Vaccinations
Vaccinations are very important! There are many deadly diseases such as Parvo that are spreading rapidly. These diseases can be easily prevented by simply vaccinating your dog. Vaccinations typically cost around £10.00 each, while treating your dog once he has a preventable disease will cost hundreds, even thousands, and many dogs will still die. Other diseases such as distemper are almost always deadly, but can be prevented with a vaccine.
Feel free to use the following vaccination schedule as a guide unless otherwise recommended by your vet:
- Puppies between the ages of 6 weeks and 4 months should receive a parvo/distemper/parainfluenza shot every 3 weeks with the final one given at 4 months. The reason for this is that puppies will loose the disease immunity they receive from their mother some time between 6 & 16 weeks of age. Since there’s not an easy way to tell when the shots take over the natural immunity, they need to be given often in order to protect your puppy. After age 4 months, the shot typically needs to be given once a year, although some vets recommend an additional shot at 6 months. This shot protects against Parvo, Distemper, and parainfluenza, and can be obtained through your vet , at vaccination clinics, or at some Pharmacies for approx. £18.00. The shot is available in a “3-in-1″ or “5-in-1″ form, or each can be given separately. Consult your vet for more information on this.
General vaccination guidelines include a rabies shot at 4 months and 1 year, and then every 3 years after that. This shot is required by law if travelling to certain countries. If your dog has not had this shot and bites someone, he may automatically be killed by rabies/animal control. This shot can be obtained at your vet, at vaccination clinics, or at the rabies/animal control pound. It’s usually around £10. (SEE VET. FOR COUNTRY VARIATIONS)
- At 4 months, your puppy should receive a kennel cough vaccination. This needs to be obtained by your vet, and is usually repeated every 6 months to 1 year. Kennel cough (bordetella) is an extremely contagious respiratory disease that can cause death if not properly treated or prevented.
- Your puppy should be started on a heartworm/worm prevention pill at 4 months. This can be obtained from your vet. Heartworm prevention is easy (a chewable tablet given once a month), and treatment is extremely expensive and not very reliable.
- Make sure medication types are rotated as some animals become immune to certain types at certain times.
- If you plan to do a lot of hiking or camping with your dog, you should also consider a lyme disease vaccination as this disease is transmitted by ticks.
- Make sure your dog is chipped, registered with the local council for a licence and carries a full pet passport if it is going to travel.
