Vaccines boost immunity which reduces the chance and severity of a disease. These are essential in maintaining the health of you puppy or dog. We typically vaccinate your dog with an initial course that consists of:

  • Canine distemper virus
  • Canine adenovirus
  • Canine parvovirus
  • Parainfluenza virus
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica

What are these infectious diseases?

Some of the common ones are

Canine Parvovirus is a virus that attacks and strips the gastrointestinal tract causing severe bloody diarrhoea, uncontrollable vomiting, abdominal pain and is often fatal without treatment. Parvovirus is highly contagious. Unvaccinated dogs and puppies are at a high risk. Parvovirus is spread either, directly from dog to dog or from ground contaminated with faeces. The ground may remain infectious for several years. Thus, the need to avoid exercising your puppy where other dogs have been until fully vaccinated.

Canine Distemper is a contagious and very serious viral infection that affects dogs of any age but especially young puppies. It can be spread from nose to nose contact, and coming into contact with urine, vomit or faeces that are from an infected animal. It affects many body systems including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, nervous and lymphatic systems. Treatment is usually ineffective and the recovery rate is very low so it is very important to vaccinate your dog.

Canine Hepatitis is an often-fatal acute liver infection. The virus is extremely contagious and is spread in the faeces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. Surviving dogs may suffer ongoing liver and eye disease.

Canine Cough (also known as Kennel Cough) is a highly contagious respiratory disease similar to whooping cough in people. It is an inflammation of the trachea and bronchi called tracheobronchitis. Dogs with Canine Cough have a dry hacking cough which can persist for several weeks and if untreated can cause pneumonia. Canine Cough can be spread any place dogs meet such as parks, kennels, beaches etc.

After Vaccination Care

Usually you won’t even notice a change in your pet after a vaccination. Side effects are rare, less than 2%. If there are any side effect these are typically short term and include:

  • Mild lethargy
  • Reduced appetite for a couple of days
  • Slight swelling and tenderness at the injection site

If your dog does have these symptoms persist give us a call for recommended options.