Know All About Vaccination For Dogs

Vaccinations to your pet dog for serious canine diseases like distemper, rabies and hepatitis have become very common especially in US; these regular vaccinations protect the health of the pet and other members of the human family.

Points worth considering regarding vaccination for dogs:

• Annual vaccination was a general rule, but this rule does not hold good today; vaccination for dogs have become safer and better customized, so it has become common for veterinarians to recommend less frequent vaccination that are tailored to the dog’s specific needs.

• The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released various health guidelines for pet dogs. One of the most important guideline is that each dog is different considering his/her health status, breed, age, lifestyle, environment and travel habits; so an immunization schedule needs to be  individually tailored to a dog's specific needs and risk factors.

• Another guideline of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) states that the risk for various diseases varies greatly from city to city across the country and also between two different areas in the same city. So it is very important to work with your veterinarian regarding the immunizations and their frequency.  

• Vaccinations are of 2 types namely core vaccines and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines include vaccinations for diseases like rabies, adenovirus, parvovirus and distemper that can be transferred easily and are fatal. Non-core vaccines include vaccination for diseases like Lyme disease, kennel cough and leptospirosis that mainly depend on the lifestyle and environment exposure; your veterinarian is to best person to determine the need for these vaccines.

• Some pet owners worry about the health risks associated with vaccination; these risks are far less than not being vaccinated at all. Your vet would be able to answer your queries regarding the potential side-effects of a vaccination; he would base his decision on various factors like the lifestyle and age of the dog, and the potential diseases he/she is exposed to. 

• Reactions to vaccination are very rare; however in case of allergic reaction contact the vet immediately to safeguard against serious and grave conditions. Sometimes a reaction to vaccination can make your dog's immune system respond by attacking the tissue within the body; this could result in disorders of the skin, blood, joint or nervous system.  

• Where pet dogs are kenneled frequently or are in regular contact with other dogs through grooming salons or shows, non-core vaccinations like kennel cough have to be administered more often.

• Even if your pet dog is vaccinated every 3 years, it is essential that you arrange for an annual examination by your vet; every year of the dog is equivalent to 7 years, this would provide the vet sufficient time to detect problems and offer effective treatment.

Image Courtesy: Google