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Vaccinating your puppy or kitten, why its so important!

Writer's picture: Dr Kath Sparks BVScDr Kath Sparks BVSc

Updated: Jul 25, 2020


Vaccinations are administered to provide immunity against certain infections that can cause illness or even the death of your pets.


The main vaccination administered to your puppy - DHPPi - protects against multiple infectious diseases. These diseases include: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.


Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease of the domestic dogs that is almost always fatal. It initially affects the respiratory system causing severe flu like symptoms. Eventually the virus will infect the brain causing severe brain damage.

Canine infectious hepatitis is a specific disease of the liver that is caused by a virus.


Canine parainfluenza virus is one of the causes of kennel cough, a contagious, non-life-threatening cold-like condition that causes coughing and other symptoms in dogs.


Parvovirus is a contagious disease of the puppy that causes severe, and sadly often fatal, bloody diarrhoea and organ collapse.

Bordetella is a form of “Kennel Cough” which causes severe coughing and illness. The infection is highly contagious and spreads rapidly from dog to dog in close quarters, such as boarding kennels or grooming facilities.

Leptospirosis is a deadly bacterial disease spread by wildlife and domestic animals. Common leptospirosis carriers include rats and sometimes other dogs. The leptospirosis bacteria are shed in the urine. Dogs become infected when they come in contact with fresh urine of the infected animals. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease meaning it can be passed from dogs to people.


The main vaccination administered to your kitten - HCP - protects against multiple infectious diseases. These diseases include: Feline panleucopaenia virus, Feline herpesvirus, and Feline calicivirus.

Optional vaccine :Leukamia

Compulsory Vaccine: Rabies


Feline panleucopaenia virus a highly contagious and life-threatening viral disease

in the cat population, commonly called feline “Parvo Virus”. The panleukopenia virus

affects the rapidly dividing cells in the body: blood, the cells in the intestinal

tract, bone marrow and skin. Because the blood cells are under attack, this virus can

lead to an anemic condition, and it can open the body to infections from other

illnesses — viral or bacterial. Kittens between the ages of two to six months are at

highest risk for developing severe disease symptoms.

Feline herpes virus infection, also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR). This

virus can infect cats of all ages. FVR is a major cause of upper respiratory disease in

cats, and is the most common cause of conjunctivitis (inflammation of the tissues

surrounding the eye, especially the lining of the lids and the third eyelid). Infection

tends to be more severe in young animals or animals that have another chronic

disease. Kittens born to a cat that is carrying a latent FVR infection may become

infected after birth. In these kittens, symptoms usually develop several weeks after

birth, and the infection can be very serious.


Feline Calici virus is a common respiratory disease in cats. The virus attacks the

respiratory tract (nasal passages and lungs), the mouth (with ulceration of the tongue), the intestines and the musculoskeletal system. It is highly communicable in unvaccinated cats. This infection can occur in cats of any age, but young kittens older than six weeks have been found to be most susceptible.


Feline Leukemia Virus is second only to trauma as the leading cause of death in cats, killing 85% of persistently infected felines within three years of diagnosis. The virus commonly causes anemia or lymphoma, but because it suppresses the immune system, it can also predispose cats to deadly infections. Grooming and fighting seem to be the commonest ways for infection to spread. After initial vaccination boosters are given every two years.

Puppies and Kittens should be vaccinated at 3 months old and then have a booster vaccination a month later. Thereafter a booster must given within 12 months of the original vaccination. Thereafter animals who live in areas where Rabies is endemic, like KwaZulu Natal should be given a rabies vaccination every year. Animals living in non-Rabies endemic areas like Gauteng should receive vaccinations every 3 years by law.  However there have been outbreaks of Rabies in non endemic areas so it is advisable to vaccinate annually in South Africa.


Rabies is a virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of all warm blooded animals, including dogs, cats and humans. Annually, rabies causes the deaths of more than 50,000 humans and millions of animals worldwide. Once symptoms appear, the disease results in fatality.








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