Tag Archives: kennel cough

VACCINATION UPDATES OCTOBER 2022

We are currently in the process of making some changes to our vaccination protocols that affect dogs, cats and rabbits.

Please continue reading to see what these changes mean for you and your pet.

DOGS – Kennel Cough Vaccine

Historically, at Hall Vet Surgery and Vets at Amaroo we have used a once yearly intranasal (administered via the nostril) kennel cough vaccination. We are currently experiencing difficulties sourcing this intranasal vaccine, which has led our vets to change our kennel cough vaccination protocol to an injectable vaccine. We have already been using this injectable vaccine for years, mainly for dogs who are head shy, aggressive or fearful at the vet, as it is easier to administer than the intranasal vaccine for these patients.

What does this mean for you & your dog:
At your dog’s next yearly check up, they will be transitioned onto the injectable kennel cough vaccine protocol. They will receive their first dose of this vaccine, and will require 1 booster dose 2-4 weeks later. If your pet is well, this injection can be given by one of our veterinary nurses and there won’t be an additional consultation fee, just the fee for the vaccine itself.
After this point, your dog will continue on with a yearly kennel cough vaccine at their annual check up & vaccination review. This vaccine can be mixed with their C3 vaccine prior to administration, meaning they will only receive a single needle for these (and nothing down their nose!), hopefully making the experience a little nicer for them.

CATS – FIV Vaccine

Unfortunately, our FIV vaccine is out of stock with all suppliers, with an ETA date of December. We do still have a small supply of the vaccine available at both clinics, however this may run out before the vaccine is back in stock with our suppliers. The FIV vaccine is recommended for any cats who spend time outdoors to protect from Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, which is spread cat to cat via the saliva of an infected cat.

What does this mean for you & your cat:
The vaccine manufacturer has confirmed that if your cat is less than 3 months overdue when the vaccine is back in stock, they can just receive their normal single dose and continue on with a yearly schedule. If your cat is more than 3 months overdue when the vaccine is back in stock, they will require an initial dose and then a booster dose 2-4 weeks later. If your pet is well, the booster can be given by one of our veterinary nurses and there will not be an additional consultation fee, just the fee for the vaccine itself.

For any cats more than 3 months overdue, risk prevention measures may be beneficial. Such as keeping them indoors until they are back up to date with vaccines, or supervising them during any outdoors time.

RABBITS – RHDV Vaccine

Currently all rabbit owners have been advised to get their rabbits vaccinated and health checked every 6 months with a vaccination that protects against Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease, more commonly known as Calicivirus. This vaccination only covered against 1 strain of disease – RHDV1.  We have just upgraded our vaccination with the recent introduction of a new and improved vaccine (Filavac®) in Australia.  Filavac can give protection to rabbits from both the RHDV1 strain and the RHDV2 strain of calicivirus. We feel that this extra level of protection for rabbits in terms of vaccinations is important to ensure that we provide your rabbit with the best preventative care possible.  This vaccination can be given to rabbits from 10 weeks of age and then repeated annually.

What does this mean for you & your rabbit:
At your rabbit’s next check up & vaccination, they will be given the new vaccine and transferred to the new yearly vaccination protocol. Your rabbit will still benefit from 6 monthly check ups, please discuss with your vet at your next appointment.

If you have any questions or would like to check your pet’s vaccination status, please give us a call on 6230 2223.

Canberra’s Kennel Cough Outbreak


Over the past few weeks we have seen a large increase in the number of dogs presenting to us with Canine Cough, also known as ‘Kennel Cough’.

Kennel Cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness which often presents with a harsh and persistent hacking cough, like your pet has something stuck in their throat. You may also notice sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy or loss of appetite.

Kennel Cough is transmitted via water droplets and can be passed on via direct contact with an infected animal as well as indirectly by coming into contact with a contaminated surface (e.g. the shared water bowl at a public dog park).

We have even seen infections occur in dogs who haven’t left their backyard, which makes the name ‘Kennel Cough’ very misleading. Whilst a boarding kennel is a popular place for an outbreak due to large gatherings of dogs in one place, infections can occur anywhere, regardless of whether your dog goes to kennels or not.

Luckily, there are vaccines available to help prevent your pet from contracting this illness. Although vaccination doesn’t guarantee immnuity from the desease, it does reduce your pet’s chances and means an infection will be less severe and easier to treat than if they didn’t receive the vaccination.

If you notice any signs that your pet may be unwell or you need to check your pet’s vaccination status, please call us on 62302223.

Boarding your pet

Holiday plans are not complete without accommodation arrangements for your pets, too. Many holiday accommodations are now pet friendly but most people have to leave their pets behind. Ideally, they should stay in their own home and yard with a friend, relative or house-sitter looking after them.

Many pets spend happy holidays at boarding facilities and even look forward to their own break from home routines. If possible visit the cattery or kennels beforehand, inspect the accommodation and meet the staff.

All commercial boarding establishments are licensed by the local authority but standards vary. Seek out recommendations from friends, neighbours or your veterinary surgeon. Some people like to trial board their dogs for a weekend or a few days and see how they settle.

Check that your pets’ vaccinations are up-to-date well before the holiday. Kennels insist upon current cover for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and kennel cough for dogs and enteritis, calicivirus and herpesvirus for cats.

A single intra-nasal kennel cough immunization at least 72 hours before boarding covers dogs previously unvaccinated for kennel cough for 12 months. Other vaccinations take at least ten days to take effect.