April
feature...
by
Emma Gerrard
Dip AVN (SA) BSc (Hons) CVN
RVN K-SQP PHC MBVNA
Cain Veterinary Centre
Kennel Cough
Why Vaccinate?
The cough can be so severe, that it often
sounds as if the dog is choking. At the same
time, the dog may run a temperature, go off
his or her food, and become quite lethargic
- similar symptoms to human 'flu'.
Kennel cough can be caused by a variety of
bacterial and viral agents including Bordetella
bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus,
which pass easily from dog to dog via indirect
(coughs and sneezes) and direct nose to nose
contact, wherever dogs congregate. Coughing
can last for some weeks and although rare,
complications such as pneumonia can arise
in puppies and older dogs.
Despite the name 'kennel cough', most
cases are not caught in kennels. On the
contrary, your pet is more likely to encounter
the disease in common circumstances such
as training classes, in the park or from the
neighbour's dog.
Once the disease has started it can frequently
last for up to two weeks, but sometimes more,
antibiotics and cough medicines are used to try
to control the cough. Kennel cough can be an
unpleasant experience for both the dog and
the owner. This is why we consider 'prevention
being better than cure'.
Protection against kennel cough is not
normally included in your pet's routine annual
vaccinations. However, it can be added
relatively easily, just a small drop of liquid
applied to one nostril. This simple 'intranasal'
vaccine only takes seconds to administer, and
stimulates immunity to the two main causes
of kennel cough, within three days, providing
continuous protection for a full twelve months.
If your dog is likely to be in close contact with
other dogs, vaccination is highly recommended
and most boarding kennels now require
vaccination and proof in the form a
vaccination certificate.
Please don't take any chances with
Kennel Cough - contact your vet or
veterinary nurse to ensure that your
dog is protected by vaccination!
Infectious Bronchitis
- otherwise known as 'Kennel Cough' is a highly
contagious disease of the dog's respiratory tract. Dogs of all ages can be
affected with unpleasant clinical signs which include a harsh, dry cough,
very similar to whooping cough in humans.
Image courtesy of MSD Animal Health
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practice
news...
We are looking for all those 'Sporting
Superstar' pets out there to help us
celebrate London 2012.
Do you have a cat that jumps hurdles, or
a back flipping rabbit, a dancing horse or
a dog who loves to dive!!
Well, if you do, we would love to have
a photograph of your pet to place on our
London 2012 noticeboard in our Lewes
Reception. Photographs must be standard
size to A4 (no larger) with your pet’s name,
age and address clearly marked on the
reverse. At the end of the event we will
have a draw for the gold, silver and
bronze entrant and each will receive a
prize. (We are sorry it will not be possible
to return the photo so please make sure it's
not the only copy you have.)
To enter your pet please either drop your
photo into one of our surgeries or by post
to our Lewes address, clearly mark the
envelope Sporting Pets.
Cliffe Veterinary Group
‘Sporting Pets’
At Cliffe Vets we are very keen for all
pets to be microchipped, it is a simple
procedure which can help return lost pets
to their owners. For further information
please read the article in this edition of
Small Talk. To arrange for your pet to be
microchipped just telephone one of the
surgeries for an appointment.
The cost
of this procedure is just £13.99.
Is Your Pet Microchipped?
As many of you know Mike Symons has
now retired and we move into a new
era of Cliffe Vets. We have decided
that it is time for us to become a Limited
Company. So from April the Practice will
become Cliffe Veterinary Group Limited.
It is just a slight change of name and you
will still see the same old faces around
the Practice!
Cliffe Veterinary Group
‘Limited’...
24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE
TELEPHONE: (01273) 473232
www.cliffevets.co.uk