News & Updates

CANINE VACCINATIONS: Vaccinations are one of the most effective preventions we have against disease and are responsible for controlling outbreaks of things such as rabies. Vaccinations not only protect our pets from infecting one another, they also help prevent them from infecting us. Without vaccinations, the prevalence of disease would be much higher than it is right now. Rabies is currently the only disease for which vaccination is required by law in Ontario, this includes those pets that are indoors only (as things like mice and bats can enter our houses and come into contact with our pets.) Bats are considered to be one of the leading carriers of Rabies in North America. Our vaccine structure allows our pet parents to tailor vaccinations to their own pet based on individual risk and comfort level. Below is a brief explanation of the vaccinations we have available: Rabies: This incurable viral disease affects the central nervous system of almost all mammals, including humans. It is spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals (such as skunks, foxes, raccoons, and bats) through bites or any break in the skin. Vaccination will provide your dog with a much greater resistance to rabies if it is exposed to the disease.  Distemper: Vaccination against this often-fatal, hard-to-treat disease is absolutely essential. Highly contagious, it is spread by discharge from the nose and eyes of infected dogs. Signs can include listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhea, and vomiting; convulsions and paralysis may occur in the disease’s final stages. The distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which may be permanently damaged even if the dog recovers. Infectious Canine Hepatitis: Caused by canine adenovirus type 1, this disease is transmitted among dogs by contact with secretions, such as saliva, infected urine, or feces. Its signs are similar to those of the early stages of distemper. Causing liver failure and eye damage, this disease can range from mild to fatal. Vaccination remains the best protection. Canine Parvovirus: Very contagious, debilitating, and widespread. Spread through infected feces, the highly resistant virus can remain in the environment for many years. Signs are most severe in young pups and include high fever, listlessness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that causes serious illness in dogs, other animals, and people. The disease is caused by spiral-shaped bacteria called leptospires that live in water or warm, wet soil. Leptospirosis causes a variety of signs, including fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite, but it can develop into a more severe, life-threatening illness that affects the kidneys, liver, brain, lungs, and heart. Canine Influenza: Two different canine influenza strains (H3N8 and H3N2) have been isolated in the United States. The two strains are not related. Canine Influenza virus strain H3N8 is of equine origin and canine influenza strain H3N2 is of avian origin. Therefore, dogs at risk should be vaccinated against both strains. Lyme: Lyme disease in dogs is one of the most common diseases transmitted by ticks, but it only causes symptoms in 10 percent of affected dogs. When infection leads to Lyme disease in dogs, the dominant clinical feature is recurrent lameness due to inflammation of the joints, and a general feeling of malaise.