Why to vaccinate your dog?
A vaccine against a disease is like a wanted poster for a virus or bacteria for the body to recognise and learn how to respond to the disease in the most effective way possible. Vaccines can either be dead or live attenuated (part of the virus or bacteria is altered to make it less effective) and the version of each will depend on how the vaccine itself was stabilized and developed. For the core vaccination of dogs, we would always recommend protecting against:
- Distemper – a virus with neurological signs that, due to vaccination, is rarely seen any more. There’s no direct treatment as infected dogs will frequently pass away of the infection.
- Adenovirus – A virus that can cause liver failure as well as other organ failure. There’s no treatment for this disease either and while mild cases can be supported through an infection, severe cases will not make it.
- Parvovirus – Probably the most well known disease we vaccinate against. Parvo can cause vomiting and diarrhoea even in vaccinated dogs. While many can be intensively nursed through this viral infection, it can still be fatal in unvaccinated and young dogs.
- Leptospirosis – A bacteria that is found in dirty water causing liver and kidney disease. This bacteria can also infect people causing the same disease. Vaccination can be against two strains or four strains.
To keep your dog fully protected, you should visit your vet once per year for a health check and booster vaccination.