Pet vaccinations are an important part of responsible pet ownership.

When you were a child you had to have vaccinations at certain points in your life, in order to build up resistance to certain diseases such as measles, tetanus, and other shots.

This is important for your pets as well. Your dog can fall prey to many serious diseases throughout its life if you don’t take essential steps to prevent these common dog illnesses through vaccination, or regular treatments for things like heartworm, fleas and ticks, which can bring diseases with them when they infest your dog.

In this article, we will specifically look at dog vaccinations, and as you read, keep in mind that some of these shots will be the same for cats as well.

VACCINATIONS
Dogs need to have vaccinations to guard against disease. When your dog is a puppy they can fall prey to some very serious diseases which can often be fatal. Or, even not not fatal, expensive and life altering for both of you.

An ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure when it comes to dog vaccinations. They are very inexpensive compared to trying to treat the illness after the fact.

Your puppy will need a distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and corona combination between six to eight, nine to eleven, twelve to fourteen, and sixteen to seventeen weeks. They will also need these shots again every twelve months.

The next vaccination is a bordetella administered at fourteen weeks and every six months. Rabies must be given at sixteen weeks and again every twelve to thirty- six months.

Vaccinations protect your dog and other pets from human diseases as well as other. Make sure you visit your vet according to the right schedule.

Another vaccination is the giardia at fourteen and seventeen weeks, with a yearly dose.  Lyme is another type administered at fourteen and seventeen weeks as well as yearly, particularly in areas where it is most common, like the North-east.

Some of the basic dog vaccinations are now combined. Sometimes the vet might want to give them all at once as long as you are there in the office. But word of warning: SOME breeds of dog, like the Bichon Frise, can DIE of an allergic reaction to having them all given at once.

Remember that a vaccination can be a live or dead extract of a virus, which you are putting in the dog’s body in order to try to get it to trigger its own antibodies to fight the disease the next time it is ever exposed to it.

Often, the vaccinations can result in the dog having symptoms and generally feeling under the weather for several days after the shots, so do keep an eye out for them.

Also, do not give the vaccinations if the animal is manifesting any symptoms of illness.
We lost a 4 year old cat, and a 4 year old dog, my prize Irish terrier, exactly the same way, several years apart.

They both had diarrhea, the vet said, “Oh, as long as you’re here, you might as well get their shots done,” and both developed an autoimmune disorder where they started to destroy their own red blood cells, and were dead within weeks.

You are far better off doing them on separate visits, than ending up with an animal with a high feaver and not knowing which one of the viruses is affecting it most aversely.

These are the general guidelines for dog vaccinations, but occasionally state regulations will require a different administering chart. It is best to speak with your vet about the correct vaccinations for your state.

Also, you might want to ask him about any vaccinations particular suitable, or unsuitable, for the breed. As we said above, some breeds have been known to suffer from allergic reactions so serious, they can result in death.

But that is a small percentage compared with the number of dogs who benefit from vaccinations.  Your dog should be your “best friend” and thus it is important to give proper care that includes regular medical treatment.

The Importance Of Regular Dog Vaccinations As Part Of Your Dog’s Overall Care Part 2 will discuss the cost of vaccinations, and the basics of a regular routine for your dog’s health.