Across the UK pets form an important part of our families, and just like our own children they need vaccinations to stop them from getting many serious, but preventable diseases. Vaccinations work by introducing harmless versions of each disease into the body, allowing the natural defence system to recognise the disease and work out how to fight it.
Cats and dogs can be vaccinated from about eight weeks old and rabbits from about five weeks. They then need yearly boosters to stop their defences from fading over time.
Vaccinations provide protection against diseases such as leptospirosis and parvovirus in dogs, leukaemia in cats and myxomatosis in rabbits, which even with early treatment can be fatal.
People can also catch leptospirosis from infected pets, resulting in severe illness including fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, so vaccinating your dog can also help to protect your family.
Many insurance companies and boarding kennels now ask for pets’ vaccinations to be up-to-date to use their services.
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PDSA is launching a campaign to ensure that all animals are vaccinated and protected from preventable disease. If you know of any friends or family members with unvaccinated pets, you can direct them to pdsa.org.uk/spreadtheword for further information. Please spread the word — not the disease.