Taken with premission from Bev Truss’s website http://petproblems.net/
Why is vaccination so important?
Every year, many dogs and cats become very ill and many die from infectious diseases which could have been prevented through vaccination. Puppies and kittens are more prone to these killer diseases, especially if the puppy or kitten you bring home has come from a rescue centre or pound. Where there are a large number of unvaccinated cats and dogs, disease can spread like wildfire and highly infectious diseases like Parvo can quickly be spread to puppies and dogs that haven’t been vaccinated.
There are simple steps to be taken if you think your new puppy has an infectious disease. Signs include your puppy going off his food and being sleepy and lethargic. They will develop sickness and bloody diarrhoea. In these cases it is vitally important that the puppy is isolated from other dogs, and steps are taken to prevent this killer disease spreading. You must contact your veterinary surgery, who will give the puppy life-saving fluids and antibiotics. The sooner your puppy gets treatment, the higher the survival rate. There are special antiviral disinfectants that should be used to kill the virus in the environment and the person who is looking after the sick dog must follow very strict hygiene rules. Most rescue centres and dog pounds have isolation kennels to prevent other animals in their care falling victim to these killers. It is heartbreaking to bring home your new puppy and after a week or so, see him become very ill and perhaps die. He could spend up to 2 weeks in veterinary care, and to have him in isolation and treat him can be expensive.
Your vet will vaccinate puppies for the following diseases:
Canine Distemper – Caught through direct contact with an unvaccinated dog. High temperature, runny nose, dehydration, weight loss and nervous signs. The chance of survival is very poor.
Canine Parvovirus – Caught through contact with an infected dog or its faeces. Sickness, fever, and severe, often bloody diarrhoea. The virus can also be transported on the shoes and skin of the person looking after the pup or on other objects that have been in contact with the puppy. Very strict hygiene rules must be followed. This is one of the most common diseases because of the way the virus can be transferred and as such, this is the most common killer.
Infectious canine hepatitis – Liver damage and respiratory infections, caught through contact with unvaccinated dogs. In severe cases, death is very quick. Vaccination helps to minimise the spread of this disease because dogs that survive infection can become carriers and infect other unvaccinated dogs.
Leptospirosis – This is a bacterial infection that will affect the liver and kidneys. It is spread through the urine of infected dogs. (Weils disease, caught through rats urine in humans). This is fatal in severe cases but can also cause permanent kidney damage, which will cause disability and death later on in life. Leptospirosis can be passed on to humans, an extra reason for having your dog vaccinated.
Kennel cough – This occurs when there are a lot of dogs together i.e. boarding kennels or dog shows. This is not a killer but it is highly infectious and can be very uncomfortable. A harsh dry cough and a runny nose, this may last for several weeks and needs a long course of treatment. Should your dog start to cough, get him to the vet immediately, and do not take him out where he may meet other dogs. If your dog is going into kennels your vet must give him the vaccination, which involves putting some drops into his nose.
To prevent the spread of these killer diseases you must follow strict hygiene rules and use a disinfectant that is made specially to kill viruses and bacteria. If you notice that your new puppy isn’t quite himself, you should contact your vet and get a check just to be on the safe side. Remember the sooner these diseases get treated, the less likely the chance that your puppy may die.
