: Vaccinations

Vaccinations

In the past, infectious diseases such as parvovirus and distemper virus have been a significant cause of illness and death in pups. Vaccination against these and other diseases has proved to be a very effective means of muzzling these diseases.

A suitable vaccination programme will often involve an initial course of injections followed by booster injections at various times throughout your pup's life.

Due to our high rate of vaccination, many people have never seen a puppy suffering from one of the major canine diseases. However, we should not become complacent about keeping our pup's vaccinations up-to-date. Canine distemper, canine hepatitis and canine parvovirus are capable of causing severe illness and are often fatal because there is no specific treatment available.

Another common disease is kennel cough (or canine cough) - a respiratory disease that produces a spontaneous harsh cough that often finishes with gagging. The cough can persist for several weeks or even months and may require an expensive course of treatment.

The most common vaccination for adult dogs protects them against canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and the two major causes of kennel cough (canine para-influenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica).

Puppies attending obedience classes, shows and boarding kennels should be fully vaccinated to protect both themselves and other dogs from these highly contagious diseases. Most vets will also recommend that puppies be given annual booster shots to help maintain their immunity levels against these diseases.

The good news is that, with the advancements that have been made in today's medical science, vaccines rarely cause side-effects. However, if you are concerned about annual boosters ask your vet to assess your pup's risk factors and provide a customised vaccination program.

Vaccination time is also a great opportunity for your puppy to have an annual health check.