In the past, annual vaccinations and visits have been considered the basis of care for pets. However, in recent years it has become clear that a change away from this is in your pets best interest. Semiannual health checks are now the core of the care we deliver for your furry family member, and vaccinations are given to them on an as-needed basis, depending on their state of health, what they have been given in the past and when, and what diseases of the community they are exposed to.

At the Belmont Veterinary Centre we are committed to ensuring that the veterinary care and advice that we offer is as current and comprehensive as possible. As such, our vaccination protocols are up to date with WSAVA* and AVA *guidelines. 

Scientific advances now show that some components of adult dog vaccines are only needed every 3 years.  We have therefore changed the BVC protocol as follows:

• Puppies have two injections the second of which provides protection against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and two strains of canine cough.
• Adult dogs require protection from the highly contagious canine cough every year and from the other diseases every three years.

If you have any concerns about the level of immunity in your dog there is a blood test that we can run to confirm immunity levels before deciding whether or not vaccination is the appropriate treatment for your pet.

All treatment requirements will be monitored at the Belmont Veterinary Centre so that we will always be able to advise you of what treatment your pet needs. Twice-yearly visits will still be required to enable us to monitor and protect the health of your pet and diagnose arising health issues early to ensure the best treatment outcome.  It is important to remember that 6 months to your dog is the equivalent of 3-4 years for you and a great deal can change in that time.

As always we are here to help and if you have any queries our friendly team are more than happy to assist.