If you have a dog as a pet or you have the idea of adopting one, you have to find out about the various care that this type of pet requires. One of these fundamental care for the health of your furry friend, are the vaccines. In the following article we will explain everything related to dog vaccines so that you can take good care of your pet's health.
Dog Vaccinations
The essential thing that a dog owner should know is the importance of vaccinating them. The vaccination system is something essential that the health of the dog needs, which must be implemented in a usual way regardless of whether our beloved dog is in his puppy state or if he is in his adult state. Similarly, it should not matter if he lives inside or outside the home. It is important to highlight that society has a very bad view of vaccination because they distrust this process, which is why they try to avoid it without knowing how fundamental these represent for the prevention of deadly diseases in dogs.
That is why in this article we will clarify all the doubts you have and we will inform you of the recommended vaccination schedule. Vaccination for a puppy is usually from 12 weeks or even earlier. The usual thing when adopting a puppy is to require the delivery of the health card and at least administer the first dose of vaccine. As a security measure, a puppy cannot have any contact with another puppy when it is not vaccinated to avoid the spread of infections. The type of vaccine tends to vary depending on the breed, the geographic area in which we live, the usefulness of the dog, among other things.
However, after dog vaccinations, it has been investigated that there is a decrease in cellular immunity mediated by T cells and a transient state of immunosuppression. However, dogs continue to be vaccinated with polyvalent vaccines which are live and serious illnesses do not generally occur. This is supported by data provided by a study of the immune system and vaccines, since the response offered by vaccination creates a state of altered homeostasis when protection from cellular and humoral immunity is demanded. This is why vaccinations must be applied to animals that are absolutely healthy and strictly follow the recommendations.
Why should dogs be vaccinated?
Having a dog is having a great responsibility in your charge because they are similar to babies, they are restless, curious and end up exposing themselves to diseases in their day to day life. The good thing is that most dogs trigger a clinical picture that, although it is somewhat complicated, is curable with little or a lot of veterinary help. On the other hand, there are pathologies that are especially deadly and there is no treatable way to combat them, therefore the animal ends up succumbing to it. Since there is no way to combat them, scientific research has directed its efforts to avoid them and that is how the vaccines were created.
Applying vaccines to your dogs apart from avoiding and eliminating the possibility of contracting a dangerous and infectious disease, helps with public health, because some of these pathologies originate in dogs and can end up infecting people, to which preventing it reduces the use of antibiotics.
How Vaccines Work
To understand how vaccines work, some basic aspects of immunology must be explained. When an animal begins to get sick, the immune system creates defenses that are commonly known as antibodies that end up fighting against the invading pathogen. That process that the immune system does apart from fighting the disease creates an immunological memory. This immunological memory serves so that when a second contact with the same pathogen occurs, the body can react more quickly, thus minimizing the problems caused by the disease.
The problem lies when the immune system faces more serious pathologies because these can end up killing the animal in the first contact. As a way to deal with this problem, vaccines were created which introduce a pathogen into the immune system in a controlled manner. In this way, the immune system can face the pathogen and create an immunological memory without having to face the animal almost to death, the clinical picture being milder or almost non-existent.
Types of Dog Vaccines
The elaboration of the vaccines can contain viruses which have modified them, have inactivated them or are simply dead. There are vaccines that are recombinant in which fragments of the pathogen are used so that the disease does not cause so much damage and the immune system can create good immunity. But yes, dog vaccines need to be revaccinated to strengthen defenses.
The common way in which vaccines are administered is by subcutaneous injection, although they can also be administered internally. Vaccines can be classified as monovalent, which are those that contain only one vaccine for only one disease, or also bivalent, trivalent, tetravalent or polyvalent depending on whether two, three, four or more vaccines are included.
What is the Vaccination Schedule?
The vaccination calendar is the system for vaccines that consists of a protocol for the administration of vaccines. With the vaccination calendar we cannot guide to know what vaccine and when to give it to our dog, apart from it it also tells us when they need to be revaccinated and the vaccines that are not of great importance but that to be more careful you can administer them.
The calendar tends to vary according to the country, even the regions, and the living conditions and the qualities that the dog possesses must always be taken into account. Due to this, the essential thing is to adapt the calendar to each case and if we have plans to travel, inform us of the requirements requested by the place of destination.
Recommended Vaccines for a Dog
Today there are numerous vaccines that we have at our disposal for the protection of our dog. Among those vaccines are those that have been used for years with great success and efficacy. While others have less time since they have recently appeared so little is known about how they work. From now on new diseases will continue to appear and with them new vaccines with which we can prevent them. Next, we will indicate which vaccines are considered essential and which are optional, apart from briefly describing the disease against which they immunize.
Against Canine Distemper
This disease is viral and serious and turns out to be very contagious and is commonly known as mosquito, this disease commonly attacks puppies that have not been vaccinated between 6 and 12 months. The clinical picture of this disease shows symptoms such as catarrhal, digestive and neurological. This disease tends to have a high mortality, especially when it ends up attacking the nervous system, and those animals that recover commonly end up experiencing permanent sequelae. The mosquito vaccine is considered one of the essential vaccines that the puppy and also adults should have as a booster for adults.
Against Infectious Hepatitis
Infectious hepatitis is a viral disease which turns out to be very contagious and is caused by canine adenovirus type 1. This disease is commonly seen in children under one year of age, the disease affects the liver, kidneys, and blood vessels. The disease can vary with greater or lesser severity to the point that in some cases the dog that contracts it ends up dying in a matter of hours. It is also considered one of the essential vaccines and also protects against the adenovirus involved in kennel cough.
Against Leptospirosis
Another of the bacterial diseases that are often dangerous is leptospirosis, which commonly ends up affecting the liver and kidney. This disease can produce several subspecies, this ends up making the vaccine that covers the most possibilities interesting. The symptoms expressed by this disease will always be related to the organs it attacks, however, the dog can experience very different signs.
This disease is a zoonosis, that is, it originates in dogs, but people can contract it. The application of this vaccine will be decided by a veterinarian based on the risk of contagion that our dog presents. This vaccine is usually part of the vaccination schedule.
Against Parvovirus
Parvovirus is another of the viral diseases that turn out to be very contagious and is commonly contracted by puppies between 6 and 20 months, just like the Rottweiler and Doberman breeds that are also susceptible to contracting them. Its symptoms stand out for intense vomiting and bloody diarrhea that end up dehydrating the dog. It is one of the vaccines that are considered essential and is very effective, which are administered to
puppies and is included in revaccination programs for adults.
against coronavirus
The coronavirus is a disease that is considered very contagious and turns out to be dangerous in young or weakened animals. The vaccine does not prevent the disease, it only lessens its severity. This vaccine is not usually seen in the vaccination calendar, although its application is recommended for dogs that live in communities such as residences or participate in activities with conspecifics. Although current studies indicate that its use is not convenient.
against rabies
Rabies is one of the most popular diseases that turns out to be zoonotic viral, that is, it can be passed from animal to human and turns out to be deadly. Developed countries have already controlled it thanks to vaccination, but it continues to cause death in developed countries such as India. Depending on where you live and its legislation, the administration of this vaccine varies. The first time it is administered should be in three-month-old puppies and according to scientific research, it should be repeated every two or three years depending on its manufacturer. The problem is because this vaccine is usually a mandatory vaccine by law and it is the one that specifies when it must be placed.
against parainfluenza
Canine parainfluenza is linked to kennel cough. The parainfluenza vaccine offers protection for the canine, but it does not eliminate the virus that remains in the nasal secretions, making it potentially contagious. Although a combined vaccine was created with the Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine that does avoid this possibility. The vaccine does not usually reach twelve months, so it is advisable to administer it twice to the dog that has a higher risk.
Bordetella Bronchiseptica
Bordetella Bronchiseptica is a bacteria that can cause kennel cough. In itself, the disease at the beginning is not very serious, but in some dogs it progresses to pneumonia, exposing the dog to a very serious state to the point of being fatal. The administration of these dog vaccines is essential in those furry ones that are in residences, in communities, that usually participate in canine competitions, among others. This vaccine can be administered intranasally, orally or by injection and is also found to be effective in protecting against parainfluenza. It is debated if their revaccination should be every year or every six months, especially in dogs that are at high risk.
Against Borreliosis or Lyme Disease
Borreliosis is a bacterial disease that is transmitted by the bite of ticks. Its symptoms stand out for causing lameness and inflammation and producing pain in the joints. The function of these dog vaccines is to eliminate the bacteria and keep the system protected for a year. Its administration is recommended in dogs that have a high rate of contagion, which is why these dog vaccines are important in them. In addition, they must use dewormers to eliminate ticks that continue to inhabit your dog's fur since the vaccine only fights the disease and has no effect against ticks. Avoiding its bite in the first place is a measure that also turns out to be effective.
Against Canine Herpesvirus
The canine herpesvirus vaccine is especially applied in pregnant bitches since this bacterium is the cause of abortions and also has a high mortality rate in newborn dogs. Just as parainfluenza can be related to kennel cough. The recommended period in which it should be administered is during heat and, if not possible, approximately one week after mating and another dose before calving. After that, it is necessary to repeat the vaccination in each management, it is one of the important dog vaccines.
Against Leishmaniasis
This disease is known to be caused by a protozoan, that is, a microscopic unicellular protoctist organism, and it is transmitted by a mosquito. This disease tends to affect various organs, which is why the symptoms are varied and in most cases the treatment to combat it ends up being for life. It is known that several vaccines are available in Brazil due to the high level of contagion it represents and due to a zoonosis disease, in Europe the commercialization of this vaccine did not occur until 2011.
Currently, a recombinant vaccine is within our reach which can be used in dogs over six months of age and is effective with a single dose and revaccination is annual. Hence the importance of the dog vaccine since the main thing is to evaluate the state in which the dog is. This is done through serological tests because the ideal for the vaccine to be effective would be to be administered to uninfected dogs. The vaccine does not harm the transmitting mosquito in any way, so it is advisable to deworm your pet to avoid future inconveniences.
There are Mandatory Vaccines for a Dog
Dog vaccinations may be required depending on where you are living. In Spain, this competence turns out to be transferred to the autonomous communities, which shows the differences between the territories. Apart from the fact that the laws vary according to the location and with the passing of time they change, this is why it is convenient that we inform ourselves at the veterinary center. That is why some vaccines that are mandatory in some places are the same ones that we are informing you are essential in this article.
The essential thing for the dog to have good health is to visit a trusted veterinarian who will tell you according to the living conditions. I also point out the qualities that the dog possesses according to these factors, determine the risk of contracting any pathology. This helps you assess what vaccines are necessary for our dog. In addition to knowing which ones do not need to be administered with such urgency. In Spain they value the following vaccines as essential apart from some that are totally mandatory by law.
Puppies one and a half months old should be given the parvovirus, distemper and two polyvalent vaccines. Puppies two months old should be given the polyvalent vaccine. Three-month-old puppies should be given the polyvalent vaccine (booster), while four-month-old puppies should be given the Rabies vaccine (normally the microchip is also placed at the same time). One-year-old dogs should be given the polyvalent vaccine (reminder) and the rabies vaccine (reminder). Every year they must be given the polyvalent vaccine (reminder) and the rabies vaccine (in some autonomous communities a reminder is required every two years, in most of them every year).
When do I have to vaccinate my dog?
Although this is the subject of debate regarding the frequency of the date and the repetition with which a dog should be vaccinated, both veterinarians and owners agree on the importance of the first vaccination in puppies. Basic immunization should be started when the protection of the antibodies provided by the mother during the lactation period ends, which by research was deduced to happen at 8 weeks.
Vaccination in Puppies
Vaccination in puppies is essential because they are more likely to contract a disease. Since they have an immune system that has not fully developed. So if you want to take care of your puppy and maintain his health, it is essential to start vaccinating them as soon as the immunity that is given by his mother decreases, which decreases between 6 and 8 weeks. The first dose is used to stimulate the immune system while the second is used to immunize it.
So in puppies, the ideal is to repeat the dose of the same vaccine two to three times until obtaining perfect protection. It is essential not to complete revaccination before 16 weeks. It is essential not to take our dog for a walk until the respective essential dog vaccines are administered. Since the dog is in a vulnerable state, just by sniffing the urine or feces of a sick dog, it could become infected. The ideal would be to vaccinate the puppy at 8, 12 and 16 months after being born. As well as administer the respective revaccinations between 26 and 52 weeks after birth.
Vaccination in Adult Dogs
Already after the vaccination schedule of the puppies ends and they have an adequate immune system, the objective is changed to maintain it. To maintain the immune system in optimal conditions, it is necessary for the dog to be revaccinated, this revaccination is usually annual and contains the essential dog vaccines.
The schedule tends to vary according to the needs of each dog. In case you end up adopting an adult dog whose vaccination history is unknown, or one that was vaccinated as a puppy but hasn't been revaccinated for years. It is recommended to administer a single dose of the polyvalent vaccine chosen for essential revaccination. After doing this, revaccinations are followed as with any other dog.
Vaccination in Elderly Dogs
From 8-10 years of age, it is debatable whether it is necessary to continue with revaccinations. The immune system of older dogs reaches a point where it is unable to respond to vaccination. It would be necessary to weigh each case and assess risks and benefits. The rabies vaccine will continue to be administered by legal imperative.
Why revaccinate?
The importance of revaccination is because vaccines only provide protection for a period of time. When this period of time expires, the immune system needs to be stimulated again. In a nutshell, the memory that may have been created by the immune system after its administration will run out over time. This is why, in order to maintain the protection provided by the vaccine, it is essential that the dog be revaccinated.
In itself, revaccination is not a topic of debate, but there is a topic of conversation about when each specific vaccine will have to be repeated. An example of this issue is that mosquito, parvovirus, or rabies vaccines appear to maintain immunity for more than a year in an adult dog that has successfully complied with its vaccination. It is believed that they could immunize in approximately 3 to 9 years and can even last for life.
On the other hand, there are vaccines that do not even protect twelve months. Due to this, the necessary thing that the veterinarian has to do is to adjust the vaccination schedule adapted to the conditions that the dog's life presents. It should be noted that there are vaccines that are marketed together, which is why revaccination is usually annual.
Can Vaccines Fail?
Vaccines tend to fail if they are exposed to mishandling, which is handled inappropriately. Or that it was applied to a dog that does not have the appropriate conditions for the immune system to offer the proper response. That is why it is important to go to a trusted veterinarian to minimize possible errors. Another thing that must be taken into account is that there are diseases that are caused by different strains and vaccines are not always available for all of them. Apart from the fact that no vaccine or treatment provides 100% protection or efficacy.
It must also be taken into account that there are breeds that are more vulnerable to specific viruses, an example of which is the case of the parvovirus virus, to which the Rottweiler or Doberman breeds have a worse vaccination response. Another example is the mosquito virus which affects Nordic breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute or the Siberian Husky. It must be taken into account that dog vaccines can fail and this is not why they are bad or that it is the fault of the person who gave them. The actual situation must be analyzed.
Cost of Vaccines
The price that is placed on the vaccines is determined by the Veterinary College corresponding to the use that is used with each one of them. Another thing that makes vaccines seem expensive to us is when we have a puppy and they have to be vaccinated several times, but then it will only be a single vaccine each year. It should be noted that sharing life with a dog implies a series of fixed expenses for its care, an example of this is the veterinarian.
On the other hand, deworming and vaccinations turn out to be essential for the health of the dog. This clinical procedure should only be performed by a veterinarian because he has the experience and has also invested effort and money in setting up a clinic to care for animals properly. The vet has a fixed benefit that is provided by the vaccinations. This allows other services such as surgeries to be offered at a more affordable price. It should also be noted that the cost involved in treating a dog that contracts a disease is higher than the price of a vaccine. Even with all these expenses, in many cases it does not guarantee that it will be recovered.
Vaccines Have Side Effects
As such, the vaccines do not have side effects or if the animals experience some type of discomfort, it turns out to be very unusual because they are allergic reactions, among the symptoms that they experience could be discomfort, swelling in the area of the puncture, fever, sneezing. , cough and a slight decrease in activities and appetite.
Vaccination Contraindications
One of the cases in which there are contradictions in vaccination is when the dog to be vaccinated turns out to be sick. Or have parasites, allergies or any condition that ends up affecting the immune system. But in the end it ends up being in vain to vaccinate him because his body does not form the necessary antibodies. We also find those who cannot be the subject of this vaccine are those who are undergoing treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.
Another case is that it is contraindicated to vaccinate a bitch that is pregnant. Or that there is a suspicion that it may be except when it comes to herpesvirus or in a specific situation that the veterinarian must assess. Another important fact is that the puppies are already protected by the inherited antibodies given by their mother for eight weeks. Depending on the case of the dog, the veterinarian will value vaccinating them before, so as not to interfere with these antibodies.
That is why administering a vaccine is a clinical act. That can only be carried out by a veterinarian who has to check the animal first. It is important to know all the information or leaflet about the dog vaccines that you will give your furry friend.
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