Many of the serious diseases in dogs can be prevented by vaccination. With over 50 million pet dogs in the United States alone, your pet is bound to come in contact with an infectious disease at some time. Even if you always keep your pet indoors, your dog can be exposed to viruses carried in the air, in dust, or on clothing. Vaccination is inexpensive protection against costly treatment, or even premature death of your dog.
Common vaccinations include:
- Distemper: Signs include coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, fever, and discharges from the eyes and/or nose. "Squinting" of the eyes is often the first sign observed. Once the virus enters the nervous system, convulsions, twitches, or partial paralysis become evident. It is spread through all body secretions and is highly contagious. It is usually fatal.
- Parvo virus: Transmitted through direct contact with an infected dog's feces. Signs include vomiting, fever, depression, and diarrhea, which often will contain large amounts of blood. There is another form where the virus attacks the heart muscle causing a heart attack and death. The younger the pet, the greater the chance of death. The death rate is very high in dogs under 4-6 months of age.
- Infectious canine hepatitis: affects the dog's liver and puppies are at the most risk.
- Leptospirosis: a bacterial infection that affects the dog's kidneys. It can reside as a low-level infection for months or years, infecting other dogs while weakening your pet.
- Canine cough complex: an upper respiratory infection with the major sign being a persistent, dry, hacking cough. It often lasts several weeks and is highly contagious.
- Corona virus: an intestinal infection resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, and depression. It is highly contagious and can be fatal.
- Rabies: a fatal infection of the nervous system that attacks all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Because there is no cure for rabies, vaccination is your pet's only protection.
Contact us to schedule your pet's vaccinations.