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 For
your dog pets to enjoy time with you, they must always be in good health. Like
you, if the pets are feeling pain they are unable to feel the mood of having
fun!
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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 cannot
be 100% guaranteed. However, used in conjuction 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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