The Importance of Vaccinating Dogs

When satisfied or killed microorganisms are introduced into a live body this process is known as active immunization. It is done in an effort to stimulate a body’s defense mechanism. This concept not only pertains to human beings but to other species as well such as dogs.

Most causes of death in dogs is due to viral infection. In an effort to combat the increase of death in dogs, the field of veterinary medicine came up with some solutions to counteract this. When vaccinations were introduced, many of the dogs were saved from certain death by such diseases such as leptopirosis, parvovirus, and upper respiratory infections just to name a few.

Dogs need to be vaccinated at an early stage in their lives just like humans. This is one reason that puppies should be immunized so that they are able to live until they realize full growth. The nursing puppy gets its immunity from its mother’s milk just like a human baby does. The immunity tends to ose its effect by the time the puppy is between 6 and 20 weeks old. This is when the puppy should be immunized. Puppies usually get their first set of shots at 6 weeks of age. Then they are re-immunized at 10 and 14 weeks of age.

Rabies Vaccine

Rabies is a dangerous and almost always fatal disease that is communicated to man by the saliva of an animal that is rabid such as dogs, bats, foxes, squirrels, etc.. It is fortuante that dogs usually present evidence of this disease before they become infected. The etiologic agent is a very tiny micrscopic virus that is present in both the saliva as well as the central nervous system.

In dogs, rabies has an incubation period from twenty to thirty days. This is then followed by an excitable state when the dog becomes vicious. Sometimes this stage may or may not be present. After that, paralysis develops. It first starts in the back legs and then becomes general. Death usually ensues with ten days after the first symptoms develop.

Just as with dogs, rabies can be fatal in humans. Therefore, in order to avoid problems with rabies, it is a good idea to have dogs vaccinated against the disease. In puppies the rabies vaccine is given from the sixteenth to the twenty-sixth week. Then a yearly shot is recommended for full protection.

Certain consideration should be taken into consideration as to the age of the dog getting the vaccination. Following are some tips to think about:

1. A puppy’s age

Please do consider the age of your puppy before getting its first shots. First shots are given at six weeks of age. Then they are given every four weeks thereafter.

The puppy should be between sixteen and twenty-six weeks of age for the rabies shot.

2. Dogs twenty weeks to two years

When the dog reaches this age, it should already have received its booster shots. This is necessary in order to lengthen the immunity in a dog’s system of the various vaccinations. Some additional shots are recommended for additional protection such as a vaccine against bordetella.

3. Dogs over two

Now it is time for the annual revaccination. Let’s face it, vaccinations are very imnportant in your dog’s life. They are necessary in order to prevent them from acquiring certain diseases.

You can rest assured that your dog will be at the peak of its performance and health for a long time to come.