Dog Diseases, Symptoms, Vaccinations

1. Dog Diseases, Symptoms, Vaccinations Small Animal Care

2. Why Vaccinate? • Puppies get antibodies from their mothers milk • Antibodies only last 6-16 weeks • Vaccinations protect your puppy by introducing mild doses of modified disease causing agents into his body to stimulate him to produce his own antibodies • Diseases are easily transmittable between pets.

3. Canine Distemper • Highly contagious viral disease • Effects respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems • Spread through air, contact with infected animal, feces, and urine • Symptoms: • Coughing, sneezing, nose and eye discharge, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. Can be fatal • Prevention: • Vaccination is the only effective control • Given in a series starting at 6 weeks old and followed by boosters

4. Infectious Canine Hepatitis • Viral disease also known as adenovirus • Spread by contact with infected animals, feces, urine, or saliva • Affects the liver,. Kidneys, and cells lining the blood vessels • Symptoms: • High fever, thirst, inflammation of the nose/mouth, diarrhea, abdominal pain, liver damage, loss of appetite, hemorrhage, depression • Prevention: • Vaccinations provide immunity • Given in a series of shots beginning at 6 weeks old and followed by boosters

5. Leptospirosis (Lepto) • Contagious Bacterial disease • Spread by contact with nasal secretions, urine, or saliva of infected animal • Symptoms • Inflamed kidneys, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite • Early signs of disease may not be apparent • Prevention • Vaccinations given at 6 weeks in a series. Often combined with distemper and hepatitis

6. Parvovirus • Common, deadly viral infection that usually strikes puppies • Spread by an infected dog’s blood, feces, vomit • Symptoms • Severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and dehydration • Prevention • Series of vaccines given from 6-20 weeks with booster vaccines. • Boosters given annually or every 6 month

7. Parainfluenze • Highly infectious virus that causes “Kennel Cough” • Spreads among dogs in close quarters • Symptoms • Symptoms include a dry, hacking cough, loss of appetite, depression and runny nose/eyes • Prevention • Vaccines given at 6 weeks old and followed by boosters every 6 months

8. Rabies • Infection of the central nervous system that results in paralysis and death • By law all dogs/cats must be vaccinated • Symptoms • Stage of high excitability: unprovoked biting, sensitivity to noise • Also a stage of paralysis, cramps, and swallowing difficulties • Vaccines are given at 16 weeks old followed by a booster on a yearly basis

9. Coronavirus • Contagious viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract. • Spread by infected blood, feces, or vomit • Symptoms: • Vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and dehydration • Prevention • Vaccination series beginning at 6 weeks

10. Bordetella • Airborne bacterial infection involved in “kennel Cough” • Symptoms • Persistent coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge • Prevention • Vaccine given every 6 months (usually given with the parainfluenze vaccine)

11. Puppy Vaccination Schedule Your veterinarian will determine a schedule for your puppy. What follows is just a sample puppy vaccination schedule. 6 weeks: Distemper, Deworming, Fecal flotation, Heartworm preventive 9 weeks: Distemper, Parvo, Corona, Bordetella 12 weeks: Distemper, Parvo, Corona 16 weeks: Distemper, Parvo, Corona, Rabies, Fecal Flotation, Lyme Annually: Distemper, Parvo, Corona, Rabies, Fecal Flotation, Heartworm test