Ponsonby Tails - June 2010

This month if your dog or cat is overdue for a vaccination they can have the second vaccination (in 2-4 weeks time) for FREE

Vaccinations are an important way to prevent serious disease in your pet. Furthermore, it allows your veterinarian to regularly examine your pet so that any problems or diseases can be detected and treated early.
If vaccinations have lapsed, or are more than three months late (beyond the due date), usually the course of vaccinations need to be restarted (a vaccination then a second vaccination booster in 2-4 weeks time).

In an effort to encourage full vaccination protection for all our client's pets, we have made the month of June Vaccination Amnesty Month. This means that any dog or cat that is overdue for a vaccination can have the second vaccination (in 2-4 weeks time) for FREE.
Take advantage of this deal to get your overdue pet back up to date. Conditions apply, only for vaccination course restarts.

Why do we vaccinate?

Vaccination is vital to provide your pet with immunity against life threatening diseases and is the only proven method of prevention. For most diseases we vaccinate against there is no cure and for the others the treatment may need to be prolonged and can prove expensive. For dogs there is the DHPPi vaccine (this covers the standard four: distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza), the Leptospirosis vaccine and a Kennel Cough (KC) vaccine. These need to be boostered every 12 months.
For cats we vaccinate against panleucopaenia and cat flu (herpes and calicivirus) as well as FIV (feline AIDS) in susceptible cats. These are also given annually.

What do I do if my pet skips a year of vaccinations?

If a vaccination is greater than 3 months over due, the course needs to be restarted (a vaccination given and then a booster is given 2-4 weeks later).

What vaccines should my pet be given?

What vaccines are recommended to an individual pet depend on many factors: what kind of exposure to diseases the animal has, what diseases are common in the area, what kind of stress factors are present etc.
Leptospirosis is a problem in some areas of Auckland so we consider the core vaccines for dogs to include DHPPi and Lepto. KC causes an upper respiratory infection and is highly recommended for any dogs which frequently come into contact with other dogs (e.g. at dog parks) and is mandatory for most boarding kennels.
We recommend all cats be vaccinated against the core feline viruses (cat flu). FIV is also recommended for outdoor cats. The FIV virus is spread via cat fighting and the prevalence in New Zealand is up to 30% in some areas. We have identified a high number of FIV positive cats in our local area - please check our map when you are in next to see if your feline friend is in a high risk area.

If a vaccine lasts a person his or her whole life, why do I have to vaccinate my pet annually?

At this stage all the vaccines used here are licensed by the vaccine manufacturer to last one year, hence all the vaccinations are annually boostered. Another important factor to remember is that dogs and cats are much more susceptible to these viral infections (than say human diseases) because of the way they interact with each other. Dogs and cats have a much higher risk of contracting these diseases.

Can vaccines hurt my pet?

Some muscle soreness, lethargy and mild fever persisting for a day or two are considered common reactions to stimulation of the immune system. Vaccine reactions beyond this are unusual but possible.
Allergic reactions characterized by facial swelling and hives are a strong sign that special care should be taken in administering vaccinations in the future. Since allergic reactions can potentially become worse with each episode, it is important to take heed of these signs and contact us at the veterinary clinic immediately.

BRAVEHEART

Winston, a five month old Shih Tzu was brought into us as an emergency after unfortunately being mistaken for a fluffy rabbit by a larger dog.
He was bleeding heavily from his mouth, clearly in pain, and in shock. After examining his mouth, taking many x-rays, the vet discovered that Winston's lower jaw was badly fractured. As Winston couldn't eat via his mouth a feeding tube was placed through his throat and down into his stomach. This meant that we could feed him a high calorie diet through the tube, and help keep his energy levels up.

Winston went into surgery and his jaw was repaired with wires to rejoin the fractured ends and stabilize the jaw.
After lots of TLC in the hospital Winston made a fast recovery and was able to go home sooner than expected.
A check up a few days later showed he was doing really well. He was eating well, he was bright, and back to harassing the cat he lived with! An excellent recovery for a brave little dog!

STAFF PROFILES

Katie has joined our team after graduating from her diploma in Veterinary Nursing at Unitec. She originally hails from Wellington but enjoys Auckland and has settled in very well with her bubbly personality and hard-work ethic. Katie is involved both out the back in the clinic hospital and on the reception desk, and also takes the Puppy Preschool classes. Outside of work, Katie enjoys rock climbing and most outdoor pursuits.


Elena has recently joined our team as a veterinarian in a part time capacity. Elena graduated from Massey University at the end of 1994, and has practiced in Wellington, South England and Auckland. She thoroughly enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine and surgery. Elena returned to her native city of Auckland after living abroad and now resides in Glen Innes with her staffie and a cat (or ten!). Outside of work, she has an enthusiasm for gardening, reading, walking/hiking, anything to do with the beach, sun and sea-sports as well as a glass of a great tannic cabernet sauvignon.