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Vaccinations are important, even for indoor pets. Some diseases are airborne or can be acquired by contact with fecal matter that might be brought into your house on your street shoes. Diseases that affect pets are present in the environment, and some diseases can spread to humans.

Any animal that goes outdoors should be vaccinated annually for rabies. This includes ferrets and bunnies. If you have a small house dog, or your dog is at low risk for contracting Leptospirosis, your vet may determine that this vaccination is not necessary. Aged animals should only be vaccinated on the recommendation of your vet.

Vaccinations protect your beloved pet from painful and often fatal diseases. They help ensure a long and happy life for your pet, with many hours of enjoyment for you with your animal companion. The cost of vaccinations is very small, compared to the cost of treating a disease or of losing your pet altogether. Many communities have vaccination clinics where you can get free rabies vaccines for example. Check with your local animal shelter or veterinarian to find out when a free vaccination clinic is scheduled.

Your pet’s age, health, lifestyle, environment, and geographic location can all affect the vaccination schedule. Ask your veterinarian about the most appropriate vaccines for your pet.

Vaccination Schedule

Cat

Vaccine: Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus and calicivirus (combined)

When: As early as 6 weeks, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until at least 12 weeks of age

Booster: Every 3 years

Cat

Vaccine: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)
When: Begin at 4 months old, repeat in 2-4 weeks
Booster: Every year

Cat

Vaccine: Feline distemper
When: At 9 weeks old and 12 weeks old
Booster: Every year

Cat, Dog, Ferret, Bunny

Vaccine: Rabies
When: At 3 months for initial protection, and again at 1 year
Booster: Every 1 to 3 years

Dog*

Vaccine: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (combined DHPP), Leptospirosis, Adenovirus
When: At 6 to 8 weeks, 9 to 11 weeks, and 12 to 14 weeks
Booster: 1 year after last puppy dose, then every 1 to 3 years depending on vaccine type

Dog

Vaccine: Rabies
When: 3 months
Booster: 1 year after puppy dose, then as required by local authorities

Dog

Vaccine: Coronavirus
When: 6 weeks of age, then every 2-4 weeks until 12 weeks of age

Dog - if it will be exposed to ticks

Vaccine: Lyme
When: 9 to 11 weeks, and 12 to 14 weeks
Booster: Every year

Dog - if it will be boarded, or going to dog shows or obedience classes

Vaccine: Kennel cough (Bordetelle)
When: 16 weeks
Booster: Every year

Dog - outdoor dogs; can spread to humans

Vaccine: Giardia
When: 12 weeks, 15 weeks
Booster: Every year, if indicated in your area

* Not a vaccination, but dogs should receive heartworm prevention starting at between 8-15 weeks of age, continued for life, with annual heartworm blood tests.

After the vaccination, it is important to watch your pet for the next couple of days for any signs of a reaction to the shot. Possible symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite

• Minor fever

• Irritability, expressed as biting, growling, or unwillingness to be with people

• Unusual sleepiness, lack of energy

• Swelling or redness around the injection site

If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian. If you observe a lump on your cat for more than 3 months after it has been vaccinated for rabies or feline leukemia call your vet. This could be a sign of a vaccine-associated tumor.

Reactions to vaccines happen from time to time, but for the most part, having your pet vaccinated, and given a health checkup once a year, is the safest way to protect them and help them live a long, happy life.

Sources: American Animal Hospital Association and Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Ontario, Canada

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1. Run some practice sessions.

The sound of a doorbell or knocking
can send many dogs in a tizzy, exacerbated by a dog’s instincts to
guard his home from strangers. If your dog isn’t familiar with these
sounds, do some practice sessions. Have a friend come over and ring
or knock on the door.

Don’t immediately leap up and run for the door. Be calm and walk toward
the door at a normal pace. Remember your dog senses your excitement so
you want to remain controlled in your behavior.

Repeat this a couple times a day for several days prior to Thanksgiving
or whatever day your company is arriving.

2. Keep him under your control.

Put him in the sit or stay or down
(whichever command you’ve taught him) position as soon as you hear
someone approaching your door. Don’t let him run to the door as soon
as he hears a doorbell or knock. Don’t let him greet a visitor unless
he is calm.

If your dog is not trained well enough yet to obey a sit or stay command,
keep him on a leash while you greet company. You also may want to use a
head halter if you’re not certain how dog will behave or if he’s meeting
lots of guests at once for the first time.

3. Keep a water bottle handy.

If your dog goes into a tizzy or tries to leap on someone and is
beyond hearing your “no” command, spray him in the face with the
water. Almost every dog hates that but he won’t be harmed.

4. Train your guests.

If you dog starts to jump on a guest before you can get to him,
tell the guest to turn their back and ignore the dog. Grab your
dog and make him sit.

5. Don’t reward bad behavior.

Ask guests not to reward your dog’s bad behavior. The most natural thing
for a visitor to do is to say “good dog” to a dog that’s greeting them
by jumping up. This is terrible! Ask your friends not to say
anything to the dog; simply turn their backs until the dog stays on all
four paws.

6. Restrain your dog.

If your dog isn’t used to much company or guests are bringing
small children, put your dog in a room away from the guests
until everyone has arrived and all the initial greetings are over.
Don’t bring the dog out until the room is relatively calm.

There’s no reason Fido can’t enjoy the upcoming holiday season with you
if you teach him how to be a good host.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and
creator of the popular website on small dogs,
http://www.ToyBreeds.com

Tags: dog disease, dog health, dog nutrition, dog obedience, dog shots, dog training, dog vaccinationdog disease, dog health, dog nutrition, dog obedience, dog shots, dog training, dog vaccination

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If your vet isn’t rethinking the frequency of vaccinations, more
and more owners certainly are.

The idea of injecting multiple biological agents into Fido year and
year has made many people wonder what is happening to Fido besides
hopefully gaining immunity to the diseases.

Note we are arguing only about boosters, not puppy vaccinations.
Once the series of puppy vaccinations is complete, the question remains
how often and for which diseases a mature dog should receive boosters.

Most veterinarians today seem to agree that if a vaccination isn’t
necessary don’t give it and that dogs are likely to be over-vaccinated.

Unfortunately all dogs potentially come into contact with diseases
even if they never leave their homes.

You could carry most of these diseases to your dog on your shoes or they
could be transmitted by other animals such as mice or rats. Air currents
and inanimate objects also can carry disease.

Louise Louis of www.ToyBreeds.com offers some commonsense points
to help your decide.

1. Are there diseases prevalent in the area in
which you live? Are they treatable?

For instance, most vets don’t recommend vaccinations against Lyme
disease unless you live in an area where it is prevalent. Lyme
disease also is easily treated with antibiotics should Fido develop it.

On the other hand, you may want to take a conservative approach on
a disease as virulent and highly infectious as parvovrius or distemper.

Even if the dog survives an attack of distemper, he is likely to suffer
permanent impairment of the nervous system.

The conservative approach for mature dogs is to vaccinate annually
against parvovirus, parainfluenza virus and leptospirosis and
every other year against distemper and hepatitis. States usually
regulate how often rabies vaccinations must be given.

2. Is your dog otherwise healthy?

Vaccination of sick animals is rarely a good idea and vaccinations
may exacerbate any existing illnesses. Some medications affect a dog’s
response to vaccinations and may reduce the dog’s ability to
respond to a vaccine.

3. What is your dog’s lifestyle?

Do you take him to dog parks? Does he board at kennels or participate
in dog shows? Obviously, the more social the dog, the more likely he
is to come into contact with disease.

Talk to your vet. There are potential risks as well as benefits.
Your dog’s health depends on your decisions.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and
creator of the popular website on small dogs,
http://www.ToyBreeds.com

Tags: dog disease, dog health, dog nutrition, dog obedience, dog shots, dog training, dog vaccinationdog disease, dog health, dog nutrition, dog obedience, dog shots, dog training, dog vaccination

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