Vets for Pets

Dog Vaccinations

��Protection from mother��s milk is only temporary��

When puppies are born, they are protected against certain diseases by their mother��s milk. This protection

is only temporary and as it declines, puppies need a helping hand to fight off diseases. When

puppies are 8 weeks of age, they should be having their first vaccination, followed by a second

dose 4 - 6 weeks later. Once all doses have been received, it can take up to two weeks for these

vaccinations to work so it is vital that puppies are kept away from places where diseases are likely

to be spread by other dogs.

��Within two weeks of vaccination, keep dogs away from places where diseases are easily spread

by other dogs��

The vaccination a puppy receives triggers their immune system and allows them to fight off

recurring diseases whenever they come across them.

Vaccinating your pet against these diseases not only protects your animal, but the other animals it

may come into contact with. Once your pet��s health is protected by these vaccinations, it is

important to continue to get yearly boosters to ensure that their immunity is continued.

The main diseases that dogs and puppies can come across and can be vaccinated against

are:

Canine Distemper (Hard Pad)

Transmitted: This disease is transmitted when a dog sniffs where an infected dog or fox has

been.

Symptoms Include: Coughing, diarrhoea, high temperature, vomiting, sore eyes and a runny

nose. In some cases, the nose and foot pads can become hard and cracked.

Severity: Pneumonia, fits, muscle spasms and paralysis can occur. Canine Distemper is often

fatal.

Recovery: Those that do survive can be left with permanent disabilities.

Canine Parvovirus (common in puppies and dogs under 1 year)

Transmitted: Contact with infected faeces. It can stay in an environment for many months.

Symptoms Include: Depression, severe vomiting, high temperature, refusal of food and water,

abdominal pain and profuse foul-smelling bloody diarrhoea.

Severity: Dehydration and often fatality within 24 hours even with veterinary treatment.

The Veterinary Surgery, Millfield, Whitland, Carmarthenshire SA34 0QN

Telephone: 01994 240318; Email:office@whitlandvets.co.uk

Infectious Canine Hepatitis (Most common in dogs under 1 year) This disease attacks the

liver, kidneys, eyes and lungs.

Transmitted: Direct contact with infected urine, saliva and faeces.

Symptoms include: Lack of appetite, high temperature, pale gums and conjunctiva, abdominal

pain, jaundice, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Severity: Develops within 24-36 hours and can cause respiratory failure and fatality.

Recovery: Dogs who recover can often be left with ��Blue Eye�� which is a clouding of the cornea.

This usually resolves itself through time.

Leptospirosis (Weil��s Disease) This disease affects the liver and sometimes the kidneys too.

(There are also 3 other strains of Lepto that are contained in the Lepto4 vaccine. These tend to

affect the kidneys)

Transmitted: Picked up from urine of infected rats. It can be caught when a dog drinks or swims

in canals or rivers that are inhabited by the infected rats. It can also be picked up from sniffing

where the rats have been, as well as from an infected dogs urine too. Badgers have also been

known to spread this too.

Symptoms: Depression, high temperature, severe thirst, lethargy, increased urination, abdominal

pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and jaundice.

Severity: In severe cases it can be fatal.

Recovery: Dogs can recover from this disease, but their urine can still excrete the bacteria from

the disease for up to a year, making them a source of infection.

Canine Parainfluenza Virus (Cause of Kennel Cough)

Transmitted: Contaminated airborne droplets or direct contact with other dogs. Therefore, in any

situation where other dogs are present, it can be passed along.

Symptoms: Dry, harsh cough which may cause retching. It sounds as if the dog has something

stuck in the throat. This can last several days up to several weeks.

Severity: With no treatment secondary infections can lead to pneumonia.

Recovery: With treatment it can take up to 2 or 3 weeks for a dog to recover.

The Veterinary Surgery, Millfield, Whitland, Carmarthenshire SA34 0QN

Telephone: 01994 240318; Email:office@whitlandvets.co.uk

Bordetella Bronchiseptica (Cause of Kennel Cough) unlike Parainfluenza, Bordatella is a

bacteria

Transmitted: Contaminated airborne droplets or direct contact with other dogs. Therefore, in any

situation where other dogs are present, it can be passed along.

Symptoms: Dry, harsh cough which may cause retching. It sounds as if the dog has something

stuck in the throat. This can last several days up to several weeks.

Severity: With no treatment secondary infections can lead to pneumonia.

Recovery: With treatment it can take up to 2 or 3 weeks for a dog to recover.

The Veterinary Surgery, Millfield, Whitland, Carmarthenshire SA34 0QN

Telephone: 01994 240318; Email:office@whitlandvets.co.uk

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