Why Is It Important to Vaccinate a Dog?
Just like with humans, vaccinations are an important element of the preventative care of your dog. Vaccines protect dogs from a wide variety of diseases and help them to live longer, healthier lives. Veterinarians used to recommend that dogs get vaccinated every year, but recent research shows that some vaccinations last much longer than that and do not need to be re-administered annually. In addition to protecting your dog from illness, vaccines also raise group immunity. Group immunity is the resistance of a population of dogs to a particular pathogen. A high group immunity raises the chances of the eradication of the pathogen from the dog population, and greatly reduces the likelihood that un-vaccinated dogs will be exposed.
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Knowing What Vaccinations Your Dog Needs
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According to the American Animal Hospital Association, there are two classes of vaccines: core and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are typically recommended for all dogs because they protect against serious and fatal illnesses that are easily transmitted between animals. Non-core vaccines target less virulent pathogens and are generally recommended for dogs with high-risk lifestyles or immune deficiency.
Types
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Core vaccines include distemper, parovirus, rabies and adenovirus. Noncore vaccines include kennel cough, leptospirosis and lyme disease, according to the website Vetinfo.
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Susceptibility Window
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A puppy receives a large number of antibodies from his mother. These maternal antibodies can block the action of many vaccines. Because of this, veterinarians often recommend puppies reach at least 6 weeks of age before administering vaccinations, according to PetEducation.com.
When Should Puppies Be Vaccinated?
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The window of susceptibility can vary from litter to litter, and even from puppy to puppy. For this reason, veterinarians recommend a series of vaccinations in the first year of life, to make sure the puppy is protected from pathogens. Vaccinations are typically given at 6 weeks, with boosters every three weeks until about 16 weeks of age.
Vaccination Risk
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According to the American Animal Hospital Association, vaccine reactions are extremely rare. Most reactions that do occur are minor and involve local swelling and pain. Sometimes, however, an allergic reaction to the compounds in the vaccine can occur. When this happens, emergency treatment is recommended. As with all medical procedures, the benefits should be weighed against the risks. Statistically, the risk of disease is much greater than the risk of adverse vaccination reactions.
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References
Resources
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