At Fremantle Animal Hospital, we offer a range of vaccine protocols to best suit your pet and your lifestyle.
The main diseases we vaccinate against in cats are;
- Feline panleukopenia - A strain of parvovirus that is highly contagious and causes severe infection of the gastrointestinal tract, immune system and nervous system. It can cause extreme vomiting and diarrhoea. Unfortunately it is often fatal.
- Feline calicivirus - A virus that causes severe respiratory tract infections in cats. It causes pneumonia, difficulty breathing, eye and nasal discharge and oral ulcerations that can be extremely painful.
- Feline herpesvirus - A virus that causes upper respiratory tract infections in cats. It causes sneezing, discharge from the nose and eyes, eye ulcers, fever and congestion.
- Feline immunodeficiency virus - A virus similar to HIV, it can also lead to the feline version of AIDS. It prevents the animal from being able to produce a normal immune response to diseases and other foreign materials entering the body. Symtoms can include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, anemia, weight loss and diarrhoea.
About vaccination
Vaccination has revolutionised control of infectious disease in our pets. It is essential that all pets are adequately vaccinated to help protect the pet population as a whole. Responsible pet care requires puppies to be given their initial course of vaccinations, but this cannot protect them for the rest of their lives. Adult dogs require regular vaccination to maintain immunity against disease.
Kitten Vaccination
Kittens are temporarily protected against many diseases by antibodies received through colostrum (first milk) from their mother. These maternal antibodies decline in the first few months of their lives, however until they drop sufficiently they can also neutralise vaccines. This is why a series of vaccinations is necessary in a kitten.
Adult Cat Vaccination
The immunity from kitten vaccination can decrease over time, and your pet can again become susceptible to disease. Annual health checks and booster vaccinations, as required, will provide the best protection for the life of your pet.
After Vaccination Care
Following vaccination your cat may be off-colour for a day or two, or have some slight swelling or tenderness at the injection site. Access to food and water and a comfortable area to rest are usually all that is required for a quick recovery. However, if the response seems more severe, you should contact the Veterinary team at Fremantle Animal Hospital for advice.