A Vaccination is the most effective way to protect oneself from infectious diseases. Just like children, dogs need vaccinations as well. Vaccinations and booster vaccinations for dogs play an important part in protecting them against major canine infectious diseases and other dangerous viral & bacterial diseases like rabies, parvovirus, canine hepatitis and kennel cough etc. These diseases can cause significant illness and are difficult to treat. Without proper vaccination, your pet is left unprotected.
Why Vaccinate your Puppy
Dogs are susceptible to a range of infectious diseases that can have a serious effect on their health and welfare. Puppies are more vulnerable to serious diseases like parvovirus & distemper etc. Its always best to vaccinate dogs when they are puppies. When you get a puppy or a dog, the first thing do is to get the puppy vaccinated from a Veterinary care practice. If you have adopted the dog then you should check for its vaccinations certificates before you take it back home. Vaccines work by giving your dog a small or prescribed amount of the bacteria to be vaccinated against. Doing this exposes their immune system to the virus or bacteria and trains their system to recognise and fight it. Dogs immunity system gets stronger keeping them safe and healthy.
What Vaccines does your dog need
There is a wide range of vaccines available to use in the UK. Veterinarians and dog experts recommend that your dog should be vaccinated against Canine Parvovirus, Canine infectious Hepatitis, Distemper, Kennel Cough, Leptospirosis and Rabies. Not all dogs get all the vaccines, the decision is on the vet after he or she assesses your dogs lifestyle and environment that which vaccines are essential to keep them safe and healthy.
Puppy Vaccination cost £
The vaccination costs for puppies and older dogs depends on various factors. First is the location where you live. Veterinary care practices will charge more in crowded and expensive areas than in rural and small areas. The average cost of vaccines is around £60 to £80. These include the core vaccines which are administered in a series of 3 stages, when the pup is 6, 12 and 16 weeks old. The cor vaccines include – distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, Parvo and parainfluenza. Rabies vaccine will also be given to your pup which is necessary and costs around £10 to £20. Microchipping costs £15 and booster vaccination with worming treatment costs around £40 to £70. If you adopt a dog from an animal shelter, they normally charge less for vaccinations and sometimes even offer vaccinations for free. Shelter dogs are most likely vaccinated up until the age when you get them.
Preparing your Dog for Vaccination
The procedure for dog vaccination is fairly simple. Normally dogs visit to the veterinary care practice can be stressful and puppies are often nervous and tensed. It is recommended that when you bring your pup to the vet, bring something that your dog loves, like their favourite toy or blanket which would give them a sense of security during their visit. Keeping treats on hand is also beneficial as you can reward them afterwards or during their appointment to calm them down. The vaccines are combined into a single injection and is given at the back of the dog’s neck. The only vaccine which is given differently is the Kennel cough vaccine, which is administered into the dogs nose.
Booster Vaccines for Dogs
Annual Booster vaccines are given to dogs throughout their life to maintain their protection against harmful diseases. Some boosters are required to be given every year, while others are given after every three years, this is mainly because the protection offered by these vaccines becomes less effective over time. The important booster vaccines that dogs require are distemper booster, parvovirus booster and booster for canine hepatitis. These are the ones which are given every three years. The boosters given each year are leptospirosis booster and kennel cough booster. Older dogs also need regular booster vaccinations that protects them from fatal diseases. As the dog grows older their immunity system starts to weaken, which makes them vulnerable to dangerous diseases. Many dog owners opt for Titer testing before they choose to give their dogs annual booster vaccines. Titer tests measures the immunity level of the dog against the diseases they have had vaccines for in the past and determines which vaccinations are mandatory to be given next.
Possible Vaccination Side Effects
Vaccination side effects are highly unlikely. All vaccines go through rigorous trials before they are licensed to be used. They are investigated and recorded to ensure pet vaccinations are completely safe and effective for long term protection. Most dogs don’t experience any sort of side effects but if your dog does they are likely to be mild like low fever, low energy and reduced appetite. It hardly lasts 24 to 48 hours and then your dog is back to normal. Serious side effects are extremely rare.
Everything you need to know
Vaccinations are good for the whole dog community. If every owner vaccinates their dog, diseases are less likely to spread. Dogs that travel, stay in kennel, attend daycare or compete in shows require more protection that dogs that stay at home. Dogs that travel need to get Animal Health certificate and require Rabies vaccination by law. Pet insurance are beneficial for owners to have but unfortunately they don’t usually cover routine wellness check ups.
If you are on low income or are receiving certain benefits, you may be eligible for low cost vet care from animal charities that could help you pay for your dog’s vaccination costs. The PDSA also offers help to pet owners. Through them you might be able to get access to free or low cost treatment at one of its hospitals, depending on your location.
