By YASEMIN TALAT
Vets are urging Wyndham City pet owners to vaccinate their pets in order to protect them against preventable diseases.
Greencross Vets Point Cook Vet Director Dr Zoe Sullivan said the amount of domestic animals living in the community who aren’t vaccinated annually was staggering.
Dr Sullivan recommended dogs and cats get vaccinated twice a year, and rabbits once a year.
“Every six 6 months a dog or cat ages three and a half years,” Dr Sullivan said.
Dr Sullivan said it is a long time for these pets to go without seeing a doctor for six months or more due to their actual age.
“So every six months we encourage pet owners to bring in their pets to ensure nothing has developed during the dog or the cat’s life,” she said.
But more than 44 per cent of pets treated by Greencross Vets are still not vaccinated against preventable diseases such as Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus.
Dr Sullivan said there was a number of reasons pet owners may not be active in getting their pets vaccinated including affordability, fear of side effects and most commonly forgetfulness.
Dr Sullivan said there is a solution for each of these.
“To ensure a holistic approach can be applied to your pets’ preventable health and an affordable approach as well,” she said.
Dr Sullivan said that it is important for pet owners to discuss their concerns with their vets.
