Vaccinations - Dog

Canine parvovirus is a disease that affects dogs of all ages but is most common in young dogs. The virus attacks the intestines and causes bloody diarrhoea, uncontrollable vomiting and severe abdominal pain. This condition is very often fatal, even if the affected puppy or dog receives intensive veterinary care.

Parvovirus is spread via dog faeces and is very persistent in the environment even after the faeces has been cleaned away. For this reason, it is not necessary to have direct contact with other dogs for the disease to be spread. The virus is so persistent that an infected dog’s environment needs to be cleaned with a potent disinfectant to prevent spread to other dogs. Outbreaks occur regularly especially in summer, with an estimated 20,000 dogs being infected every year in Australia.

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect dogs of any age with young puppies being at highest risk.

Symptoms vary but can include fever, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and depression. Muscle tremors, fits and paralysis may occur later in the disease. Treatment is usually ineffective and the recovery rate very low. Dogs that do recover may have permanent brain damage.

Canine Cough (or Kennel Cough) is a condition produced by highly contagious and infectious viruses and bacteria, which can be easily spread wherever dogs congregate, such as parks, grooming salons, doggy day care, shows, obedience schools and boarding kennels. The main infectious agents associated with canine cough are the virus Parainfluenza and the bacteria Bordatella bronchiseptica. adenovirus type 2 and distemper.

Affected dogs generally have a dry hacking cough which can persist for several weeks. This cough can be very distressing for pet dogs and their owners and it can be a major problem for working and sporting dogs. Pneumonia can also be a consequence of more severe infection, particularly in young animals .

Canine leptospirosis is a serious disease risk in some areas and generally causes high fatality rates. This bacterial disease is spread by the urine of infected rats and is usually transmitted to dogs who ingest contaminated food or drink contaminated (often stagnant) water such as puddles, dogs who eat rats or from rat bites.

There is an increased risk where high rat populations exist such as in cities, near rubbish dumps or around sugar cane areas. Incidence can also increase after long periods of wet weather or building activity, when rat populations may be forced to move or concentrate in certain areas. Leptospirosis is a ‘zoonotic disease’ meaning it is an animal disease that can be spread to humans. Human infection can occur through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or through open wounds.

Canine coronavirus is another contagious virus and causes depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea especially in young dogs. Diarrhoea may last for several days in some cases. Although most dogs will recover with treatment, coronavirus has the potential to be fatal, especially if other infectious agents such as parvovirus are present.