Food And Care : Necessary Vaccinations for Dogs

Just like people, dogs need to be protected against potentially deadly diseases through common vaccinations. Furthermore, some of these vaccinations need to be continued throughout the dog’s life, whereas others are literally “one shot” deals that are given to puppies once they reach the appropriate age.

The first step you should take when adopting a dog is to visit your veterinarian and ensure he receives all necessary vaccinations. If you are adopting an older dog, inquire to the previous owners regarding his vaccination history and ask to have all the records so that you can show the dog’s new veterinarian. These records are critical for you to maintain and should be transferred to veterinarian offices with your dog as your relocate or change offices.

For starters, all puppies should be given a distemper shot to protect them from this potentially fatal illness that still affects unprotected dogs to this day. Distemper affects a dog’s brain and can result in a variety of medical problems, namely crippling seizures that can leave a dog incapacitated or dead. The distemper vaccination is given once while the dog is a puppy, however, if your dog is past the puppy stage and is unvaccinated, you are strongly recommended to contact your veterinarian in order to properly protect your dog from this devastating illness.

Another illness that usually affects dogs is the parvovirus. Again, this virus usually affects puppies, therefore all dogs of vaccination age should receive the shot against parvovirus. This vaccination works in a series, the first shot given at six weeks of age and continuing every three or four weeks until the puppy is 20 weeks of age.

Again, if you adopt an adult dog and are unsure of his vaccination history, you should immediately seek a parvovirus vaccination from your veterinarian to protect him at his current age.

Some vaccinations are only for dogs that are to be boarded or will be in close contact with other dogs. There are several bacterial and viral infections that are spread through the air and affect a dog’s respiratory system. Commonly known as “kennel cough,” Adenovirus Type 2 can greatly weaken a dog’s health and lead to other potentially dangerous medical problems. To combat this virus, all dogs and puppies should be vaccinated against Adenovirus Type 2 before entering into any type of boarding situation. This vaccination also protects dogs against hepatitis, which is generally no longer thought of as a threat due to the success of this vaccine.

Other vaccinations include parainfluenza and bordetella, both of which protect the dog against other forms of “kennel cough.” Although parainfluenza is no longer common in dogs, many kennels or veterinarian offices refuse to board dogs who are not up to date on this vaccination. Bordetella, though, is quite common and all dogs should be protected against this bacterium. This vaccination is not a shot, but rather a liquid spray that is inserted up the dog’s nose and into his lungs. This vaccination usually protects the dog for an entire year, so you should arrange to update this vaccination on a regular basis.

The most common vaccination is that against rabies. Most counties and cities require dogs receive the booster shots at the appropriate time and wear tags with the date of this booster imprinted in addition to their identification tags and registration. Rabies is a terrible disease for any dog to suffer through, and incredibly dangerous to humans as well, so be sure to protect your pup.

Finally, there are some vaccinations on the market that have achieved limited success. An example of such a vaccine is the Lyme Disease vaccine, which has just recently gained popularity. There are a couple of different options currently on the market, but both show preliminary success against fighting this deadly disease in dogs.

Whatever the reason for vaccinating your dog, ensuring your dog’s shot records are up to date is critical for ensuring the medical health of your pooch.