Let's talk vaccines.... the very thing aimed to protect our beloved canines, can also be harmful if over vaccinated.
Be your dog’s advocate – protect him with knowledge. Ask your veterinarian questions about the vaccines that is recommend. What is the risk? Do they really need it? What are the side effects?
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Keep accurate records of your dog's vaccination and titer history.
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Bring veterinary records and/or a list with you of your dog’s vaccination history; do not assume the veterinary clinic will have all the most recent information, especially if you’ve changed clinics or take your dog to shot clinics.
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Always bring a list of your dog’s current medications and supplements, including dose, strength, and frequency.
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Consider using antibody titer tests to accurately detemine whether your dog needs to be re-vaccinated.
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Do your research on vaccines
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Avoid a combination vaccine (five-in-one-type vaccinations) that offers multiple vaccines in only one shot. Note: some veterinary clinics only carry this type of vaccine. We recommend that you look elsewhere for care.
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Do not vaccinate your adult dog more frequently than every three years (unless local conditions suggest a heightened need for Lepto or Lyme vaccines).
Core vaccines protect animals from severe, life-threatening diseases that have global distribution.
What are Core vaccines?
• Distemper - Canine distemper is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and, often, the nervous systems of puppies and dogs. The virus also infects wild canids (e.g. foxes, wolves, coyotes), raccoons, skunks, and ferrets.based
• Parvovirus - Canine parvovirus infection is a highly contagious disease caused by canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). There are several strains of CPV-2, and all produce similar signs. The disease they cause is commonly called “parvo.”
The virus attacks white blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and other canids like coyotes, wolves, and foxes. In puppies, the virus also can damage the heart muscle.
All dogs are susceptible to canine parvovirus, although some dogs are at greater risk than others.
• Hepatitis Adenovirus-2 -Infectious canine hepatitis is caused by a virus, canine adenovirus 1. Consumption of urine, feces, or saliva from infected dogs is the most common route of infection. Recovered dogs shed virus in their urine for at least 6 months. The virus targets the lining of blood vessels, the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs, though other organs are occasionally involved. Longterm kidney damage and clouding of the cornea of the eye (“blue eye”) result from immune-complex reactions after recovery from the disease.
•Parainfluenza -Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) is a highly contagious respiratory disease with symptoms similar to influenza. It's spread through the air and can be transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog or its secretions, even if the dog isn't sick. The virus can linger on toys, bowls, and other objects for up to two weeks after infection.
• Rabies * (By Law) -
Rabies is a deadly animal disease caused by a virus. It can happen in wild animals, including raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes, or in dogs, cats or farm animals. People get it from the bite of an infected animal.
In people, symptoms of rabies include fever, headache and fatigue, then confusion, hallucinations and paralysis. Once the symptoms begin, the disease is usually fatal. A series of shots can prevent rabies in people exposed to the virus. You need to get them right away. If an animal bites you, wash the wound well; then get medical care.
• Leptospirosis, or “lepto,” is a serious bacterial disease that can affect both dogs and humans. It spreads through water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, often in puddles, ponds, or after heavy rains and floods.
Thanks to new research funded by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, scientists are uncovering how and where this disease is spreading, which dogs are most at risk, and how we can better protect our pets (Grant 02380-A: Estimating Prevalence and Identifying Risk Factors for Canine Leptospirosis in North America). This breakthrough offers critical insights that could help save lives and improve prevention strategies for dogs across North America.
Non - Core Vaccines
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Bordetella: These diseases are spread by inhalation, so this vaccine is typically recommended for dogs that spend time around other dogs of unknown vaccine status, such as dogs that go to boarding or grooming facilities, doggie day care, dog shows, or dog parks. ~ This vaccination stimulates an immune response against the Bordetella bacteria and/or other viruses that cause upper respiratory infections, which typically manifest as coughing, sneezing, lethargy, and discharge from the eyes and/or nose.
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Lyme: This bacterial disease is passed via tick bite and can cause lameness, kidney disease, lethargy, fever, and decreased appetite. The ticks that carry Lyme disease are most commonly found in the northeast US, so this vaccine is recommended for dogs that live or travel to this region. Tick prevention is also very important in the prevention of Lyme disease.
Our Veterinary Medicine and Technology has become more advanced over the past several years, that it becomes more easier to tailor each individual into their own needs. As more research is done, the more we find out that -
Vaccinations can last longer than 3 years, over vaccinating can cause moderate symptoms like - Immunosuppression, hives and abscess or even more severe symptoms like seizures and Vaccine injection site sarcomas. For more specific information regarding symptoms please check out the link below for the entire article.
Vaccine Research - Done by
Veterinary immunologist Ronald Schultz PhD chaired the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Pathobiological Sciences.
Dr Schultz concluded …
“Vaccines for diseases like distemper and canine parvovirus, once administered to adult animals, provide lifetime immunity.”
Please Discuss your dog’s needs for vaccines or titers with your veterinarian, to keep them free from infectious and deadly diseases.
For the full read of Dr. Schultz article
