Why Are Vaccinations Important For Your Dogs?
Are you a brand new or seasoned pet owner? Either way, we’re sure you want nothing but the best for your fur babies! And this means putting your pet’s health first! One of the first steps that should come to mind is preventative healthcare and that includes regular vaccinations for our cats and dogs. Like humans, vaccinations play a vital role in preventing serious illnesses in our pets. It is one of the best ways to shield your pets from diseases that can often prove serious and fatal. Getting a vaccine is also definitely way cheaper than having your pet treated for a disease that could’ve been prevented by a vaccine in the first place.
Since August is National Immunization Awareness Month, we’ll be talking about the benefits of vaccines and why it’s important to keep them up to date! So what are these vaccinations our pets need? Does my dog or cat really need these vaccinations? Why isn’t one vaccination dose enough? Are pet vaccinations required yearly? Are pet vaccinations safe? Read on to find out!
How Does A Vaccine Work?
Most vaccinations take the form of an injection. They work by stimulating the immune system so that it is able to handle these diseases easily if they are encountered (establishing immunity). help prime the immune system of dogs to mount a defense from any invasion of pathogens or disease-causing organisms. When administered, an antigen present in the vaccine triggers a reaction that causes the immune system to produce antibodies. This means that when your pet is exposed to a disease, the antibodies that are produced by the immune system for that specific disease help the body fight off any pathogens. An animal that has not been vaccinated would be unlikely to have an immunity to these diseases should they be encountered.
The Basics of Vaccines - Core and Non-Core
Core Vaccines
Core vaccines are mandatory vaccines every pet should receive as the diseases are too deadly to risk not having immunity against.
These are core vaccines that is it absolutely needed:
Canine parvovirus infection
Canine distemper
Canine infectious hepatitis (adenovirus infection)
Rabies
Non Core Vaccines
Non-Core vaccines are administered based on the pet’s lifestyle and exposure to certain diseases.
Non-core vaccines:
Leptospirosis
Canine Influenza
Canine Parainfluenza
Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
Lyme disease
Non-core vaccines are optional and depend on your pet’s risk of exposure to any of these infectious diseases. This will be based on their lifestyle and surrounding environment. Although, prevention is definitely better than cure!
How Often Do You Need to Vaccinate Your Pets?
Puppies and Kitties
Puppies and kittens need a minimum of 2 vaccinations that are 3-4 weeks apart. There are usually up to 3 vaccinations in total. Puppies/kittens need to be at least 6-8 weeks of age at the first vaccination and then given booster vaccines until 16 weeks of age or older when they receive their last vaccination booster. Then another vaccination booster 1 year after their last puppy/kitten vaccination.
We cannot highlight how important it is to adhere to your fur babies’ vaccination schedule. During the first weeks after they are born, puppies and kittens are actually protected by their maternal antibodies they receive from their mother’s milk. However, the protection received wears off over time therefore it is crucial that they start their first round of vaccines after they are weaned from their mother.
You should work closely with your veterinarian for your pet's vaccination schedule so you will also know which annual dog vaccinations you need to remember.
Annual Vaccines
Vaccination for adult dogs generally consists of yearly booster shots for vaccines that have been administered while they were still puppies. The booster shots that are recommended when dogs visit the vet for their first-year wellness check include DHPP, rabies, and leptospirosis. it was found that the duration of immunity for Canine Parvovirus, Distemper virus and Adenovirus can last for 3 years or longer in some dogs so yearly boosters of these components may not be required in low risk dogs.
However, the duration of immunity for Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza virus (the other 2 components in our core vaccinations in Singapore) only last for one year and in addition, manufacturer’s instructions indicate annual vaccination boosters are required for their vaccines.
How Much Do They Cost?
The average cost for vaccinations in Singapore is about $25 - $50. This might defer across your veterinary clinics so it’ll be best to check the cost with them.
Side Effects
Like any other medical procedure, there are bound to be some side effects but in this case, the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh any risks! Adverse reactions to dog vaccines are rare. However, we do recommend that you have your puppy or dog vaccinated at a time when you can monitor them after the vaccination.
If your dog does experience any reaction to vaccinations, symptoms may include:
Fever
Sluggishness
Loss of appetite
Facial or paw swelling and/or hives
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Pain or swelling around the injection site
Collapse, difficulty breathing, and seizures (anaphylactic shock)
Just as with human vaccines, mild symptoms can be ignored. The majority of reactions are mild and short lived. If you suspect a more severe reaction to puppy vaccines or dog vaccines, such as facial swelling, vomiting or lethargy, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Do Your Pets Really Need These Vaccines?
Yes! We highly recommend making sure your pets get their required vaccines. As mentioned, prevention is better than cure! Many pet owners are still wary about having their dogs vaccinated because of the potential side effects. However, vaccination, even with the potential for adverse reactions, is still the best way to protect your pet against certain serious diseases.
