Vaccinations allow our four-legged friend to defend himself from dangerous diseases, which could make him ill, in some cases irreversibly. Knowing about canine prophylaxis means allowing the animal to be immune to diseases and be able to live better and longer.
This article aims to give an overview on the topic of vaccinations. Getting an education on the subject will allow the owner and the dog to live in complete safety. However, we feel the need to warn the reader that this article will contain only general information on diseases and prophylaxis; no drugs will be mentioned, as the veterinarian takes care of them. By the time he arrives home, the puppy should have already received his first vaccination. At seven or eight weeks of age the dog is not fully protected against many diseases and care must be taken not to approach him with other dogs until he has finished his vaccination program.
In order for him to be well protected, it is essential to continue vaccinating him for life.
The veterinarian will use the vaccination schedule that best suits the lifestyle and living environment of each animal. Some vaccines can be injected simultaneously with the same syringe, others must be injected one at a time, in different sites but in the same session. As with children, many of the primary vaccinations are done through a series of successive injections.
The principle on which vaccination is based is the stimulation of the body's defenses against certain specific diseases. The immune defense is supported by numerous cells and molecules, such as antibodies. Puppies get protection against many infectious diseases thanks to the antibodies contained in their mother's milk they receive in the first hours of life, namely colostrum. However, protection of maternal origin lasts less than three months. At this point, vaccination programs take place around two months of age, the period in which the first vaccination takes place, and then complete in the third month, when maternal antibodies decrease. In order to maintain the protection, vaccination boosters are essential, which stimulate the immune defenses so that the protection is active for a further period. By the time these calls are stopped, the dog's immune system can fail as it is unable to protect it from serious, often fatal, illnesses.
The main infectious diseases against which dogs are vaccinated today are parvo, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and infectious bronchitis. These are all highly contagious and difficult to cure. Rabies vaccination is mandatory only in some particular conditions and to bring the animal abroad, but it can also be recommended by the veterinarian.
Canine parvo is considered to be the most serious and common infectious disease in dogs. It represents a serious problem, with outbreaks that can occur cyclically. It begins suddenly with vomiting and foul-smelling, bleeding diarrhea leading to dehydration and collapse. Parvo also attacks the heart. Puppy death can occur within 24 hours. The only protection against this disease is vaccination.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious and often fatal disease. Dogs that manage to overcome the disease are forced to live with some problems such as deformation of the teeth, nervous tics and predisposition to epileptic episodes. Therapy is often useless because the incubation period is long (typically three weeks) and when the infection appears it is generally too late to vaccinate.
Canine infectious hepatitis is a disease that affects the liver. Acute forms can cause dog death within 24-36 hours of its onset. Those who survive the disease can become carriers and spread the virus to other dogs.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by different serotypes. Transmissible directly from sick to healthy animals or indirectly through the ingestion of contaminated material, the vectors of diffusion are mainly rodents, which excrete leptospires in the urine. In dogs, leptospirosis manifests itself with various symptoms: hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, jaundice, nephritis. In addition to being dangerous for the dog, this pathology can be transmitted to humans. In dogs, vaccination prevention covers the two most frequently encountered serotypes of Leptospirosis and it is advisable to vaccinate particularly exposed dogs before the risk period.
Infectious bronchitis virus or canine parainfluenza is one of the pathogens responsible for the disease known as "kennel cough". As the name implies, it is a disease that affects the respiratory system and is very contagious, specific to kennels, boarding houses, farms and shelters. At the origin of this disease there are numerous viruses and bacteria, among which the main and fundamental are considered the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium and the Parainfluenza virus. Dogs affected by this disease exhibit a dry cough that can last for many weeks. There is a specific vaccination program, which is recommended for dogs living in the community.
Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted to humans (zoonosis) through the bite and contact of a wound with the saliva or urine of infected animals. It is therefore important not to let dogs free in regions where this disease is widespread in wild animals. Very present especially in Germany, France, Austria, Eastern countries and the former Yugoslavia, this disease manifests itself with symptoms that damage the nervous system above all. Rabies vaccination is mandatory for those wishing to take the dog abroad, but it can however be advised by the veterinarian in other circumstances as well.
Dog vaccinations are recorded on a special booklet, in which the details of each vaccine and the date of administration are written. In essence, it shows the dog's vaccination history, giving the owner the opportunity to adjust for subsequent boosters.
Vaccinating your dog means protecting him and the people around him. As with humans, the vaccine is the only defense weapon against certain diseases. Must be the owner in charge of the vaccination schedule. The veterinarian is the only one who can give more information on the subject and, above all, the only one who can perform the injections and vaccinations.