National Vaccination Month
West Devon pets can benefit from a nationwide health campaign taking place in June. As part of National Vaccination Month (www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk), Okeford Veterinary Centre is participating in an amnesty for the UK’s 11 million unprotected dogs, cats and rabbits at risk of potentially fatal diseases, offering them a full vaccination course for the price of a booster.
Okeford Veterinary Centre has recently reported in the Okehampton Times, an increase in cases of parvovirus in dogs in this area and also the story of a dog admitted to our surgery and her battle to recover from parvovirus infection.
Vaccination in dogs helps to protect against the following diseases: distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, hepatitis and leptospirosis. Recent research by an animal health company, Intervet, has shown that 62 per cent of veterinary practices reported incidents of the killer dog disease, parvovirus, during the previous 12 months. Leptospirosis, which can also be transmitted to people, was seen by 43 per cent of veterinary practices in the UK.
Cats can be vaccinated against cat flu and feline leukaemia. Cat flu was seen by 78 per cent of the nation’s vets during a one month period making this the most common cat disease reported. Ongoing mild weather conditions continue to put rabbits at risk of myxomatosis, a fatal disease spread by biting insects, which was particularly prevalent last autumn.
Eleanor Hughes of Okeford Veterinary Centre is urging pet owners to protect against these diseases, “These diseases are mostly caused by viruses and so can be difficult to treat. Vaccination massively reduces the risk of our pets catching these potentially fatal diseases”
National Vaccination Month aims to limit the spread of disease by offering pet
owners the chance to vaccinate for less during June 2009. If your dog or cat has not been vaccinated in the last 18 months, or the last 9 months for rabbits, log on to www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk to download your voucher and book your appointment with Okeford Veterinary Centre on 01837 52148.
