Vaccination - dogs

All animals in Dubai are legally required to have a current Rabies Vaccination. Futhermore it is essential to protect your dog or pup against Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenzavirus. Puppies get a course of 2 or 3 vaccinations starting as young as 6 weeks and being complete at 12 weeks, to allow early socialisation of your puppy.

A popular myth is that a dog is safe because it has little or no contact with other dogs and should therefore not need an annual booster. In fact, these dogs have no opportunity to boost their immunity by contact with natural infections, so will be among the most vulnerable in an outbreak situation.

While Distemper is rare nowadays, Parvovirus is still very common. It is highly contagious and causes acute vomiting and diarrhoea, resulting in dehydration and often death. Pups and weaker animals are most vulnerable. The virus is spread by direct contact with an infected dog and also by indirect contact eg. sniffing where an infected dog has been or from infected shoes or tyres.

Leptospirosis is an infection associated with rat urine. It causes jaudice, septicaemia and/or kidney damage. Weil's disease in man is caused by the same bacteria, so protecting your dog is also important for public health. An annual booster will maintain a high level of protection and is necessary if your dog is entering a boarding kennel.

"Kennel cough" or Infectious Bronchitis This causes a dry, choky cough and is picked up when dogs mix eg. at shows, in kennels - hence the name "kennel cough". An intranasal vaccine will protect your dog against kennel cough and is required by most boarding kennels.