It goes without saying
that a dog should undergo dog vaccination. Vaccinating your
dog is not a particularly difficult task. A Typical Dog
Vaccination Schedule need not be onerous or expensive. It
can be accomplished quite simply at the veterinarian’s
office. In addition, you can administer most vaccines
yourself. This can save a lot of time as well as a great
deal of money in the long term.
If you choose to administer the vaccines yourself, it is
helpful to understand the difference between subcutaneous
and intramuscular vaccines. Subcutaneous vaccines, called SQ
for short, are administered underneath the dog’s skin.
Generally, they are injected in either the dog’s right or
left shoulder. Intramuscular vaccines, or IM, are
administered in the muscle. No matter which type of vaccine
being administered, it is important to use only one needle
for each vaccine.
Vaccines are also either modified live or killed. A vaccine
that is modified live will provide your pet with a stronger
and longer lasting vaccination with more rapid protection.
Killed vaccines, on the other hand, have a lower immune
response and will need a booster vaccination in order to
continue the protection.
There are certain important considerations that must be met
when preparing a dog for vaccination. Before your dog can be
vaccinated, you must ensure that it is free of external and
internal parasites. In addition, temperature must be within
the normal range, which is around 101.5 to 102 degrees
Fahrenheit for most dogs. It should also be free of fleas,
worms, and ticks and it is best to avoid vaccinating dogs
that are pregnant. With dog vaccines it is a case of one
size fits all. No matter the size or weight of your dog, all
dogs receive the same dose of vaccinations.
For the most part, dogs should receive the following
vaccinations: Distemper, Leptospirosis, Hepatitis, Para
influenza, Parvo virus, Corona virus, kennel cough, and
rabies.
Canine distemper is one of the most serious viral infections
affecting dogs. Nearly 50% of those that are not vaccinated
or otherwise immunized become infected with canine
distemper. Sadly, approximately 90% of dogs with canine
distemper ultimately die from the disease, which is airborne
and highly contagious. Canine distemper is most frequently
found in puppies under three months old.
Signs of canine distemper include diarrhea, vomiting, and
dehydration. As it progresses, the dog may also develop a
fever and appear to suffer from depression. Vomiting and
diarrhea continue and blood may be present in the stool. In
addition, the dog will show signs of respiratory distress,
such as labored breathing and coughing. It may also
experience inflammation of the tissues around the nose and
eyes.
Kennel cough, which is technically called Bordetella
Bronchiseptica and commonly referred to as Canine Upper
Respiratory Disease Complex, is a serious bacterial illness.
Symptoms include a dry, harsh cough. In addition, dogs
suffering from kennel cough are aggravated by excitement or
activity. Gagging or retching as the dog attempts to clear
mucus from the throat also follows the characteristic cough.
The dog’s body temperature may also rise. This disease,
which is highly common, is most often passed on from dog to
dog at kennels and dog shows.
Enlarged tonsils and fever characterize infectious canine
hepatitis. Modified live canine hepatitis vaccines have some
side effects, so it is generally best to use the killed
vaccination. Viral hepatitis is not as common among dogs as
it once was, but it is still important to protect your pet
against it.
Canine Para influenza (CPI) is a very contagious respiratory
disease. Coughing, which is worsened by activity and
excitement, is the main sign of parainfluenza. Colds,
drafts, and high humidity can aggravate the symptoms and
make an animal more prone to catching the disease. Usually,
CPI runs its course in five to ten days, but secondary
bacterial infections can form as a result of the CPI and
cause additional complications.
Canine Cronoavirus results in anorexia, lethargy, and
depression. Sometimes, vomiting may occur and may be bloody.
Moderate to severe projectile diarrhea can also occur, with
yellow-orange coloring and mucus and blood present in the
stool.
When your dog is six to eight weeks old, it should receive
its first DHLPPC vaccination, which includes Distemper,
Leptospirosis, Hepatitis, Para influenza, Parvo virus, and
Corona virus. At ten to twelve weeks, is should receive its
second DHLPPC vaccination, as well as a vaccination against
kennel cough.
By fourteen to sixteen weeks, your dog should receive its
third DHLPPC shot, as well as a rabies vaccination. In most
states, you will n
eed to have a veterinarian administer the rabies shot in
order to prove it was given to your pet. Every year after
receiving its initial shots, your dog should receive a
DHLPPC booster, a kennel cough booster, and a rabies booster
