Blush-saving lifeline for pet owners

We've all been there - a dental check up that's gone well beyond the normal six months, or an overdue service on the car - it can be embarrassing when you do turn up.  Pet owners are facing the same dilemma with most dogs and cats not up-to-date with their vaccinations.  The good news is a new campaign - National Vaccination Month - aims to both offer a lifeline and spare our blushes when it comes to vaccinating our pets.

More than half of all cats and dogs are not up-to-date with their vaccinations against a range of nasty diseases, some of which are fatal, widespread and on the increase.  If your pet is one of them, you could benefit from the vaccination amnesty taking place in March 2008, as part of National Vaccination Month.  If your cat or dog has not been vaccinated in the last 18 months, simply take your pet into a participating veterinary practice during March and they will be given a full vaccination course for the price of the first vaccine - saving you up to £30.  Just log on to www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk for a list of participating vets.

New research from Intervet, the animal health company behind the campaign shows that canine parvovirus - which causes acute gastroenteritis in dogs and if often fatal - is widespread with more than half of all vet practices seeing the disease in the past year.  Leptospirosis (Weil's disease) was seen by 40% of practices and, although less common, the worry with this disease is that it can be transmitted from dogs to humans.  You should, at the very least be vaccinating against these diseases.  Finally, since all small animals vets frequently see the persistent and distressing condition kennel cough - dog owners should also discuss protecting against this disease with their vet.

Cats fare no better with cat flu and feline leukaemia both presenting a significant risk to the health and life expectancy of the nation's moggies.  Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is associated with the occurence of tumours and anaemia in cats but, similar to the AIDS virus, it also causes disease by suppressing the cat's immune system making it susceptible to a variety of other problems.

With an estimated domestic population of about 2 million, rabbits are Britain's third most popular and fastest growing pet and they haven't been forgotten in the vaccination amnesty.  Currently less than one in ten owners ensure their bunny is vaccinated against myxomatosis, a devastating disease spread by biting insects and reported to be on the increase.  If your rabbit has not been vaccinated in the last 9 months it too can participate in this vaccination amnesty.

All of these dog, cat and rabbit diseases can be prevented through vaccination, and now is your chance to get your pet's jabs up-to-date for less.  To take part in the vaccination amnesty simply log on to www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk