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Vaccinating a dog against rabies is the responsibility of every owner, but there are also other diseases against which it is worth protecting your pet. What does the dog's vaccination calendar look like, which are mandatory and recommended vaccinations for a dog and from when should a puppy need to be vaccinated?

Vaccinating your dog , just like in humans, is of great importance for he alth, as it allows you to protect your pet from diseases that not only damage its body, but can even result in death. The mechanism of acquiring immunity is similar: after receiving a vaccine, a small amount of the pathogen - bacteria or virus - enters the body. Since it is scarce, the animal's body copes quickly with it. At the same time, however, thanks to the so-called immune memory, the immune system "remembers" the enemy - when it comes into contact with him again, there will be antibodies in the body that will prevent the development of the infection or make its course much milder.

Worth knowing

The vaccine, depending on the type, contains either a live, but weakened pathogen, otherwise also known as an antigen - then we say that these are attenuated vaccines or a dead pathogen (so-called inactivated vaccines). There are also vaccines that contain only fragments of the disease-causing microbe - just enough to trigger a reaction in the body, but not harm it. Vaccines can be either monovalent (protect against one disease), or polyvalent, otherwise combined - thanks to the content of several antigens, they allow the animal to immunize against various diseases.

Types of vaccinations in dogs

According to the recommendations of WSAVA, the global organization of veterinarians, vaccinations for dogs can be divided into three main groups:

  • basic vaccinations- so-called Core Vaccination. Every dog ​​in this group should be vaccinated. These include vaccinations against rabies, parvovirosis, distemper, and Rubarth's disease.
  • additional vaccinations- Noncore vaccination. They are recommended when a given dog may be at risk of specific diseases due to its he alth condition or lifestyle. These include, for example, vaccination against Lyme disease (for animals that live in the areasinfested with ticks), leptospirosis (if the animal frequently walks in the forest or tends to hunt rodents), or dermatophytosis or herpesvirosis (in the case of breeding).

Dog's vaccination calendar

The vaccine is administered individually depending, inter alia, on on the he alth of the pet. However, it is not worth delaying the vaccination, if only because some diseases are more dangerous for puppies than for older dogs, and a certain distance between different vaccinations should be kept due to the fact that the body is weakened immediately after vaccination and the next vaccine could have an effect. infection.

It is recommended to start the vaccination course after the age of 8 weeks - earlier vaccinations may be ineffective due to the antibodies that the puppy received from the bitch along with the colostrum.

Therefore, a dog's vaccination calendars have been developed, suggesting when the animal should be vaccinated. It is divided into the so-called early, standard and late vaccinations - the one to follow depends on when the puppy was vaccinated for the first time.

Early vaccinations - for puppies over 6 weeks of age

  • 6-7 weeks: distemper and parvovirosis (vaccine intended for puppies)
  • 9-10 weeks: distemper, parvovis, coronavirus, Rubarth's disease, kennel cough, leptospirosis
  • 12-13 week: distemper, parvovirosis, coronavirus, Rubarth's disease, kennel cough, leptospirosis
  • 15 week: rabies

Booster vaccinations are required after 12 months.

Standard vaccinations - for puppies over 9 weeks of age

  • 9-10 weeks: distemper, parvovirosis, coronavirus, Rubarth's disease, kennel cough, leptospirosis
  • 12-13 weeks: distemper, parvovirosis, coronavirus, Rubarth's disease, kennel cough, leptospirosis - 15 weeks - rabies. After 12 months, booster vaccinations are required.

Late vaccinations - puppies over 12 weeks of age and adult dogs

  • after week 12: distemper, parvovirosis, coronavirus, Rubarth's disease, kennel cough, leptospirosis.
  • after the next 2-4 weeks: distemper, parvovirosis, leptospirosis, kennel cough, viral hepatitis, coronavirus.
  • after another 2-3 weeks - rabies.

Booster vaccinations are required after 12 months.

When does the vaccine start working?

Vaccinations can be by injection, either subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Vaccines are used less frequentlyoral and nasal. However, the vaccine does not give immediate immunity. Once introduced into the body, the pet's immune system begins to produce antibodies, but the process is complicated and takes some time. Usually, post-vaccination immunity after the first administration of a given vaccine is established in the period from 14 to 21 days after vaccination - in the case of the next administration of the same vaccine, the animal is immune on the day of its administration.

How to prepare your dog for vaccinations?

One week before the planned vaccination date, the dog should be backed up and monitored for any symptoms of infection, because the dog must be he althy - giving the vaccine to a sick dog may burden him with another infection, but it will not stimulate the immune system. Before vaccination, the doctor should examine the dog: check the temperature, auscultate, assess the lymph nodes, and check that the animal has been vaccinated (and with which vaccines) and that it has not had any adverse reactions. During the interview before vaccination, he should also ask about the pet's lifestyle, because in some cases it excludes certain vaccines (e.g. against leptospirosis).

Important

The dog should not be vaccinated:

  • during illness or weakness, e.g. after illness, dehydration, severe stress
  • after treatment with certain medications, e.g. corticosteroids
  • with worms, fleas or lice
  • Adverse reactions have occurred during previous vaccinations

Pregnant bitches are not vaccinated either.

What to do after your dog is vaccinated

You should reserve some time for a vaccination visit and do not leave the office right after vaccination, but sit with your dog in the waiting room and watch for half an hour if there is an unexpected anaphylactic reaction or a severe post-vaccination reaction. It is also worth observing the pet at home: it may happen that after being vaccinated for several consecutive days, the site of the bite will become swollen and sore, the dog will be depressed and will not have an appetite. In such a situation, contact a veterinarian who will recommend further treatment.

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