Vaccinations
Your rottweiler needs to be vaccinated against deadly and contagious diseases such as rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and canine hepatitis to ensure his health. Diseases such as parvovirus and distemper have a mortality rate of over 50 percent.
But what vaccinations are really necessary? Over the years, new data suggests that we overvaccinate our dogs, causing autoimmune disorders and other health problems. But failing to vaccinate may cause disease to spread. It is a tough decision and one you should make with your veterinarian. Your vet should recommend vaccinations according to your location and your rottie's exposure to other dogs and canids.
Vaccines work by introducing a small amount of the disease-causing organism into a healthy dog. The dog's immune system responds by producing antibodies that are then ready to fight any subsequent infections. Sick dogs or dogs with poor immune systems should not be vaccinated without a veterinarian's approval.
There are three types of vaccines available: modified live, killed, and recombinant. Modified live vaccines are genetically engineered versions of the organism's more deadly form. Modified live viruses and bacteria are able to reproduce, but they generally do no harm to a healthy dog. The dog's body produces more antibodies to fight the infection as the modified live organism reproduces.
Killed vaccines are based on the killed form of the organism. Killed vaccines do not reproduce in the dog and usually cause the body to produce fewer antibodies than the live versions. Recombinant vaccines are genetically engineered vaccines where either the virulent genes of the disease are removed or the genetic material of the disease is added to a carrier disease that will infect the dog and produce an immune response.
Rabies
Rabies is probably the best known of the contagious dog diseases due to the publicity it's gotten in Hollywood movies and in television. Rabies is a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system, causing encephalitis, and if contracted is 100 percent fatal. Any mammal can carry rabies, but it is frequently found in bats, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and raccoons. Rabies is transmitted through the infected saliva of the affected animal, usually through a bite, but occasionally through contact with wounds or by inhalation. The incubation period can be 15 days to several months.
Rabies is still a very dangerous disease. In the United States, however, vaccinations have reduced the spread considerably. If you're ever bitten by a wild animal or a potentially rabid animal, you must be treated. However, the rabies series is no longer the ordeal it once was.
There are two forms of rabies: furious and dumb. A dog with furious rabies or “mad dog” rabies will fearlessly attack anything. Excessive drooling and paralysis characterize dumb rabies. Depending on your state health department's regulations, you must vaccinate your rottweiler once every one to three years.
Distemper
Distemper is a deadly virus that is usually fatal to puppies and older dogs that contract it. It is highly contagious and can be air-borne or carried on clothing or shoes. Recovering dogs may be infectious for several months. First-stage symptoms include fever, a yellowish-gray discharge from the eyes and nose, lethargy, and appetite loss. In the second stage, the dog may have diarrhea and a dry cough.
If the dog lives through these first two stages, it may appear to get well only to continue to the third and most deadly stage. The third stage occurs if there is a central nervous system involvement. The dog may develop strange twitches, convulsions, epileptic-type seizures, or paralysis. Some dogs exhibit hard-pad distemper, in which the dog's pads and nose form thick calluses.
Distemper may last from 10 days to several months. Vaccinations against distemper are typically given in a combination vaccine and are usually boosted yearly in adult rottweilers.
A spayed or neutered dog is healthier than one that is intact. Spaying eliminates ovarian cancer and reduces the risk of mammary tumors in female dogs. Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and reduces anal tumors in male dogs.
Parvovirus
“Parvo” first appeared in 1978 and became an epidemic those first few years. It is spread through contaminated feces and can live in the soil for up to one year. Parvovirus affects all dogs, but older dogs and puppies are at high risk. Dogs that show little outward symptoms of parvovirus may be carriers and can be infectious for a long time.
Parvovirus causes high fever and extreme diarrhea (often bloody), and it can affect the heart. Parvovirus has a 50-percent or even higher mortality rate among puppies. The incubation period is seven to 10 days. Vaccinations against parvovirus may be given alone or in a combination vaccine and are usually boosted yearly in adult rottweilers.
Coronavirus
“Corona” is much like parvovirus as it infects the gastrointestinal system. It is spread through infected feces. The symptoms are similar to parvovirus but usually not as extreme. Veterinarians should run tests to determine if the puppy has coronavirus or parvovirus. Coronavirus may severely affect puppies, but in adult dogs the infection is usually milder than parvovirus. Parvovirus and coronavirus can infect a puppy at the same time.
Vaccinations against coronavirus may be given alone or in a combination vaccine. Many boarding facilities require both bordetella and coronavirus vaccinations before accepting a dog. You should vaccinate against coronavirus if your rottweiler is exposed to large numbers of dogs, if you have a kennel, or if you have puppies. It is usually boosted yearly in adult rottweilers.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Canine hepatitis is a virus that is spread through infected urine. It is not related to human hepatitis. It affects the dog's liver, kidneys, and blood vessels. Recovering dogs may be infectious for months after. Its symptoms can vary from a slight fever to death. Symptoms may include eye discharge, jaundice, bloody diarrhea, hunched back, and fever. The incubation period is from four to nine days. Vaccinations against infectious canine hepatitis are typically given in a combination vaccine, and it is usually boosted yearly in adult rottweilers.
Leptospirosis
Ask your veterinarian about leptospirosis. It has made a small resurgence in parts of the United States, and the current forms are more dangerous and have a higher mortality rate.
“Lepto” is a disease caused by bacteria. Rats are the main carriers through infected urine and contaminated water sources. The disease can be transmitted to humans. Dogs that recovered from leptospirosis may be infectious for months or years. Leptospirosis affects the kidneys and may also affect the liver, mouth, and tongue. Dogs that contract the disease will have a high fever and will urinate frequently. The kidneys may fail completely and require dialysis. The dog may have mouth ulcers and a thick brown substance may coat the tongue. The dog may also have jaundice-like symptoms.
Leptospirosis usually appears between five to 15 days after infection. Vaccinations against leptospirosis are typically given in a combination vaccine and are usually boosted yearly in adult rottweilers. Some combination vaccinations do not carry the leptospirosis vaccine because young puppies may have reactions to it.
Infectious Tracheobronchitis
Infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly known as kennel cough, is caused by different viruses and bacteria, most notably the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria, canine adenovirus types 1 and 2, and the parainfluenza virus. Breeders and veterinarians often refer to infectious tracheobronchitis as kennel cough because it is highly contagious and rapidly spreads through breeding and boarding kennels. Kennel cough can be damaging to dogs that are very old, young, or in poor health.
Dogs with kennel cough have a pronounced dry cough, which may linger for as long as two to three weeks. Complete recovery may take up to six weeks. The incubation period is between five and 10 days. The vaccination against kennel cough is given once or twice yearly to adult rottweilers. However, these vaccines do not protect against all possible kennel cough viruses.
Kennel cough is usually more of a nuisance than a long-lasting threat. Because there are so many viruses and bacteria that cause kennel cough, even if you vaccinate with all available kennel cough vaccinations, your rottweiler may still contract kennel cough from the viruses and bacteria there are no vaccines for.
Lyme is a tick-borne disease that originated in the Northeast and was discovered in Lyme, Connecticut, in 1975. The symptoms mimic a myriad of other diseases, with fever, lameness, fatigue, and loss of appetite being fairly common. Lyme disease is prevalent throughout the Northeast and Upper Midwest and is carried by the deer tick. In its early stages, Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics.
Giardia
Giardia is a microscopic organism that lives in streams and lakes. It is carried through fecal matter of wildlife and is prevalent throughout the Rocky Mountains but may be found anywhere. It causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Giardia is treatable with metronidazole but may take several treatments to eradicate.
Both people and dogs can contract giardia. It's prevalent in streams and in places without good filtering systems. You and your rottie should drink bottled water if you visit small towns within the Rocky Mountains, or if you run the risk of getting giardia. Small towns in the Rockies are either on well water or filter water from local streams. These municipalities often don't have the funds to completely screen their water for giardia. Locals usually have built up a tolerance for the bug, but it is unlikely you have. Hot coffee and tea are often not heated enough to kill the microorganisms either.
