Dog vaccinations what do they protect against?

Serious diseases in dogs used to be common.   Dogs became seriously ill and often died from Distemper and Hepatitis.  Now vaccinations keep our pets safe but it’s as well not to forget how important these routine injections are and what they protect against.

Distemper – is a highly infectious and a killer.  Young dogs and those with a weakened immune system are most at risk.   The symptoms include the dog looking obviously very poorly and having runing eyes and nose.    There is some coughing and the dog may have fits.

Parvovirus – A quick killer – the dog doesn’t want to eat and becomes poorly very quickly.   There will be profuse bloodstained diarrhoea.  Dogs go downhill very fast with this one.

Canine viral hepatitis – Mostly seen in young dogs – there’s a high fever, vomiting, jaundice and the dog is poorly and doesn’t want to eat.   If your dog suddenly wants to drink lots of water be aware that this is one of the symptoms.

Vaccination will protect your dog from all of these serious canine diseases.  Check with your vet what age he recommends puppy injections – it will be done in two parts with a couple of weeks gap in between.

Booster vaccinations to maintain immunity usually follow at yearly intervals.  Again, your vet will recommend this.

Next – the symptoms of Kennel Cough, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza virus.