Dog vaccinations have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent times. Some experts are of the opinion that annual booster shots should be dumped in favor of a three year cycle. Others contest that annual shots as a must to ensure that a dog is protected against communicable diseases.

Whatever the truth, the fact remains that millions of dogs around the world receive vaccinations against the most common canine diseases, and only a very small percentage show any adverse reaction.

The vaccines may not offer full protection against every disease, but an unvaccinated dog is at much greater risk, so why take the chance? Until there is documented clinical proof that vaccines are a threat to dog health, it is definitely advisable to have your dog vaccinated.

Vaccines offer protection against the common communicable canine diseases. These include distemper, canine hepatitis and kennel cough. A puppy will normally get his first shots at age 6 to 8 weeks. Thereafter, there will be a follow up series of vaccinations lasting until the pup is 15 weeks old. After that there’ll be annual (or 3 yearly) boosters, depending on what your vet advises.

It is common practice to administer the core vaccines in combination. This is commonly referred to as a five-in-one and protects against the following diseases;

Canine Distemper: Distemper is a highly contagious and usually fatal disease. Left untreated it causes seizures, convulsions, heart failure, and respiratory failure. It is transmitted by a healthy dog coming into contact with discharge from the eyes or nose of an infected dog.

Canine Hepatitis virus: A fast-spreading disease that attacks the abdominal organs, usually causing death within 6 - 10 days. Normally spread via the urine, faeces or saliva of an infected animal.

Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease that causes severe damage to the digestive tract, liver and kidneys. It is transmitted via infected urine and has an extremely high mortality rate.

Parainfluenza: A form of kennel cough that is spread by contact or through the air. Highly contagious.

Parvovirus: A virus that attacks the intestinal tract, lymphoid tissue and the immune system. It is usually fatal in not treated and takes a particularly heavy toll on puppies and older dogs.

In addition to these core vaccines, your dog will usually also be inoculated against rabies.

Why Dog Vaccinations Are Essential

There are a number of reasons why vaccinations are essential. The main one, of course, is your dog’s well-being. But there are other important reasons too, and even some legal requirements.

Many city ordinances require it, and if you intend to travel with your dog, particularly abroad, you will need to provide proof of vaccination. If you want to take your dog to obedience classes, or put him into kennels, or doggy day care, you’ll need to provide a vaccination certificate. Ditto if you want to take your dog to a pet friendly hotel or resort.

All of these are good reasons to have your dog vaccinated. But the most important one will always be the health and well-being of your pet.

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