annual Vaccinations are critical

Annual vaccinations are one of the best forms of protection for your animals. Just like in humans, we have seen the great effect of widespread vaccination programs to rid the animal population of life-threatening diseases. Polyvalent vaccines have been given annually for decades and have ensured that pets have been extremely well protected.

We no longer see diseases like Distemper at our hospitals. Just as well, as it is a particularly nasty disease for which there is no cure.  Dr. Sandler has seen many of these cases when he started out as a newly qualified vet.

There are areas in Australia in which Distemper is diagnosed and it only takes exposure to one of these cases for the disease to start reappearing in an unprotected canine community. Parvo Virus raised it's ugly head in the early 1980s and spread to dogs worldwide. Prior to this, Parvo was never diagnosed, so new diseases can appear. Feline leukemia and Feline immunodeficiency virus is being diagnosed more and more. A vaccinated pet population is essential.

In the last 18 months cases of Leptospirosis have been diagnosed in Sydney. This is a life-threatening disease which is most commonly contracted by drinking water from puddles or water reservoirs contaminated with infected rat urine, ingesting infected dead rats, rat bites, etc. It has a very high mortality rate. It is also a zoonosis. This means it can be transferred from animals to humans. Leptospirosis has been diagnosed in a number of cases in the Eastern Suburbs and Lower North Shore of Sydney. It is prudent to include this vaccination in your dog's vaccination program.

If your dog or cat has not been vaccinated for Leptospirosis, he or she will need two vaccines one month apart. We advise an annual check-up where we can discuss & tailor a protocol for your pet.