Pet Vaccination: An Effective Way to Prevent Diseases

Ensuring your dog lives long and healthily is possible by ensuring they’re current on health checks and vaccinations for the most commonly-spread canine diseases. Vaccinations are very effective and have minimal side effects in most dogs, including swelling or soreness around the injection site.

Vaccines could contain “modified live” or “killed” pathogens only in small amounts. When given, they prompt the dog’s immune system to generate antibodies and cells to fight the disease, aiding in preventing diseases.

Vaccine-Preventable Pet Diseases

Visiting the vet often over several months for vaccinations and boosters may be inconvenient; however, the illnesses that vaccinations can protect our pets from are extremely dangerous, even fatal, and mostly avoidable.

Here is a brief overview of the illnesses that your pet will be protected from through pet vaccinations:

1. Parvovirus

The canine parvovirus is spread through the feces and stools of infected dogs and is a highly deadly and contagious disease. The most susceptible canine populations include senior dogs and pups who are not vaccinated.

The virus is highly resistant and can survive in the air for long periods. The signs include rising body temperature, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and watery diarrhea. It is only through vaccination that you can prevent this fatal disease.

2. Distemper

Distemper is a virulent respiratory, digestive, and nervous system disease that may affect dogs, raccoons, wild skunks, and more. The virus is spread via the air when an infected animal sneezes or coughs. Food bowls or water that is shared is also a way to cause the spread of the virus.

The discharge of the nose and eyes, a high body temperature, diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions as well as paralysis, and then death are the main signs. The disease cannot be treated. Treatment includes supportive treatment and efforts to prevent secondary seizures, vomiting, infections, and many more.

3. Hepatitis

Canine Adenovirus type 1 is the leading cause of canine Hepatitis. Dogs may contract it from one another when they come into contact with contaminated fluids such as urine, saliva, or Feces. The symptoms of canine Hepatitis can range from mild to deadly, including eye damage, liver failure, and breathing difficulties.

4. Canine Cough

Canine Parainfluenza virus, Canine Adenovirus type II and Bordetella Bronchitiseptica are just a few of the bacteria and viruses that cause respiratory diseases in dogs, and the term “canine cough” is used to define them all collectively.

Canine cough is characterized by a dry, hacking cough that can last for weeks that is caused due to the presence of airborne bacteria and viruses. It’s a contagious disease that can cause life-threatening pneumonia in certain pets, so vaccination is necessary for all dogs.

5. Leptospirosis

In contact with diseased rodents or other animal urine is the most common route to transmit leptospirosis, an infectious bacterial disease. This disease can produce permanent kidney damage and be transferred to humans and other animals.

Aside from vaccinations, another aspect of pet care should be prioritized – dental health. Make regular visits to your veterinary dentist at a reputable clinic, like Spinnaker Veterinary Clinic, for pet dental examinations and cleanings to avoid oral health issues in your pet.

6. Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals. It is a virus that affects the central nervous system and causes symptoms like headaches, hallucinations, anxiety, excessive drooling, dread of water, and ultimately death or paralysis. The bite of an infected mammal usually spreads it. Death will likely occur if an infection isn’t treated within the first few hours.

However, if you are unsure about your pet’s condition, bring your pet to a trusted veterinarian. If your pet happens to need surgery, you can discuss options and what you might expect during surgery with a veterinary surgeon. 

Conclusion

The first thing to know is that no one vaccination schedule is applicable to every puppy. It’s based on many aspects, such as where you live and your breed’s specific risk factors. You and the veterinarian need to discuss this decision together.