The Diseases Vaccines Protect Against
It's important to know the diseases for which vaccines exist so that you can fully understand why protection against them is so vital for your dog.
Especially for those who spend a lot of time at the local dog park letting their dogs socialize with others, kennel cough is almost a certainty. It is akin to sending your child off to kindergarten: a guarantee she'll pick up almost everything. Make sure your puppy and mature dog are always up to date on their vaccinations. Socialization is very important, so make sure you do it. But know that some sickness will come from all the interaction, just like young kids in school for the first time.
Adenovirus (Canine Hepatitis)
Hepatitis, a viral disease, attacks body tissue, particularly the kidneys and liver, and most often strikes dogs under one year of age. Symptoms include increased thirst, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, high fever, and lack of energy. Eyes may appear to have a blue tint. The disease is spread through contact with an infected dog or his urine or feces. It is a core disease against which to be vaccinated.
Distemper
This is a viral disease that attacks a dog's nervous system and progresses to affect every tissue in the body. It is an airborne disease that can strike at any age but is most deadly if acquired young, which is why it's one of the first shots a pup receives. A dog with distemper will secrete a thick, yellowish discharge from his nose and eyes. He'll run a fever and he will not want to eat. The pneumonia, encephalitis, and dehydration that can result can be deadly. This is a core disease against which to be vaccinated.
Knowing which vaccines are necessary for the long-term health and safety of your dog will ensure that she stays free from potentially fatal infectious diseases. Her schedule for receiving the shots starts in puppyhood.
Parvovirus
This viral infection manifests itself as an inflammation of the intestinal lining, causing sudden vomiting, bloody diarrhea, a high fever, and rapid weight loss. It is transmitted through the feces and can survive outside a dog's body for three to six months. The disease is extremely debilitating and rapidly lethal; treatment is intensive and often unsuccessful. It is a core disease against which to be vaccinated.
Rabies
The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system, causing unpredictable and often aggressive behavior. This erratic behavior is what, in turn, can cause the virus to spread, because it is through the bite of an infected animal that another animal is infected. Rabies can be transmitted from species to species, too, making it a health hazard to domesticated animals and people. This is why it is a core disease, and all states require that dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies is common in the northeastern United States, where there are large populations of skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, and groundhogs. If you observe erratic behavior in any of these animals, call your local animal warden immediately.
The CDC is working with partners around the world to eliminate canine rabies globally. September 8, 2007, was the inaugural World Rabies Day, and a symposium brought together professionals from all over the world to discuss and examine how to eliminate rabies around the world. The United States is already considered rabies-free. For more information, go to www.worldrabiesday.org.
If your dog is bitten or scratched by any wild animal, you should alert your veterinarian and your local animal warden immediately.
Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
Kennel cough is the common name given to the respiratory condition that results in a harsh, dry cough in a dog that sounds like a case of bronchitis in a person. It is caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica, though the bacteria doesn't always act alone. Dogs who live in kennels, who will be boarded with other dogs, or who visit strange dogs frequently should be vaccinated against the disease. It's highly contagious, though it can be treated with antibiotics, rest, and the proper environment. Affected dogs must be isolated from other dogs, and especially from puppies, who are more severely stricken than older dogs.
Kennel cough is the most common sickness passed on from dog to dog at dog runs and dog parks. It is the equivalent of a cold passed from one first grader to another. It is annoying, but if properly treated, it disappears in less than two weeks. The constant coughing sometimes becomes difficult to bear, but it will end. And then it's like chicken pox — luckily, dogs tend to only get it once.
Leptospirosis
Lepto strikes the liver and also the kidneys, but this disease is caused by bacteria. Severe infections cause shock and death, but if it's caught early, aggressive treatment with antibiotics can fight it off. Symptoms include vomiting, excessive thirst with decreased urination and dehydration, and abdominal pain. Lepto is highly contagious, and an infected dog can also pass the bacteria through his urine for some time, even after treatment. Dogs who spend a great deal of time outdoors seem most affected. The disease is also contagious to people. It is a non-core disease against which a vaccine should be given if the dog or his environment is susceptible.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a tick-borne viral disease that often causes debilitating joint pain. While once a disease predominantly of the eastern United States, it is now documented in the northern Midwest and Pacific Coast areas of the United States. It is a non-core disease, but dogs living in areas of high possible infestation should be vaccinated.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, and is transmitted by tick bites. To infect a dog, a tick must remain attached to its host for several hours, so finding and removing ticks is essential to protecting your dog. Typical symptoms include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, limpness, loss of appetite, and inflamed joints. Your veterinarian can diagnose a dog with Lyme disease, and treatment is usually effective if the disease is caught early enough.
Other Vaccines
Some potentially life-threatening conditions for which vaccines currently exist are periodontal disease and rattlesnake venom. Both are fairly new to the market and are still being clinically evaluated for their overall benefits. Neither are considered core vaccines. Certainly if you are concerned about the potential for your dog to be bitten by a rattlesnake, or if you are especially concerned about how poor dental health can affect your dog's teeth, gums, and other body systems, discuss these with your veterinarian.
