Only 66 per cent of owners in 2017 protected their pet with annual booster vaccinations.

Report shows fall in pets receiving primary and booster vaccinations

Veterinary charity PDSA is calling on the profession to help raise awareness and spread the word about vaccine-preventable diseases.

The announcement comes as the organisation launches its latest Animal Wellbeing Report, which shows a significant drop in the number of owners protecting their pets with primary vaccination courses. 

The report found:

    • 2.3 million UK dogs (25 per cent) in 2017 received no vaccination when they were young - a significant increase from 18 per cent in 2011.

    • 3.6 million UK cats in 2017 received no primary vaccination course - a rise from 28 per cent in 2011 to 35 per cent in 2017.  

    • Only 66 per cent of owners (5.6 million cats and 7.3 million dogs) in 2017 protected their pet with annual booster vaccinations.
    
    • Rabbit needs remain the most neglected with only 50 per cent receiving a primary vaccination when young, a decrease from 63 per cent in 2016.

One of the main reasons cited by owners for not protecting their pet was ‘cost’, with many giving ‘too expensive’ as their reason for not vaccinating. Moreover, the report reveals that, of owners who hadn’t vaccinated their pets, many felt vaccinations were unnecessary.

“The decreasing number of dogs, cats and rabbits receiving primary and booster vaccinations is a great concern for the health and welfare of the nation’s pets,” commented PDSA head of pet health and welfare Nicola Martin. “Vaccinations protect pets from infectious diseases, which can severely impact their health and can often be fatal. Early immunisation can prevent a long list of diseases that can affect our companion animals.”

In light of its findings, the PDSA is launching a campaign to encourage pet owners to get their pets vaccinated and ensure their boosters are up-to-date. To help protect millions of pets from needless suffering and loss of life, the charity is calling on people to pledge their support and 'spread the word', not the disease.

“It’s up to the veterinary profession to help educate pet owners on the importance and value of vaccination. This is an area which requires collaboration and a coordinated effort across veterinary bodies to ensure owners can make informed decisions about vaccination,” Nicola concludes. “By launching this campaign, we hope to raise awareness of the risks these diseases pose, and how important vaccinations are in protecting the long-term health and wellbeing of the nation’s pets.”

For more information about the campaign and to pledge your support, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/spreadtheword