Your Guide to Dog Vaccination
With so many people around the world concerned about the global coronavirus outbreak, many pet owners have started to look more closely at their dog vaccination programme. In fact, coronavirus is something that has been recorded in both domestic cats and dogs for some time. However, pet owners should not be unduly alarmed by this. The specific contagion affecting the world – Covid-19 – has not yet been scientifically recorded as something that can be transmitted by domestic pets, according to the World Health Organisation.
That said, just thinking about the possibilities of disease infection may spur you on to think about pet vaccinations more seriously. What do you need to know to ensure your dog has all the protection it needs?
Update Your Dog's Immunity System
Although some pet vaccinations happen when a dog is a few weeks old, booster jabs are often recommended to ensure your four-legged friend remains in the healthiest condition over the course of its lifetime. Booster jabs are highly recommended if your dog comes into frequent contact with other canines since, they can pass on certain ailments to one another – just like people can. It is also recommended that you update your dog's immunity prior to any activities that are likely to place it under greater strain, such as pet surgery, for example.
Core Immunity
In Australia, vets will refer to the core immunity your dog needs. This means protection from the most common ailments these creatures are likely to encounter. Canine distemper is the most important but certain viruses – specifically, parvovirus and adenovirus – are considered to be core pet vaccinations to obtain for your dog, too. Generally speaking, vets will cover the core immunity your dog needs with a single mixed injection of all three conditions.
Non-Core Immunity
When dogs are vaccinated with a booster jab, they will also commonly receive small doses of certain other diseases to help their immune system form the necessary antibodies to fight them. Vets will usually recommend a booster pet vaccination that includes cover for the parainfluenza virus. Leptospira interrogans, which is usually transmitted between animals via their urine, is another. A full non-core immunity will never protect your dog from all of the diseases it is exposed to. That said, anything from canine variants of hepatitis to the very serious condition of rabies – which affects humans, too, of course – will be much less likely to occur when you invest in proper pet vaccinations.
Share