Why do we vaccinate pet dogs?
Giving a vaccine is like offering a super-power. It is an opportunity to teach your dog’s immune system how to fight off an illness that would otherwise be very serious and potentially fatal.
What do we vaccinate them against?
In line with the World Small Animal Veterinary Associations’ guidelines for pet dog vaccination
wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Dogs-Vaccination-Table.pdf
wsava.org/global-guidelines/vaccination-guidelines
We provide vaccination for pet dogs with the core vaccines against:
Parvovirus
Distemper
Adenovirus (hepatitis) and
Leptospirosis
We also recommend protection with non core vaccines against parainfluenza and Bordetella, which together cause infectious bronchitis (previously known as kennel cough).
Some dogs need rabies vaccination to travel abroad, and herpes virus vaccination if they are intended for breeding.
Why are the Mewes vets changing their vaccine?
With more and more dogs visiting other countries, or being imported into the UK, we are seeing a change in the diseases affecting our pet population. It is important that as your dog’s veterinary advisors we stay up to date with the latest risks to them. We have identified a risk that our pet dog population may be exposed to serovars (varieties) of the Leptospirosis disease that we are not currently protecting them against. We therefore feel that it is time that we increase the protection we offer all the pet dogs that we care for. Our new vaccine will protect against twice as many serovars of leptospirosis.
Why does it need to be repeated every year?
Protection against parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus can now be guaranteed if the vaccine for these is repeated every third year. This is partly because the vaccine is
particularly effective, and the level of disease locally is low. Also, these are all dog specific diseases. However, the leptospirosis vaccine needs to be repeated annually, as there is a reservoir of
infection in wildlife, especially rats, mice and squirrels. Pet dogs can easily get exposed, even if they never socialise with other dogs. If you have any further questions, do ask your vet at your next appointment.
