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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 shcedule recommened 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 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.
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 antobodies.
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 permantly damaged, even if the dog recovers.
Canine Trachebronchitis (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 2 and Bordetella Bronchiseptica, you'll first notice its onset
by your dog's dry, hacking cough.
Canine Parvovirus
Very contagious, debilitating and widespread, the disease cause dby 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 petentially fatal disease, which is most severe in your pups and elderly dogs.
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 vacicnations on a regular basis. Plus,
you will definitely have to prove that your dog is vaccinated if you travel with him - whether across the province, to the
United States or around the world.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Caused by Canine Adenovirus Type 1, 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.
Stonewall Veterinary Clinic
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