Vaccinations

Most Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Are Still Circulating in Auckland

Diseases like parvovirus and cat flu haven't gone away – they're kept rare specifically because most pets are vaccinated. An unvaccinated puppy or kitten is genuinely vulnerable, which is why the early vaccination schedule below is timed to close the gap as their mother's natural immunity fades.

Our recommended vaccination protocol is as follows:

For Puppies:

• First vaccination at 6 weeks old – Nobivac DHPPI which covers Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Parainfluenza
• Second vaccination at 9 weeks old (or 3 weeks after 1st vaccination) – Nobivac DHPPI, Nobivac Leptospirosis and Nobivac intranasal KC (Bordetella, canine cough)
• Third Vaccination at 12 weeks old (or 3 weeks after 2nd vaccination) – Nobivac DHPPI and Nobivac Leptospirosis

For Adult Dogs:

Annual boosters of Nobivac leptospirosis and Nobivac intranasal kennel cough, as well as three yearly testing for antibodies to distemper and parvo viruses (Titre testing).

For kittens:

First vaccination at 6 weeks old – Nobivac Tricat which covers feline herpes virus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline panleucopaenia virus (FPLV)

• Second vaccination at 9 weeks old (or 3 weeks after 2nd vaccination) – Nobivac Tricat
• Third vaccination at 12 weeks old (or 3 weeks after 3rd vaccination) – Nobivac Tricat

For Adult Cats:

Yearly booster vaccinations of Nobivac Tricat or Nobivac Ducat are recommended especially for social cats or cattery visiting cats.

The FIV vaccination (feline aids) is optional. FIV requires 3 vaccinations 3 weeks apart from each other, then a booster vaccination annually.

Rabbits

Calici virus vaccine is recommended, as the disease is always fatal if your rabbit is unprotected. Vaccination is yearly (after 12 weeks of age) for the first 3-4 years and then once every 3 years or so.

Is vaccination safe?

Vaccines used in New Zealand veterinary practice are extensively tested before approval, and serious reactions are uncommon. It's normal for a pet to be a little quiet or tender at the injection site for a day afterwards; our vets will explain what's normal and what to watch for after every vaccination.

Why we recommend titre testing alongside annual vaccination for dogs

Not every vaccine needs repeating every year. Titre testing measures whether your dog's immunity to distemper and parvovirus is still strong, so if it is, an unnecessary booster can be skipped – see our Titre Testing page for how this works.