Vaccinating your Dog:

It is important that you immunize your pet dog through vaccination against several common preventable ailments to ensure the well being of the creature. Vaccination plays as crucial a role in boosting a young puppy’s immunity as it does in the case of a human baby. The antibodies that vaccines produce in a creature defend it against several preventable diseases so it is essential that every pet owner take vaccination seriously. The breed of your dog and its geographical location determine to a great extent the potential risk that it faces of suffering from particular diseases. Thus, it is necessary that you consult your vet before drawing up a schedule to get your dog vaccinated. The American Animal Hospital Association categorizes canine vaccines into two groups: “core” and “non-core”. The former category includes vaccines such as adenovirus, distemper, rabies and parvovirus, which are commonly found in dogs and are easily transmissible. The latter category includes vaccines for kennel cough, leptospirosis and Lyme disease.

A combination vaccine, consisting of adenovirus cough, distemper, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and hepatitis vaccines, should be given to the puppy between 6 and 9 weeks of age. You must also give your dog a canine distemper vaccine after it is 8 weeks of age or older. A single booster dose of the parvovirus vaccine at the end of the year is believed to provide sufficient immunity for several years. When the puppy is 12 weeks old, you should get it vaccinated against rabies. This is essential to keep your dog in good health as well as to ensure the safety of your family and friends who come into close contact with your pet.  Some vets may also recommend a Lyme disease vaccine for your pet before the age of 15 weeks, especially if you plan to travel to a place where this ailment could be a concern. At this age, your dog should also be given the leptospirosis and the coronavirus vaccines. You should remember, however, that vaccinations often produce allergic reactions in dogs, especially if your pet suffers from some nutritional deficiency or an already weakened immunity. Thus, several veterinary doctors suggest that the puppy should be vaccinated only against the most serious and deadly ailments. Minor symptoms like mild fever and lethargy often appear for 24-48 hours after dog vaccination. If your dog starts sneezing, wheezing or vomiting after being vaccinated, you should immediately rush him to an animal hospital.