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Protecting your best friend
One of the most important things you can do to give
your dog a long and healthy life is to ensure that he or she is vaccinated
against common canine diseases. Your dog's mother gave her puppy immunity from
disease for the first few weeks of existence by providing disease-fighting
antibodies in her milk. After that period it's up to you, with the help and
advice of your veterinarian - to provide that protection.
How do vaccines work?
Vaccines contain small quantities of altered or
"killed" viruses, bacteria or other disease-causing organisms. When
administered, they stimulate your dog's immune system to produce
disease-fighting cells and proteins - or antibodies - to protect against
disease.
When should my dog be vaccinated?
The immunity that a puppy has at birth begins to
diminish sometime between 6 and 12 weeks. It is then usually time to begin the
initial vaccinations, which will be repeated once a month until the puppy is
about 3 to 4 months old. Thereafter, your dog will require repeat vaccination at
regular intervals for the rest of his or her life. Above all, follow the
vaccination schedule recommended by your veterinarian - if there is too long an
interval between the first vaccination and the booster, your dog may have to
undergo the series all over again.
Which vaccinations should my dog receive?
Most veterinarians believe that your pet should be
protected against those diseases which are most common, highly contagious and
which cause serious illness. Such diseases could include Canine Distemper,
Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, Canine Tracheobronchitis and
Rabies. Other vaccinations may be recommended, based on your veterinarian's
evaluation of the risks posed by such factors as your dog's particular heredity,
environment and lifestyle.
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Canine Distemper
Vaccination against this often fatal,
hard-to-treat disease is absolutely essential. Highly contagious, it is
spread by discharges from the noses and eyes of infected dogs. Symptoms
can include listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhea and vomiting;
convulsions and paralysis may occur in the disease's final stages. The
distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which
may be permanently damaged, even if the dog recovers.
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Canine Tracheobronchitis (CANINE COUGH)
Just as with the human common cold, this
respiratory-tract infection is easily transmitted from one dog to
another, so vaccination is imperative if your pet will come in contact
with many other dogs in such situations as obedience training or
boarding at a kennel. Caused by various airborne bacteria and viruses,
including Canine Parainfluenza virus, Canine Adenovirus Type II and
Bordetella Bronchiseptica, you'll first notice its onset by your dog's
dry, hacking cough.
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Canine Parvovirus
Very contagious, debilitating and widespread,
the disease caused by this virus emerged in many parts of the world only
in 1978. Spread through infected feces, the highly resistant virus can
remain in the environment for many months. Symptoms include high fever,
listlessness, vomiting and diarrhea. Vaccination is the only certain
method of preventing this potentially fatal disease, which is most
severe in young pups and elderly dogs.
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Rabies
This incurable viral disease affects the
central nervous system of almost all mammals, including humans. It is
spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals (which can
include skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats) through bites or any break in
the skin. Vaccination will provide your pet with much greater resistance
to rabies if he is exposed to the disease, but you must be aware that
there is no cure once it occurs. For this reason, many municipalities
absolutely require that all dogs receive rabies vaccinations on a
regular basis. Plus, you will definitely have to prove that your dog is
vaccinated if you travel with him - whether across the United States or
around the world.
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Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Caused by Canine Adenovirus Type I, this
disease is transmitted among dogs by contact with secretions, such as
saliva, infected urine or feces. Its symptoms are similar to those of
the early stages of distemper. Causing liver failure, eye damage and
breathing problems, the course of this disease can range from mild to
fatal. Vaccination remains the best protection.
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Other Vaccinations
After evaluating your dog's particular
situation and risk factors, your veterinarian may also recommend
vaccination against other infectious diseases. These might include
 LEPTOSPIROSIS,
a bacterial disease which attacks the kidneys and liver
CANINE
CORONAVIRUS which attacks the intestinal system
LYME
DISEASE, transmitted by ticks to both dogs and humans results in chronic
arthritis and, sometimes, death. This disease is more common in the
northern parts of the United States.
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How effective is vaccination?
Like any drug treatment or surgical procedure,
vaccinations can not be 100% guaranteed. However, used in conjunction with
proper nutrition and acceptable sanitary conditions, vaccination is clearly
your pet's best defense against disease. Plus, when you consider what
treating a serious illness can cost you and your beloved dog in terms of
both money and distress, prevention through vaccination is extremely
cost-effective.
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