What should you know about
Puppy Vaccination?
If you didn’t already know, puppy vaccination involves a veterinarian injecting a small amount of a bacteria or virus into your pup. This stimulates the body of your pup’s immune system to fight against the virus. This results in your pooches body creating it’s own protection from it. This may seem strange as it seems you are injecting your puppy with something you don’t want it to have. It is important to know that the injection is made up of a weakened or inactive part of the virus or bacteria. Your job as a new puppy owner is not only to ensure that your puppy gets the right vaccinations but also at the right times. Note: It is important that you speak to your Veterinarian in regards to what puppy vaccinations you will need. In different regions and areas of the world, different vaccinations are required. It is also best to have vaccinations done by an experienced Veterinarian for safety reasons.
Some Diseases that can be vaccinated against:
Parvovirus: This disease has its harshest effects on your puppy’s gastrointestinal tract. This causes vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. Be aware that your puppies are especially at risk to contracting Parvo, as it is commonly known, which can be fatal to them. Distemper:This disease can cause many problems for your pooch including respiratory and neurological issues, fever, lethargy and many others.
Hepatitis (Infectious canine hepatitis):This mainly causes issues within the liver of your dog or puppy. It also has effects on their eyes, kidneys, tonsils and larynx. Kennel Cough (Bordetella):This is a very nasty respiratory problem in your puppy that can cause a dry sounding cough, sometimes conjunctivitis and discharge from the nose. This vaccination can be given either through an injection or intranasal (via a puppy’s nose).
It is usually a requirement for your dog to be vaccinated against this to stay in a kennel or be part of obedience classes as it highly contagious.
Rabies:This viral disease is transmitted via an infected dog biting your pooch. This vaccination may be compulsory depending on the region or area you live in. Please speak to your Vet in regards to this disease. Coronavirus:Another viral condition, this causes diarrhea especially in your puppies when they are younger. Leptospirosis:Your dog’s internal organs, especially the kidney and liver are damaged by this disease. Not a routine vaccination in many areas of the world but may be recommended in an area which has a high number of wild rats. Other vaccines:Others may also be available including the rattlesnake vaccination, which can be given to your dog if you are in a high risk area of a certain disease. It is important to discuss the different vaccination options with your veterinarian in order to choose the best puppy vaccination regime for your pooch.
The Common Puppy Vaccination RegimeBelow is the age at which your puppy will most likely need vaccinations from your Veterinarian. Please speak to your Vet as these may differ depending on your area and the vaccination used. 6-8 weeks old 10-12 weeks old 14-16 weeks old Annual Adult BoostersPuppy Vaccination Reactions: Sometimes your puppy or dog may have a reaction to a vaccine. This may occur in the 24 hour period following your pup having a vaccination. If your puppy does have a reaction, the symptoms they may show are lethargy, fever, pain, muscle aches or more seriously facial swelling.
Vaccine reactions are rare but you should always keep a close eye on your pup in the hours following a vaccination. If your puppy does react to vaccines then your veterinarian will most likely choose to give an alternative vaccine the next time. They may also give an antihistamine injection prior to your dog’s vaccinations.
Please be aware that vaccinations your pup will receive, do not guarantee that they will not get the diseases. Also note that not all conditions can be vaccinated against.
Having your best friend vaccinated will give them the best chance (in combination with worming your puppy) to be healthy and disease free. As a loving dog owner, that’s what you can really hope for.
Return from Puppy Vaccination to Suitable Puppies
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