As with all animal species, dogs are most susceptible to diseases in the first few months after birth. Over the years, specialists have developed a vaccination schedule for dogs. It is a conventional timetable that helps to determine at what age to vaccinate a dog against a specific disease. This helps protect your pet from the most common health problems.
What can dogs be vaccinated against?
What is vaccination? It is the administration of dead or weakened pathogens to stimulate the body to develop immunity. For dogs, core vaccinations are available against:
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rabies,
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parvovirus, -
distemper, -
and Rubarth's disease.
Only the rabies vaccination is mandatory, but every dog should also receive the other vaccines. They usually come in the form of a polyvalent vaccine, which combines several pathogens. Dogs can additionally be vaccinated against:
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borreliosis,
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leptospirosis, -
herpesvirus infection -
or kennel cough.
These vaccinations are given to dogs living in environments that favor the occurrence of the specific disease.
Dog vaccination schedule
The vaccination schedule is available in three versions:
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early (vaccinations start after the 6th week of life),
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standard (after the 9th week) -
and later (after the 12th week).
When choosing additional vaccinations for your pet, it is worth knowing how the disease progresses and which dogs are particularly at risk.
Rabies – characteristics
Rabies is a very dangerous disease that can also be transmitted to humans. It is important to be careful because dogs of all ages are at risk. Due to the nature of the problem and the threat, rabies vaccinations are mandatory and repeated every year. The disease progresses in several stages. Symptoms include excessive salivation, aggression, sensitivity to light, and fear of water. It is fatal. The animal dies from respiratory failure. Currently, there is no cure for rabies, which is why regular vaccinations are so important.
Parvovirus in puppies
Parvovirus mainly affects puppies. It is caused by a virus that is very resistant to environmental conditions. It is difficult to eliminate and very easy to transfer, for example, on shoes or clothing. Dogs that have never been outside and have had no contact with other animals can also get parvovirus. The disease takes two forms: intestinal and cardiac.
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Intestinal parvovirus – occurs more frequently and manifests with symptoms such as lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, and bloody diarrhea.
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Cardiac form of parvovirus – occurs in very young puppies, usually due to infection from the mother, often causing sudden death without prior symptoms.
Parvovirus most often affects puppies between the second and sixth month of life. The appearance of this disease in large groups of dogs, e.g., in breeding facilities, is particularly dangerous. A new puppy should not be introduced to a place where a dog with parvovirus has been for the next six months (the pathogen can survive in the environment for that long).
Different faces of canine distemper
Distemper can occur in dogs of any age, but puppies between 2 and 5 months old are most commonly affected. Infection occurs through contact with nasal and eye secretions, saliva, or urine of an infected individual. The first symptoms appear 3-7 days after infection, starting with fever. Later, the disease can have a varied course and, depending on symptoms, take the form of:
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catarrhal (mild symptoms, nasal discharge, diarrhea),
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pulmonary (severe course, nasal discharge, and pneumonia), -
ocular (conjunctivitis), -
skin, -
gastrointestinal -
or nervous.
The latter is particularly dangerous. Its complication often includes epilepsy, and changes in the nervous system are permanent and incurable. Treatment mainly involves managing symptoms. Vaccination against distemper is done between the 6th and 8th week of life and should be regularly repeated.
Liver diseases in dogs
Rubarth's disease, or infectious canine hepatitis, can enter a pet's body through droplets, food, or contact with a sick animal. It is especially dangerous for dogs up to two weeks old. It manifests as diarrhea and high fever. During the illness, hepatitis and jaundice may also occur. There is no cure for this disease, and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms. Lack of specialized therapy can lead to the animal's death.
What does coughing mean in a dog?
Kennel cough can infect dogs of any age, but those living in large groups are particularly at risk. The disease often appears in kennels, so puppies are especially vulnerable. The first symptom is lethargy and loss of appetite, followed by fever, nasal discharge, and a characteristic cough, choking, and even vomiting. Shortness of breath worsens during physical exertion. Then the nasal discharge intensifies. The disease has an especially severe course in puppies. Treatment can last several months, so it is worth vaccinating the dog against this disease in the first weeks of life.
Leptospirosis – a disease of hunting dogs
It is especially worth vaccinating hunting dogs, herding dogs, those in contact with farm animals, and those that like to stay in water, especially in dirty water bodies and puddles, against leptospirosis. This is where the bacteria responsible for this disease most often reside. Leptospirosis occurs in three forms. The most common symptoms are hemorrhages, jaundice, severe vomiting and diarrhea, stiff gait, and in the septic form – shortness of breath, which can even lead to death. Treatment involves antibiotic therapy. How to prevent it? The easiest way is vaccination. If you do not consider this option, it is worth ensuring that the dog does not drink water from puddles or bathe in unverified water bodies.
At the veterinarian: a few tips
In this text, we have described only a few of the most common diseases in dogs. The vaccination schedule includes other threats as well. Which vaccinations to include in your pet's prevention should be discussed with a veterinarian. The specialist will not only assess the risk related to the dog's living environment but also help select the most necessary vaccinations.
It is important that the puppy is healthy at the time of vaccination. It must not be worm-infested either. We are well aware that parasite infestations in young dogs are a common phenomenon, so we pay attention to this aspect. If the veterinarian does not ensure before vaccination that the dog is healthy, you should definitely remind them. You should also inform about any worrying symptoms before administering the vaccine. This is very important because a weakened body may not cope with the pathogen introduced during vaccination.
Remember that prevention is a key element on the path to the healthy development of every dog, so vaccinations should not be neglected, as in many cases they can even save the life of the four-legged friend.
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