Dog Vaccinations in Middlesbrough

What vaccinations protect your dog against

Vaccination is one of the simplest ways to protect your dog from serious infectious disease. The vaccines we use help protect against canine distemper, canine adenovirus (infectious hepatitis), canine parvovirus and leptospirosis. These are diseases that can make dogs very poorly and, in some cases, can be fatal, which is why we recommend them for almost every dog.

Alongside these core vaccines we also offer kennel cough vaccination, and rabies vaccination for dogs that need it, for example before travelling abroad. Your vet will talk through which vaccines your dog actually needs, based on their age, health and lifestyle, rather than giving every dog the same package.

When your dog needs vaccinating

Puppies start with a primary course of two injections. Your vet will confirm the right timing for your puppy at the first visit and explain when it is safe for them to start meeting other dogs and going out on walks. After the primary course, adult dogs need regular boosters to keep their protection topped up. Some parts of the vaccine are given every year and others less often, so the exact combination at each booster can vary.

If you have taken on a rescue dog or an older dog and do not know their vaccination history, we will usually advise restarting the course and then continuing with regular boosters from that point. Bring any vaccination card or paperwork you have, even if it is incomplete, as it helps your vet plan the right approach.

What happens at the appointment

A vaccination appointment is more than an injection. Your vet will give your dog a full health check first: listening to the heart and chest, looking at the eyes, ears, teeth and skin, feeling the tummy and checking weight. It is a good time to raise anything you have noticed, from itchy skin to changes in appetite, and to ask about flea and worm control.

Kennel cough vaccine is given as a small dose into the nose or mouth rather than as an injection, and can usually be given at the same visit as the annual booster. We record every vaccine on your dog's vaccination card, which kennels, groomers and daycare will often ask to see.

After vaccination

Most dogs carry on as normal after their vaccinations. A few may seem a little quiet or sleepy for a day or so, or have a small, slightly tender swelling where the injection was given. Let your dog rest, make sure they have water and call us if they seem unwell, if the swelling grows or if anything worries you.

We will tell you when the next vaccine or booster is due. Routine vaccinations are included in our pet wellness plans, which spread the cost of preventative care across the year. Many owners also book microchipping or talk to us about dog neutering at the same time.

Keeping records and planning ahead

Your dog's vaccination card is worth keeping somewhere safe, as boarding kennels, daycare, groomers and dog sitters will usually ask to see it. If you are planning a holiday with a kennel stay, check their requirements well in advance, because some ask for kennel cough vaccine to be given a while before your dog arrives. If you are thinking of travelling abroad with your dog, talk to us early: rabies vaccination and travel paperwork need planning, and the rules depend on where you are going. Annual boosters are also a useful moment to review flea, tick and worm treatment, check your dog's weight and talk about anything from diet to behaviour, so you get more from the visit than a single injection.