Vaccinations

Vaccinations teach the immune system to recognise and respond quickly to certain infections before they can cause serious illness. They contain harmless strains of the viruses and bacteria that your dog needs protection against. Most of the diseases that are vaccinated against have no specific cure, and treatment can only support the animal before its immune system can hopefully fight off the disease. Recent advances in vaccine technology mean that they are safer than ever and can protect against even more diseases.

When To Vaccinate?

Vaccines are usually first used in pups from eight/ten weeks of age. Generally a double dose of vaccine is given 2-4 weeks apart and then every year a single booster injection is given to keep their immunity at fully protective levels. It is essential to ensure that your pup is fully vaccinated before coming into contact with other dogs' as they may be carriers of the diseases.

Which Diseases Are Covered By Vaccination ?

Canine Parvovirus An aggressive disease that attacks the immune system and cells lining the intestines, causing serious, often fatal, vomiting and diarrhoea. Young unvaccinated pups are especially susceptible.

Canine Distemper (Hardpad) This virus attacks the gut, lungs and nervous system and is usually fatal.

Infectious Canine Hepatiti s This virus rapidly attacks the liver, lungs, kidneys and eyes. Many cases are fatal but some dogs can recover.

Canine Parainfluenza Virus This virus is an important component of `kennel cough' , a highly infectious upper respiratory tract infection of dogs which causes a dry hacking cough.

Leptospirosis This disease is caused by bacteria from the family Leptospira. Two types of disease are seen but both can be protected against. The first is passed on in watercourses from the urine of infected rats and this strain can also affect humans. The second is caught from the urine of infected dogs. Whilst antibiotics can help to treat Leptospirosis, cases can often be fatal or cause lifelong damage to the kidneys.

Newer vaccines can also give protection against canine coronavirus, which can cause serious diarrhoea in infected animals.

Kennel cough vaccines protect against a bacteria called bordetella bronchiseptica which is one of the more serious strains of 'kennel cough` infection. Vaccination is often a requirement of boarding kennels to reduce its spread.

Rabies vaccines are used only occasionally but can enable pets to travel freely from the UK to Europe provided they comply with the rules set down under the Pet Travel Scheme.

The Bottom Line.....

It is well known that the veterinary profession in the UK and North America have had to reasses the situation and the present recommendations are along the lines that an annual health check is money well spent, and at this time individual vaccination needs can be assessed with the owner. The major vaccine companies are agreed that the main core vaccines for dogs (and cats), largely give protection for three or, in some cases, four years, in the case of distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. Unfortunately however, the viral component of kennel cough is now regarded by many as a 'core vaccine' but despite being a live component, still only gives approximately a year's workable immunity.

Leptospirosis and kennel cough, depending upon the owners wishes, may need to be repeated on an annual basis, as recommended by the manufacturers. The Leptospirosis vaccination can be dropped if the dog is not in a situation where it is likely to come into contact with the Leptospira organism, ie: in contact with rats or infected waterways. If the dog attends regularly training classes and/or shows and is at risk of coming into contact with kennel cough, this will also need to be repeated annually.

Catherine O'Drisoll and Canine Health Concern have done a huge amount of research into the immunity given by vaccines and the problems/reactions that they can cause. These should however be considered in context with the problems that the diseases themselves can cause. For more information on the work carried out by Catherine O'Driscoll, see this link http://odriscollhealthcare.weebly.com/