Vaccinations For Dogs

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

08 Jan 2007 03:25 PM

Vaccinations protect your pets against diseases that we were once helpless against. Diseases like rabies and distemper are easily prevented, helping ensure your pet has a long and healthy life. Vaccinating your pets also helps protect you and your family -- some diseases can be passed from animal to human.

The American Animal Hospital Association released canine vaccine guidelines in 2003 and updated them in 2006 to help veterinarians administer appropriate vaccines to dogs. The guidelines were developed by veterinarians, researchers, immunologists, and infectious disease experts.

There are two different kinds of vaccine: core vaccines and noncore vaccines. Core vaccines are generally recommended for all dogs and protect against diseases that are serious and/or potentially fatal. Core vaccines recommended by the AAHA are: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and rabies. Noncore vaccines are reserved for dogs that may be at risk for exposure due to lifestyle. Some noncore vaccines are for Lyme disease and kennel cough.

Adverse reactions to vaccines are rare in dogs. Your dog may experience local pain and swelling. Serious allergic reactions are infrequent, but can be life-threatening. If you have a concern about a pet's reaction to an injection, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Recent studies suggest that vaccines protect dogs longer than previously believed. Some veterinarians are vaccinating dogs less frequently, or tailoring vaccine combinations to each specific dog's situation. Your veterinarian should consider your dog's age, breed, general health, home and yard environment, lifestyle, and travel habits when creating an immunization program. Your state or municipality may have particular rules about the length of time between booster shots. Rabies, for example, may require a booster every year, or every three years. Your veterinarian may even test for the amount of protective antibodies in your dog before deciding to administer a booster shot. These tests are called titers, and are becoming more available and affordable every year.

Even if you are waiting more than a year between vaccinations, you should bring your dog in for a check-up at least once every year. Vaccinations are only one part of the whole health equation.

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Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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