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Vaccinations

Free vaccinations for cats and dogs at our Community Vet Clinic in Kensal Green, North London.

Vaccinating your pet is essential for protecting them against diseases, some of which can be fatal.

Mayhew’s Community Veterinary Clinic provides free preventative veterinary interventions for pet owners who cannot otherwise afford it living within one of five London boroughs – Ealing, Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster.  To receive our Veterinary Interventions, you must self-declare that you meet our eligibility criteria, be legally responsible for the animal and are over 18 years of age. For more information, click here.

There is currently a UK wide shortage of cat vaccinations due to manufacturer production issues. Dog vaccinations are not currently affected. 

As an animal welfare charity with a large number of cats in our care we need to prioritise these animals. This unfortunately means we’ve had to temporarily stop our outpatient cat vaccination appointments. We are, where possible, carrying out second vaccinations on any owned cats who have received their first vaccination at Mayhew’s Community Vet Clinic within the last few weeks. We will be in contact with these owners directly to arrange this. 

We’re hoping that this will be a short-term issue and we will update this page as soon as we have more information. If would like to book your cat in for a vaccination with us, please check this page regularly for updates.

Book an appointment

We run an appointment system for our clinics on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. Please book use the online booking system below, or contact us.

You can now book your vaccination appointment online

Why should I vaccinate my pet?

When puppies and kittens are born they receive some natural protection against disease from their mother’s milk, however this protection is only temporary and declines in the first few weeks of life, leaving them at risk of infection and disease. Your vet will vaccinate your puppy or kitten at around 8 and 12 weeks of age to counteract this. However, the vaccines don’t usually become effective until 7 - 14 days after both doses have been given. As such, it’s essential to keep your pet away from both other pets and places they might have been, to protect them from harm.

When can I vaccinate my pet?

Vaccinations are available for dogs and cats over eight weeks old and are a simple combination of two injections, 4 weeks apart for dogs and puppies and 3-4 weeks apart for cats and kittens, followed by yearly boosters.

What else do I need to know?

Animals attending our Vaccination Clinic can attend for their primary course of vaccinations. After this, we would require them to be neutered to continue attending our Clinic.

If you intend on putting your pet into a boarding facility, please check individual centre requirements for vaccinations.

Vaccinations offered

Dog vaccinations
Protection against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis
Annual boosters
Primary vaccinations, 'puppy course'

Indoor cat vaccinations
Core vaccinations against cat flu (calici and herpes viruses) and enteritis
Booster (up to three years protection)
Primary vaccinations, 'kitten course'

Outdoor cat vaccinations
Cat flu (calici and herpes viruses), enteritis and Feline Leukaemia (FeLV)
Annual boosters
Primary vaccinations, 'kitten course'

What diseases will my pet be protected against?

Dogs

Canine Parvovirus: A highly aggressive disease which attaches to the lining of the intestines causing serious, and often fatal, vomiting and diarrhoea. Treatment is limited and includes giving intravenous fluids and other supportive therapy. Young puppies and older or debilitated dogs are most affected.

Canine Distemper: A virus that attacks the gut, lungs and nervous system. Though relatively rare it is usually fatal.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis: An acute liver infection in dogs. The virus is spread in the faeces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils. The virus then infects the liver and kidneys.

Leptospirosis: Transferrable to humans and whilst antibiotics can help to treat it, cases can often be fatal or cause lifelong damage to the kidneys. If your dog contracts Leptospirosis, you should seek advice from your GP.

Kennel Cough (additional vaccine on request): The most common symptoms are a dry, hacking cough followed by retching, and coughing up a white foamy discharge. Some dogs also develop conjunctivitis, an inflamed nasal mucous membrane and nasal discharge. In more severe cases, a dog can become feverish and possibly develop pneumonia, and in the extreme, Kennel Cough can be fatal. Vaccination is often a requirement of boarding kennels, as Kennel Cough is easily spread and can be serious in young or older dogs, or those who already have a weak immune system.
Please note, this is a non-core vaccine, so additional charges apply.

Cats

Feline Infectious Enteritis: A severe and often fatal gut infection. It is caused by the Feline Parvovirus (or Feline Panleukopenia Virus).

Feline Influenza: Two types of cat ‘flu can be vaccinated against: Feline Herpesvirus and Feline Calicivirus. These viruses are very common and vaccination will protect your cat against prolonged illness, but as there are many different strains of cat ‘flu the vaccine will not totally eradicate the threat.

Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV): FeLV is a lifelong infection and unfortunately most cats will die within three years of diagnosis, usually from a subsequent disease like leukaemia, lymphoma or progressive anaemia. It is not an airborne disease and can only be passed on via direct contact between cats, usually by saliva or bites.