To help prevent our beloved patients from suffering the effects of preventable diseases, we generally recommend regular vaccinations for every cat and dog.

However, there are a few medical exceptions where a pet’s vaccines may need to be temporarily postponed or permanently withheld. Here’s when we’ll pull our vaccination punches for pets.

Vaccine selection

If your dog or cat goes outdoors or has contact with others of the same species, we recommend keeping them up to date with at least their core vaccinations. This includes the C3 vaccination for dogs (protecting against parvovirus, distemper, and infectious hepatitis) and the F3 vaccination for cats (protecting against herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleucopaenia).

Depending on your pet’s individual risk factors and lifestyle (e.g. the geographical areas they live in or visit), we will make personalised recommendations for any additional relevant vaccines.

It’s important to remember that pets attending boarding facilities must be up to date with their core vaccines, plus any additional vaccinations for common illnesses they may be exposed to—such as kennel cough for dogs.

Unwellness

Before vaccinating a pet, we perform a health check to ensure they’re not showing signs of any significant illness that could make vaccination unsafe.

For instance, if your pet is showing symptoms of lethargy or a fever that may suggest an active infection, we will advise postponing their vaccination until further diagnostics or treatment have been completed and they have recovered.

Pets with a history of significant autoimmune disease, such as immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys red blood cells), may be advised against continuing a regular vaccination schedule long-term. Instead, they may undergo intermittent blood tests to check their immunity and have their infectious risk managed accordingly.

For personalised advice on the safest and most effective vaccination schedule for your cat or dog, please consult our disease-diligent team.