Dog Vaccinations
Protecting your Dog from disease
Vaccinations have positively changed the way we handle infectious diseases in our dogs. It is very important to have your animals vaccinated to help not only your pet but the animal population as a whole.
Puppy Vaccination
Puppies are given temporary protection against quite a few diseases by the antibodies in their mother’s milk. The level of antibodies will decline over the first couple of months after they are born. Vaccines can be neutralised while the antibodies received via the mothers’ milk is still present in the puppy’s blood which is why a vaccination regime has been made to ensure the vaccines are effective.
Adult Vaccination
The resistance against diseases gained from vaccinations will decrease as the dog gets older. Yearly booster vaccinations and health checks will give your pet the best protection possible.
Post Vaccination Care
You may notice a difference in your dog’s behaviour or they may have some slight tenderness and swelling at the injection site for a day or two after the vaccination. To help your dog recover ensure they have access to food and water and provide them with a comfortable area to rest. If the changes seem to be severe, you should contact us for advice on 4639 1733.
The diseases that dogs are vaccinated against include:
Canine Parvovirus: This disease can affect dogs of any age. The virus attacks the intestines which can cause blood in the stools, bad abdominal pain and uncontrollable vomiting. Dogs often pass away from extreme dehydration. The virus is extremely infectious and dogs that get the disease do not need to have contact with a dog that has the virus as the virus can stay alive in the environment. Once a dog has the disease its environment must be cleaned with a strong disinfectant to prevent transmission to another dog.
Canine Distemper: Distemper is an extremely contagious and viral disease that can affect all dogs. Symptoms can include coughing, nasal discharge, sneezing, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and depression. This can progress to muscle tremors, paralysis and fits. Treatment is most often ineffective with a low recovery rate.
Canine Hepatitis: Hepatitis is a viral disease which is incredibly contagious and most often fatal. Any dog of any age can be infected. Symptoms include loss of appetite, high fever, diarrhea, depression, vomiting and acute abdominal pain. Recovery is possible; however, most dogs develop long term liver and kidney problems and can carry the disease and infect other dogs for a long time.
Kennel Cough: This is a condition caused by two highly contagious diseases which can be spread wherever dogs go. The infectious agents connected with the disease are the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica and the canine parainfluenza virus. Symptoms include a dry hacking cough which continues for a couple of weeks and can lead to pneumonia.
Canine Coronavirus: This is a contagious disease that causes loss of appetite, depression, diarrhoea and vomiting. Most dogs will recover with treatment.
Canine Leptospirosis: The urine of rats carries the disease and dogs contract it by consuming contaminated food and water or by rat bites.
