Diseases That Vaccinations For Puppies Prevent

Owners of puppies should guard the health of their dog by providing the appropriate vaccinations for puppies. The vaccines for puppies protect them from many dog diseases, some of which are potentially deadly.

Puppies receive the first antibodies from their mothers through the placenta. After they are born, they were continue to receive antibodies in the mother’s milk for the first two days.

Commercial vaccinations are not effective until the maternal antibodies have worn off. Puppies generally begin the vaccination schedule when they are six to nine weeks old.

Vaccinations against parvovirus, distemper, leptospirosis, and hepatitis are the primary vaccinations for puppies. The veterinarian may suggest additional vaccinations for kennel cough and rabies.

Parvovirus causes abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, depression, and refusal to eat or drink. Canine distemper causes lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, coughing, diarrhea, runny nose, and seizures.

A virus that attacks the liver and can be deadly is infectious canine hepatitis. Infectious canine hepatitis causes vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and a loss of appetite.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that causes abdominal pain, vomiting, lethargy, bloody diarrhea, increased thirst, and fever. A dog can die from leptospirosis within hours of the onset of symptoms.

Kennel cough is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection that causes a dry cough, slight fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Many kennels require that dog owners and their dogs vaccinated for kennel cough before they will board the dogs.

Rabies is one of the few diseases that can affect both dogs and humans. At the end stages of rabies, the dog could begin foaming at the mouth, drooling, and show signs of paralysis before slipping into a coma and dying of respiratory failure.

The veterinarian may recommend additional vaccines for dog illnesses such as Bordetella, parainfluenza, coronavirus, and measles. These vaccinations are most likely to be recommended if the dog is to spend a significant amount time with other dogs.

Following some vaccinations, the puppy may not be allowed to be exposed to other dogs. The veterinarian may provide information on possible side effects and any other precautions related to the vaccinations.

Moses Wright has been a lover of dogs for many years. He set up this site to provide information on non allergic dog breeds and symptoms of dog diseases to help fellow dog owners learn more about their pets.