There are lots and lots of different types of vets to choose from, from corporates to independents, hospitals to small one or two vet practices. However, there’s another group of practices out there – so-called “limited service providers”, of which the most common are vaccination clinics. So, are they good for pets?
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All about vaccines
I know that most of you know what vaccines are but for the benefit of the article let’s revisit.
Vaccinations are ‘a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease’.
Are vaccines safe – yes
Vaccines are very safe. One study into human vaccination concluded that over a 20-year period, vaccines were found to be remarkably safe. In a large canine study, no significant temporal association was found between vaccination and ill-health in dogs. Although there is always risk with any medication, the preponderance of the evidence supports minimal risk of harm from vaccines.
What do dogs need?
As per the BSAVA guidance, core vaccines for dogs in the UK include Canine Distemper Virus (D), Canine Adenovirus/Infectious Canine Hepatitis (H), Canine Parvovirus (P) and Leptospirosis (L). Please note that leptospirosis vaccines are multivalent; preparations are available containing different Leptospira strains.
You may also choose to have, or be advised to have, some of the non-core vaccines:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica +/- Canine parainfluenza virus (“Kennel Cough” vaccine): vaccination should be considered for dogs before kenneling or other situations in which they mix with other dogs (e.g. dog shows, training classes)
- Rabies: legal requirement for dogs travelling abroad / returning to the UK
- Canine Herpes Virus: for breeding females
- Leishmaniasis: before travelling to endemic areas
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease): for dogs at high risk of exposure
What do cats need?
Core vaccines for cats in the UK include Feline enteritis (feline parvovirus) (P) and Cat flu (feline calicivirus (C) and herpes virus (H). Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) may be considered a core vaccine for all cats that go outdoors or are in contact with cats which go outdoors, but may not be considered core for indoor only cats.
Other Non–core cat vaccines in the UK include:
- Chlamydophila felis (Chlamydia)
- Rabies: legal requirement for cats travelling abroad / returning to the UK
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
And what do rabbits need?
Rabbits also need vaccinating, and some vaccine clinics may have availability for rabbit appointments. Myxomatosis and the two forms of Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) caused by RHDV-1 and RHDV-2 strains.
Positives of vaccination clinics
There are some advantages of attending a vaccine only clinic.
One, there are unlikely to be any unexpected emergencies
The only animals this clinic will see are healthy vaccine appointments; so you are unlikely to have any unexpected delays. (Although please do be patient if your normal vets are running behind – you never know what they are dealing with out back).
Another positive is that you will usually be able to quickly get an appointment for your pet’s vaccine when you need it
These clinics only see pets for vaccines and won’t have to prioritise or triage any more seriously ill patients. Vaccine clinics can also allow busy practices to prioritise their sick patients while running quicker and easier vaccine clinics in another establishment. This is a positive if the vaccine clinic is affiliated with that practice. And it can mean that the busy atmosphere of the waiting rooms can be calmed a little by moving some patients to a smaller venue for vaccines.
That said, it may be a negative for a full-service (“normal” or “general practice”) veterinary practice, if they are constantly bombarded with all the difficult and stressful sick cases while the vaccines, which overall are much less taxing, are done elsewhere by a clinic who is not connected with them.
Another positive is that it will be quick
In our busy lifestyles we often don’t have much time. These appointments are often booked for around 10-minute slots, and you will be in and out in no time.
Vaccines must be prescribed by a veterinary surgeon, if your pet is under their care. So you will always see a veterinary surgeon, and the vaccine clinic may also employ some Registered Veterinary Nurses. A veterinary surgeon should always give your pet their annual health check before giving the vaccines required.
Disadvantages of vaccination clinics
You still need to register at another vet practice as a vaccine clinic will not see you for any other reason i.e., for sickness or emergency, and clinic notes from the vaccine should always be shared back to your main practice. These clinics will not have any out of hours service or be available for any illness, diagnostics and other interventions. So you must ensure you are registered with a primary GP veterinary practice to ensure you have cover for illness.
Some clients come to their booster appointment with a list of other problems they want to ask about. The one thing you will find at a vaccine clinic is that their ability to help you with these extra queries will be limited. Depending on the clinic, they are unlikely to have an extensive pharmacy so please don’t attend if you have a list of other medical issues to ask about.
Conclusion
Vaccine clinics can be really helpful to you, they may be more local, quieter, quicker and possibly have more availability. They may allow you to ensure your pet is protected against potentially fatal diseases at a time that fits well with your schedule. However, they certainly do not cover all bases, and it is absolutely imperative that you also are registered with a primary veterinary practice. You may decide that you want to keep all of your business with your primary team to support them and ensure that they have all clinical records avoiding any issues with miscommunication.
Discussion