General recommendations:
- Avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs until the vaccination is completed.
- Visit your local veterinarian after you got your new puppy for wellness check up and further vaccination schedule because it is very important for keeping your pet healthy through out their life time.
The following are the common vaccinations that need to be given to a puppy.
1.Canine Distemper: A highly contagious viral disease.
- Systems affected: Respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems.
- Route of infection: Air or by contact with an infected animal, its feces or urine.
- Symptoms: coughing, sneezing,nose and eye discharge, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.
- Vaccination age: 6 weeks, followed by boosters.Usually given in combination with vaccines for other diseases.
2.Infectious Canine Hepatitis(Adenovirus): This is a viral disease.
- Systems affected:Liver, kidneys and cells lining the blood vessels.
- Route of infection: contact with infected animals,their feces, urine or saliva.
- Symptoms:High fever, thirst,inflammation of nose or mouth, diarrhea,abdominal pain and tenderness, liver damage, loss of appetite, hemorrhage and depression.
- Vaccination age: 6-8 weeks, followed by boosters.Usually combined with distemper vaccination.
3.Leptospirosis: An extremely contagious bacterial disease.
- Systems affected:Kidney & liver
- Route of infection:Nasal secretions, urine or saliva of infected animals.
- Risk involved: Affect humans
- Symptoms:Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and listlessness.
- Early signs are not very prominent, so infection can go undetected.
- Recovered animals can continue spreading the disease.
- Vaccination age: 6 weeks, followed by boosters.
- Leptospirosis vaccinations are often combined with vaccinations for distemper and hepatitis (DHL).
4.Parvovirus: Fatal viral infection,very common and usually affect puppies.
- Systems affected:Gastro-intestinal tract,cardiovascular system,immune system,hepato-biliary system,renal/urologic system and in severe cases respiratory system also.
- Route of infection:contact with an infected dog’s blood, feces or vomit.
- Symptoms:Diarrhea with/without blood, vomiting, depression, anorexia, dehydration, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, and sometimes fever.
- Risk involved: Animals that often stay in kennels, travel to dog shows or are exposed to other dogs.
- Vaccination age:6 weeks followed with booster vaccines.
5.Parainfluenza (kennel cough): Highly infectious viral disease and sometimes fatal.
- Systems affected:Respiratory system
- Route of infection:Dogs kept in close kennels with affected dogs
- Symptoms:Dry, hacking cough,loss of appetite, depression,runny nose and eyes.
- Vaccination Age: 6 weeks, followed by boosters.
6.Rabies : Fatal viral disease
- System affected:Central nervous system
- Route of infection:Bite of infected animal
- Symptoms:High excitability,unprovoked biting and sensitivity to noise.In later stages paralysis, cramps and swallowing difficulties
- Risk involved:Infect humans from bite of affected animal.
- Vaccination age:3 months of age, with a second inoculation a booster vaccine either annually or every 3 years, depending on the vaccine used and local laws.
7.Coronavirus: A highly contagious viral infection
- System affected:gastrointestinal tract.
- Route of infection:contact with infected blood, feces or vomit.
- Symptoms:Vomiting, fever,diarrhea and dehydration.
- Vaccination age:6 weeks, followed by boosters
8.Bordatella: Bacterial infection involved in “kennel cough.
- System affected:Upper respiratory tract.
- Route of infection:Through air
- Risk involved:when exposed to other dogs in kennels, dog shows and field trials.
- Symptoms: Persistent coughing,sneezing,retching accompanied by nasal discharge,susceptibility to other upper respiratory infections.
- Vaccination age:Depends on the need for vaccination against this disease.Vaccination may be given by injection or by nasal applicator.
9.Lyme Disease: This is a tick-borne disease.
- System Affected: Appear as Arthritis
- Route of infection:Through ticks
- Risk involved: Affect humans.
- Symptoms: Sudden on set of severe pain and lameness, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and depression.
- Vaccination age: Depends on the risk to the puppy in your location.
