You can ask your vet for titers. Titers are blood tests that show the level of protection your dog has to a specific disease. Titers used to be more expensive, but now there are two types of economical in-clinic titer tests that may be available at your vet. This is usually done to tempt dog owners to make the risky decision to save money by just getting the vaccinations instead. So what can you do then? You can get titers yourself for the most important tests — distemper and parvovirus. So, are annual dog vaccines necessary?
Do your research before you take him to the clinic, and be prepared to stand your ground if your vet recommends giving unnecessary vaccinations. Top 10 Mistakes Dog Owners Make. How Vaccination Causes Skin Disease.
Ready to make your own dog food? Shop Now. In order for vaccines to provide the protection puppies need, they are given every two to four weeks until they are at least 16 weeks of age. Adult dogs need their core vaccines DAP and rabies vaccines in addition to any noncore vaccines decided upon between you and your veterinarian. A dog vaccination schedule for an adult dog may look like this:. If they are overdue or it is their first time getting a vaccine, your vet may recommend a booster vaccine or an annual schedule in order to assure appropriate protection for your pet.
Rabies is a virus that causes neurologic disease that is fatal for domestic pets, wildlife and people. It is most notably transmitted through a bite from an infected animal and can be transmitted to the owner through bite wounds as well. The rabies vaccine is required by law in the US, and despite the excellent vaccination system we have, there are still animals and people that come down with rabies every year.
Due to the fatality and zoonosis associated with rabies nearly percent , there are legal ramifications if your pet is not current on their rabies vaccine. Therefore, it is very important to keep your pet up to date. If an unvaccinated or overdue pet is exposed to a potentially rabid animal, or accidently bites someone, it may result in health concerns, the need to quarantine your pet or euthanasia in certain circumstances. The DAP vaccine protects against a combination of diseases that can spread quickly among dogs and have serious implications for canines, including severe illness and death.
Bordetella and canine parainfluenza virus are two agents associated with a highly contagious cough commonly known as " kennel cough ," or canine infectious respiratory disease complex CIRDC.
Diseases from these agents typically resolve on their own but sometimes can lead to pneumonia or more severe respiratory disease. Because Bordetella is so contagious, boarding and doggy day care facilities across the US require your pet to have this vaccine. It is highly contagious and causes cough, nasal discharge and low-grade fever in dogs. Outbreaks in the US draw a lot of attention, as influenza viruses can give rise to new strains of influenza that have the potential to affect other species and possibly cause death.
Typically, the canine influenza vaccines are recommended for dogs that go to day care, boarding, the groomers or any place where they will be among other dogs. Discuss with your vet if this vaccine is recommended for your pet.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can cause severe kidney or liver failure in both dogs and people. Note: The distemper vaccine is commonly grouped with the parvovirus, adenovirus-2 hepatitis , and parainfluenza vaccines below. Parvovirus Symptoms: Lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain; bloating; fever or low body temperature hypothermia ; vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea.
Dehydration can result after persistent vomiting and diarrhea; and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock. This disease is highly contagious and often fatal. How it spreads: Dog-to-dog contact and feces. Adenovirus-2 Hepatitis Symptoms: Inflammation of the liver; dry, hacking cough; retching; coughing up white, foamy discharge; eye inflammation; and mild fever. In severe, often fatal cases, symptoms can include higher fever, depression, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of the head and neck, and jaundice.
Severe cases often occur in young puppies. How it spreads: Dog-to-dog contact, feces, and urine. This condition is highly contagious, but most dogs recover. Some deaths from the H3N2 virus have been reported.
How it spreads: Coughing, barking, and sneezing. Rabies Symptoms: This inflammation of the brain and spinal cord can lead to fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, paralysis, and seizures. This disease is often fatal. How it spreads: Saliva, usually through the bite of an infected animal. It can lurk in bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes—in cities and in rural areas.
Note: Required vaccination frequency varies from state to state. If your dog is frequently boarded or groomed, for example, it might be vaccinated against Bordetella bronchiseptica kennel cough.
If you live in a wooded area with lots of ticks , hiking, and swimming, your vet may recommend vaccines against Lyme disease and Leptospira bacteria a bacteria spread through animal urine, blood, or tissues that can cause fever, joint pain, and general malaise. And the potential ramifications of your pet coming down with the illness far outweigh the slight chance that your dog will experience any serious side effects.
Mild side effects to be expected after vaccination, according to the AVMA, include irritation or swelling at the injection site, mild fever, diminished appetite, low energy, sneezing, or mild coughing. As with any vaccination including those in humans , there are even rarer risks of an allergic reaction. These warning signs of a life-threatening allergic reaction could occur minutes to hours after vaccination.
Dogs with certain medical conditions might need to avoid vaccination because it could trigger a bigger immune response that might attack parts of the body. Discuss the appropriate vaccination approach with your vet if your dog has conditions such as cancer, an active infection, or an autoimmune disease, such as canine lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, Bierbrier and Stone say.
In some cases, it may be better to avoid vaccination or delay until the dog is better.
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