Vaccinations protect your dog from harmful, often deadly microbes such as parvovirus, hepatitis, and distemper virus. It is a kind of defense mechanism against the disease before it can reach your pup.
Your dog must be protected against the infectious disease throughout their lives. That’s why, dog vaccination courses start from puppyhood and continue to adulthood.
Vaccination & Its Purpose
Like human bodies, dogs' natural defense system requires time to recognize the microbe, prepare enough white blood cells, and finally attack the disease-causing agent. Meanwhile, the pathogen has taken over the healthy body and caused disease.
To prevent this delay in the natural process, a series of injections, containing modified parts of the virus or a whole dead virus is introduced into your dog’s circulation.
It cannot be able to cause the disease but alerts the body’s natural mechanism to prepare the specific white cells against that specific microbe.
So, when the true virus finds its way into your dog’s body, the already-prepared defense system kills it off.
Common Dog Vaccines
All dog vaccines are generally categorized into two groups: Core Vaccines and Non-core Vaccines.
Core Vaccines
All those vaccines that are a must for all dogs and puppies are known as core vaccines.
Most veterinarians recommend having your dog vaccinated with them because they protect your furry friend from fatal infectious diseases.
The four core vaccines are:
- Canine distemper
- Adenovirus (Hepatitis)
- Parvovirus
- Rabies
The first three are often given in one vaccine dose.
Non-core Vaccines
Mostly these vaccines are bacterial and considered optional. The administration of non-core vaccines depends on your dog’s lifestyle and residence location as if your dog lives in high-risk places such as stagnant water bodies, livestock farms, and rodents populated areas.
These vaccines often include:
- Bordetella.
- Leptospira.
- Adenovirus Intranasal.
- Borrelia Burgdorferi (Lyme disease)
- Canine Influenza
- Parainfluenza
To decide whether your dog needs non-core vaccines, and if they do, which ones they can have, you should always concern your veterinarian.
Essential Vaccines for Your Dog
So, you got the overview of core and non-core vaccines. Here is the basic overview of essential vaccines for your pup that you must have.
Remember, your puppy needs vaccination doses at a certain age and requires booster doses from time to time to maintain the efficacy of the injected vaccine. Meanwhile, adult dogs require booster shots for vaccines.
Rabies
Rabies is the most dangerous infectious disease that always results in death. That’s why it is the most important vaccine required by the law in most countries. There is no cure but only prevention.
Rabies can spread from one animal to another or humans. Once your dog is vaccinated, it is protected against the bite of the infected animal. So, you do not want to miss this shot.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus causes disease in the digestive system, which affects dogs of all ages. It starts with frequent bloody diarrhea, which leads to loss of water and minerals. Extreme dehydration causes death.
It is commonly found in puppies, but it can cause serious diseases in senior dogs. Dogs having serious medical history are at risk.
The vaccination should be given around four weeks of the puppy’s age. The booster doses must be followed frequently during early life and then continued regularly throughout their life.
Canine Distemper
It is an upper respiratory disease in dogs. The dogs can catch it from the coughing of other dogs or animals who are infected. The severity of the disease occurs in young pups, senior dogs, or other dogs with underlying medical conditions.
The puppies must be vaccinated and should receive booster doses throughout the early years of their lives. The senior dogs can rely on their annual booster shots.
Canine Adenovirus
Canine Adenovirus, also known as canine hepatitis, is an infectious viral disease associated with upper respiratory disorders, acute liver failure, and fever.
Once infected, there is more than a 10% chance of causing death. The virus spread via the feces of infected dogs. Even the recovered ones pass the virus in their stools for six months after recovery, hence being the carrier for healthy dogs.
The vaccination is injected at an early age and should be continued for the rest of their lives as scheduled.
Bordetella
Unlike previously discussed infectious agents, Bordetella is the bacteria that causes Kennel Cough in dogs. It is commonly found among dogs, especially those who go to boarding or daycare with unvaccinated dogs.
This is not often a fatal disease, but serious consequences can occur in little pups and senior dogs that have weaker immune systems.
Canine Influenza
It is a highly contagious virus. If one dog gets infected, it takes no time to spread among all the dogs in the town. The disease is related to coughing, nasal secretion, and fever.
It is often serious and sometimes fatal. However, the vaccine is safe to be given to pups at a very young age. Throughout their lives, the annual doses can be given to those dogs who go to boarding or day-care.
Over-Vaccinating is Harmful
Although getting your dog vaccinated on time is necessary, you should not over-vaccinate it. The side effects of vaccination can be mild, from lethargy to serious complications, like anaphylactic shock and even death.
Once your dog gets a timely vaccination, do not take the dose before time. By doing this, you are not making it more immune but overdriving its immune system, which can attack its own body.
The recommended vaccine and its doses at the right time are the only way to protect your loyal friend.
Conclusion
Every dog owner wants the healthy and long life of their furry friend. That’s why vaccination is a compulsory part of protecting your dog from all harm.
The article covers the basic knowledge of the essentials of vaccines. It would be best to consult your vet about which optional vaccines your dog needs. One missing dose can be harmful to your dog’s health, so it is recommended to follow the vaccine schedule.