDS or FIP, both uncommon, but deadly diseases.