Dog Vaccinations & General Care

It is very important to vaccinate dogs when they are puppies and continue with annual boosters to prevent them contracting life threatening diseases.

In Western Australia we vaccinate against:

Distemper virus – A highly contagious disease that occurs infrequently now due to good vaccination. Symptoms vary but can include sneezing, nasal discharge, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and depression. Muscle tremors, seizures and paralysis can also occur in some cases. Treatment is ineffective and if the dog survives, they often have permanent brain damage.

Hepatitis – A serious viral disease which affects a dog’s liver. Symptoms include high fever, depression, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, death can occur within 24-36 hours. Dogs who recover may develop long term liver and kidney problems.

Parvovirus – A disease which is shed from a dog’s faeces and can survive within the environment for up to 12 months. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, bloody diarrhoea, severe shock, abdominal pain and death within 24 hours. Treatment is costly and not always successful.

Canine Kennel Cough – A disease caused by several infectious agents – mainly Bordatella bronchiseptica (a bacterium) and Parainfluenza virus. Contracted by close contact with infected dogs, particularly boarding kennels, parks and dog beaches. Causes a dry hacking cough, sore throat and in more severe cases, a chest infection. Fortunately, in Australia we don’t have rabies and in Western Australia we do not have Leptospirosis. We are also fortunate in southwest WA that we don’t have paralysis ticks or some of the other tick borne diseases such as Ehrlichiosis, which is now in Northern Australia.

Heartworm disease

Heartworm is a disease carried by mosquitoes. Infected mosquitoes can transfer heartworm larvae when they bite. The larvae then develop into adult worms that live in the heart. Each worm can be up to 50cm long and can cause heart congestion and cardiac arrest. Prevention is far better than cure, as treating infected dogs can be life threatening. We recommend an annual injection, or there are oral or topical monthly preventatives available.

The other general care required:

Intestinal worming – every 3-6 months give a tablet for intestinal worms (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm,
and tapeworm). Symptoms of a worm infestation include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, and anaemia.

Flea and tick prevention – Fleas are small dark parasitic insects that can live for more than 100 days, surviving by sucking blood from their hosts. A female flea can lay 40 eggs per day, and eggs can hatch up to a year after being laid. If you notice any fleas, monthly treatment (usually a spot-on product) is required for at least 12 months to break the life cycle of the flea. Please check with our staff on the right product for your dog.

Microchip and Council Registration – Microchipping and council registration are legal requirements when your dog is over 6 months of age. Microchipping is an easy process we can perform at the clinic. The microchip is registered to your name and address so please keep your details up-to-date so if your dog goes missing, they can be traced back to you. If you are not sure who your pet is registered with, please check at petaddress.com.au.

Pet insurance can provide financial protection in case of unexpected accidents, illnesses, or injuries that can occur to your beloved dog. Pet insurance can help cover the cost of veterinary care, surgeries, medications, and other treatments, which can add up quickly in case of an emergency or a chronic illness. Having pet insurance can allow you to provide the best care for your dog and alleviate the financial burden.