In addition to knowing how the sun affects the dog, knowing how to identify the signs that indicate that it is in pain or taking its temperature correctly, there is a crucial aspect in the health of your best four-legged friend and that is knowing everything very well. related to vaccines.
First of all, we must emphasize that if not before, the dog must have been vaccinated when it reaches 12 weeks of life. It is important to bear in mind that if you have not been vaccinated, you should not have contact with other animals since you could give them a disease. Also, you should know that dogs that are already sick cannot be vaccinated. The dog’s immune system creates antibodies to defend itself against these diseases, but this immunity is also acquired through vaccination.
How do vaccines work? Very easy. Vaccines are nothing more than attenuated germs that cannot cause disease because they are “weak.” With its injection, the production of specific antibodies for the specific germ on which the vaccine acts is stimulated. Of course, this protection does not last forever and that is why it is necessary to re-administer it.
There are two types of vaccinations for your dog: mandatory and optional. The first ones, as their name suggests, are those that the dog should have on yes or yes. They are especially important because they not only take care of the health of the animal, but indirectly their owners. These include canine distemper virus , parvovirus, and rabies. The latter is especially important, because although it was considered eradicated a few years ago (in fact, in some autonomous communities it is not even mandatory), the truth is that it can also affect people. Prevention is better than cure!
In addition, we must emphasize that the rabies vaccine begins to be effective 14 days after its administration. An effectiveness that is 100%, so if it has been done properly, giving your dog this vaccine will ensure that he will not develop the disease. While the first administration should take place when it is one year old , later the time between vaccines is spaced and the duration will increase to two or even three years.
On the other hand, the optional vaccines are those that protect against leptospirosis, parainfluenza, kennel cough caused by bordetella, Lyme disease, coronavirus and leishmaniasis , the latter being one of the most susceptible to contracting in spring and summer. The ideal, according to experts, is to put it on in March so that they are already protected when the troubled moment arrives. Likewise, we must emphasize that although it is more typical of humid and hot climates, it is not uncommon for it to occur in interior places.
Veterinarians agree on the importance of the primary vaccination of puppies. It is estimated that at 8 weeks of age the immunity provided by the antibodies received from the mother during lactation ceases to be effective and that is when they should receive the first vaccine. You will need at least three injections to be considered immunized.
Vaccinations must be administered once a year. This indication is an approach carried out by veterinarians, and it is not that after a year it no longer has effectiveness (although it is true that antibodies decrease) but it is done in this way so that owners can better control this theme.
At 6 weeks the puppy is given the first vaccination. From then on, the dog’s vaccination schedule would be roughly as follows:
- 8 weeks: multipurpose vaccine . It is one that protects against several diseases, including distemper in dogs, canine parvovirus, infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza and other infections caused by canine adenovirus type 2. Subsequently, a reminder of said vaccine should be made annually.
- 12 weeks: a reminder should be made of the aforementioned multipurpose vaccine.
- 16 weeks: rabies vaccine. As with the multipurpose vaccine, the rabies vaccine should be administered once a year.
