Vaccinations to give your dog

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Shots may be painful particularly for young little puppies, however, this slight and temporary pain prevents their infection with potentially lethal diseases. Vaccinations are just as important for puppies as they are for all young. They save lives.

Vaccinations, immunisations or shots as they are commonly called, may be either Killed or Modified Live Vaccines. Modified Live Vaccines are live altered diseases unable to cause the disease. Killed Vaccines are killed diseases before injection.

Vaccinations enable dogs' immune system to recognize the presence of disease and will then create antibodies to fight it off, should it appear. These antibodies may last temporarily hence the need for regular vaccinations.

Diseases to vaccinate against include: Canine Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Rabies and Corona Virus.

Although regular vaccinations prevent dogs from contracting diseases, one should be aware of these diseases. Canine Distemper is a viral diseases that can damage the nervous system. It is fatal in half the cases and mainly affects middle aged dogs. Infectious Hepatitis is a life threatening viral disease transmitted via urine, saliva and faeces. Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is commonly vaccinated for. It is transmitted via saliva. Aggression, excessive salivation and erratic behaviour follow the onset of the disease. However affected animals may also be dumb. Another disease is that of young dogs, Corona Virus. It is commonly mixed up with Parvo. This disease is contagious and is transmitted via faecal ingestion. It affects the digestive system.

There are many diseases that can affect, sicken, or even kill dogs. Vaccinations are vital not only to dogs but to other animals as well.