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Vaccinations - Dogs
Rabies
Rabies is caused by a virus, and can affect any warm blooded animals, humans included! It is transmitted through the saliva via bite wounds. All puppies over 12 weeks of age should receive a rabies vaccination. We then recommend a booster a year later, then a booster every 3 years.
Distemper
Distemper vaccination is important for all puppies. This disease is still present in most areas and it is still hard to treat successfully. Even when a puppy is nursed through the acute phase of the disease, there can be long term health problems. The most common of these is a tendency to develop seizures. Puppies should receive a series of 3-4 of these vaccines(included as a combination "DHPP" vaccination), then should be given a vaccination a year later. At that time, we can work with you to determine what the best interval is for your dog to receive boosters.
Adenovirus Type 2
This virus causes a form of kennel cough and can also cause liver damage(hepatitis) in dogs. While viral hepatitis is not as common as it once was in dogs, it has not been eliminated as a threat. This vaccination is included in the "DHPP" vaccination series in puppies. We booster the vaccine a year later, then work with you to determine what the best interval is for your dog to receive boosters.
Leptospirosis
This is actually a bacterial disease, so the protective "vaccination" is actually a "bacterin". We have seen an increasing number of dogs with Leptospirosis infections in our area, especially in dogs that spend a lot of time outside, or live in areas near wildlife. Talk with us about your pet's lifestyle, to determine if your dog should receive this vaccination.
Parainfluenza
Parainfluenza is included in the "DHPP" combination vaccine. It can be a minor contributor to the problem of tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) in dogs.
Parvovirus
Parvovirus is probably the most common viral illness of dogs at the present time. It is much more common in puppies than it is in adult dogs. It can be very hard to successfully vaccinate a very puppy for this disease because the antibody protection the puppy acquires from its mother can interfere with vaccination. It is important to vaccinate puppies every three to four weeks for this virus, starting at 7-8 weeks of age and continuing until they are at least 16 weeks of age and sometimes 20 weeks of age. It is a part of the "DHPP" combo vaccination, and is boostered a year later. At that point, we work with you to determine how often the DHPP vaccination should be given to your pet, based on your dog's lifestyle.
Coronavirus
Coronavirus usually causes very mild and transient diarrhea in puppies. Due to the mild and transient nature of this virus, we do not routinely vaccinate for coronavirus in dogs over 12 weeks of age.
Bordetella
Bordetella is the most common cause of tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) in dogs. It is a bacterial illness that is most common among dogs that congregate at locations frequented by large numbers of dogs, such as dog shows, parks and kennels. Depending on your dog's habits and lifestyle, we may recommend this vaccination be given every 6 months or every year.
Lyme disease (Borrelia)
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterial organism, Borrelia burgdorferi . It is carried by Ixodes species of ticks and may have other tick or insect carriers. It is more common in some areas of the United States than in others. If your pet is going to be traveling with you outside of our immediate area, let your vet know, and they can help determine if this vaccination would be in your dog's best interest.
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