Has your pet missed their booster this year?
Did you stop vaccinating after their puppy and kitten course?
If the answer is ‘yes’ to either of the above then you and your pet can take advantage of our Vaccination Initiative.
During March and April, Cinque Ports Vets have joined forces with Merial, manufacturers of animal vaccines to offer a full restart course of your pet’s vaccinations for the same price as an annual booster.
This means a huge saving of 30% for both dogs and cats.
Why are boosters required?
The initial vaccines given to your puppies and kittens provide them with protection against diseases which can sometimes be fatal.
Over time this protection falls and their immunity levels need ‘topping up’ on a yearly basis by a booster vaccination. Your pet will also receive a full healthcheck at their annual booster appointment by your veterinary surgeon before they are vaccinated. This is the ideal time for them to have an ‘MOT’ to make sure that they are fit and healthy at least once a year. It is a common misconception by pet owners that once your pet has had their initial vaccines they will be covered for life and regular boosters are unnecessary, especially when they are older.
Why does my pet need to restart the course again?
When your pet was a puppy or kitten it was vaccinated twice with an interval of 2-4 weeks between injections. These injections were required to ensure a full immune response to all parts of the vaccine. If you do not come back for the annual boosters after this or if you leave it over 18 months after the last vaccination, the protection for some of the diseases may no longer be sufficient and a course of 2 vaccines is needed again to boost their immunity.
What is a Vaccination Initiative?
At Cinque Ports Vets we routinely send out reminders for your pets’ annual booster but we appreciate that they can arrive at busy times and sometimes they get forgotten.
A vaccination initiative is a great way to bring your pet’s vaccination status up to date at a minimal cost to you.
This year there have been several outbreaks of Parvovirus in the area and we have treated several unvaccinated dogs which have not been able to fight the disease and sadly passed away. Had these dogs had their vaccinations their immune system would have been able to produce antibodies to help fight the disease which helps increase their chance of survival.
Don’t forget your cats!
Cats roam around large areas often coming into contact with other cats in the area which may not be vaccinated and carry diseases such as ‘cat flu’. By making sure your cat is kept up to date with their vaccines you can protect them from spreading this infectious disease.
To participate in the vaccination initiative, cats and dogs should not have been vaccinated for at least 18 months and must be at least 18 months old. This offer is only available throughout March and April 2014.Please contact your local branch of Cinque Ports Vets to arrange an appointment. We look forward to seeing you!
