Vaccination of dogs

Why is vaccination needed?

The introduction of preventive vaccination helps save millions of human lives every year, and the situation with pets is no exception. Moreover, the vaccination of each individual animal or person is important not only for their individual protection, but also for creating the so-called herd immunity, as a result of which the number of individuals susceptible to the disease is reduced, and therefore the spread of the disease is interrupted.

So, for example, 20 years ago, dog distemper was quite common. In addition to a significant investment of time and money for treatment, this disease often causes complications in the form of lesions of the central nervous system, which are expressed in the form of convulsions, tics and paralysis. In some cases, the consequences are so serious that the normal life of the dog becomes impossible, and the animal has to be euthanized. And this is exactly the case when vaccination is much more effective than treatment.

Therefore, every dog ​​or puppy needs to be vaccinated with core vaccines that protect against canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis and rabies.

Depending on where the dog lives (in a country house or in an apartment), whether there are other animals in the house, whether the dog travels, participates in exhibitions, hunts or walks with the owner in the forest, he may need additional vaccinations to protect against parainfluenza dogs, leptospirosis and bordetellosis.

How often should a dog be vaccinated?

All puppies need an initial series of vaccinations to build good immunity from disease. Maternal antibodies are present in the blood of puppies, which can interfere with the development of their own immunity, which is why initially puppies need several vaccinations with an interval of 3-4 weeks. Usually vaccination begins at the age of 8-9 weeks, 3-5 vaccinations may be required before the age of one year, their exact number is determined by the veterinarian depending on the puppy’s living conditions.

Adult dogs that successfully complete their initial puppy vaccinations need yearly boosters (in some cases, boosters may be given every 3 years).

How to prepare a dog for vaccination?

Only clinically healthy dogs can be vaccinated. If the dog is healthy and the treatment for internal parasites is carried out regularly, then no special training is required. Puppies need to be dewormed before starting vaccinations. Since helminth infestation among puppies is very high, they usually receive several treatments for worms at intervals of two weeks. The choice of the drug and the frequency of use should be discussed with the attending veterinarian.

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For a more detailed study of the problem, we recommend contacting a specialist.