What You Must Know About Dog Vaccinations

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 6:19 am

Dog vaccinations have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent times. Some experts are of the opinion that annual booster shots should be dumped in favor of a three year cycle. Others contest that annual shots as a must to ensure that a dog is protected against communicable diseases.

Whatever the truth, the fact remains that millions of dogs around the world receive vaccinations against the most common canine diseases, and only a very small percentage show any adverse reaction.

The current crop of vaccines we have available may not be perfect, but they do protect your dog against the major diseases. An unvaccinated dog on the other hand is almost certain to become ill at some time, so why risk it? Until there is evidence to support the view that vaccines are ineffective or dangerous, it is definitely a good idea to have your dog vaccinated.

Vaccines offer protection against the common communicable canine diseases. These include distemper, canine hepatitis and kennel cough. A puppy will normally get his first shots at age 6 to 8 weeks. Thereafter, there will be a follow up series of vaccinations lasting until the pup is 15 weeks old. After that there'll be annual (or 3 yearly) boosters, depending on what your vet advises.

It is common practice to administer the core vaccines in combination. This is commonly referred to as a five-in-one and protects against the following diseases;

Canine Distemper: A highly infectious and often deadly disease that causes seizures, convulsions, respiratory and heart failure. It is spread by discharge from the eyes and nose of an infected dog coming into contact with a healthy dog.

Canine Hepatitis Virus: An extremely dangerous disease that is spread by contact with the saliva, urine or faeces of an infected dog. It affects the abdominal organs and spreads rapidly, causing death within 6 to 10 days of the initial infection.

Leptospirosis: Transmitted via the urine of an infected dog, this bacterial disease, targets the digestive system, liver and kidneys, causing severe damage and usually resulting in death.

Parainfluenza: A form of kennel cough that is spread by contact or through the air. Highly contagious.

Canine Parvovirus: A viral disease that is often deadly to puppies and older dogs. It attacks multiple systems including the intestinal tract, lymph tissue and the immune system.

In addition to these core vaccines, your dog will usually also be inoculated against rabies.

Why Dog Vaccinations Are Essential

There are several reasons why it is important to vaccinate your dog. The main one of course is the health and well-being of your dog. But there are other reasons too, some of them required by law.

Many city ordinances require it, and if you intend to travel with your dog, particularly abroad, you will need to provide proof of vaccination. If you want to take your dog to obedience classes, or put him into kennels, or doggy day care, you’ll need to provide a vaccination certificate. Ditto if you want to take your dog to a pet friendly hotel or resort.

While all of these are valid reasons to have your dog vaccinated, the most important of all remains the health and well-being of your pet.

To find out more about dog vaccinations, dog care, dog breeds a-z and other helpful dog advice drop in at www.dogsanddogtraining.com