Pet Vaccinations

Everyone who has ever owned a dog has different opinions about their vaccinations regimens. However, there are a few facts that you should be aware of before you decide whether or not to get your pet vaccinated. First of all, don’t trust old wives’ tales about dogs being able to get over almost anything with ease, or that vaccinating will make them weaker – this kind of talk is unfounded. In order to make a conscious decision about your animals’ welfare, you should know and understand the risks and benefits of different vaccinations.

Canine Parvovirus – More commonly referred to as parvo, this disease is a straight up bad one. It can kill a dog within one day of symptoms setting in. Symptoms for this disease are fever, nausea, vomiting bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and lethargy. Puppies are the most susceptible, but it can strike dogs at any age. Since the virus is in the air, your dog does not even have to leave its yard in order to get sick. Adult dogs should receive a yearly vaccination for this disease, and puppies will need to be vaccinated against it once a month for three months in a row. Both of these series of shots are highly recommended.

Canine Distemper – This disease is very common in puppies, so they’ll need to get a series of booster shots to protect against this disease. There’s no known cure for distemper, and only a very small percentage of affected dogs will survive on their own. There’s also a yearly booster shot for adult dogs and while the disease is not as easy to contract as Parvo, it’s still a good idea for your dog to get this vaccination regularly.

Rabies – Rabies is probably the most common disease that people think of when they consider vaccinations and that’s because it’s one of the only vaccinations mandated by the government for dogs. In most states, puppies receive a shot each year for the first two years and then every three years after that. It’s important to keep up with the rabies shots because if your animal is exposed to the virus when it’s not current on the vaccination, it will be put to sleep and sent off for testing to ensure that it was not carrying the disease.

Kennel Cough – This vaccination is sometimes pushed by veterinary hospitals, but it’s rarely needed for dogs that are not boarded or kept around a lot of other dogs on a regular basis. As the name implies, kennel cough is a disease which can affect dogs that are kept in kennels as the disease is typically spread through close contact with other infected dogs. The vaccine can either be given in an injection or through an inhaled liquid dropped into the dogs’ nasal cavities. It is routinely given every six months or year – depending on the brand and type of the vaccination – and is approximately 65-70% effective.

Lyme disease – Lyme disease is a tick borne pathogen. Both dogs and humans are susceptible to the disease, and a red bulls-eye ring around the bitten area on humans is a good indication of infection. This vaccination is not a bad one to consider getting if you live in an area that has a large tick population. It’s also a good idea to help prevent this infection by using vet-recommended monthly applications of flea and tick prevention medications. However, the disease is not nearly as common as Canine Parvo Virus and Canine Distemper.

While you can cut back on some of your dogs’ vaccinations, it’s important to know and understand the different diseases your dog is being vaccinated against. Before you make any decision, it’s best to talk over your concerns with your vet and your family.