Vaccination

Canine distemper is a very common disease among dogs in Hong Kong. It can lead to severe respiratory and neurological symptoms from which many dogs do not recover.

The virus is spread by bodily secretions particularly from the respiratory tract. Distemper is commonly found in puppies from unvaccinated mothers and puppies aged 2-6 months are especially vulnerable with a mortality rate as high as 80%.

The most common symptoms are sneezing, coughing, vomiting and diarrhoea. The initial respiratory signs can be similar to that caused by a less virulent disease called kennel cough. Dogs suffering from distemper can also develop neurological problems such as twitching or even seizures. These issues can occur even after the dog appears to have recovered, sometimes years later.

For more details, download our information sheet.

This is a very common canine infection in Hong Kong although severity and survival rates vary significantly. Dogs which do survive can often suffer long-term consequences such as chronic diarrhoea and heart disease. Puppies less than six months old are particularly susceptible.

Infection occurs through contact with contaminated faeces which is why it is a common problem in pet shops.

Key symptoms of the disease include a sudden onset of bloody diarrhoea and/or vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy and fever. Younger dogs can sometimes collapse without warning and may even die suddenly because of the heart disease induced by Parvovirus.

For more details, download our information sheet.

Caused by different types of Leptospira bacteria, this disease is zoonotic (it can be transmitted from animals to humans) and can potentially lead to multiple organ damage.

The disease is primarily carried by rats. Dogs can pick it up either directly from contact with contaminated urine or indirectly from contact with contaminated water, for example drinking or swimming in waters and streams inhabited by infected rats.

Dogs that regularly visit country parks may be at increased risk if they drink from, or swim in, stagnant pools of water.

The symptoms range from the mild (e.g. lethargy and depression) to the severe (abdominal pain, jaundice, liver and kidney failure, and even death).

For more details, download our information sheet.

This is a commonly used term for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis or Feline Calicivrus infection which affect the upper respiratory tract of cats. It is highly contagious, can cause serious illness and is, in some cases, fatal particularly to young kittens born to unvaccinated mothers, geriatric cats and cats whose immune systems are compromised. The death rate in young kittens can be over 50%.

The symptoms include a sudden sneezing “attack,” blocked nose, runny eyes, blisters or ulcers on the tongue and fever. In some instances, the cat or kitten may also stop eating due to their symptoms, for example a blocked nose will prevent kittens from smelling food, ulcers on the tongue may make eating difficult or painful.

For more details, download our information sheet.

A highly contagious disease amongst cats with a high mortality rate, the Feline Panleukopaenia virus persists for a long time and can remain on the shoes and clothes of people who handle infected animals.

It is spread through body fluids and faeces of an infected animal or any other material that an infected cat has come into contact with such as bedding or food bowls. It can also be spread by fleas.

The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system resulting in large amounts of usually bloody diarrhoea, severe dehydration, loss of appetite, anaemia.