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Responsible pet care requires puppies to be taken to the vet for their initial course of vaccinations, but this cannot protect them for the rest of their lives. The immunity weakens over time and your pet can again become susceptible to disease.
Should your pet become infected, treatment can require frequent visits to your vet and possibly hospitalisation.
However, not all diseases can be cured and disability or death may result. The only practical means of protection is vaccination!
Canine Parvovirus is a disease that affects dogs of all ages but is more serious in young pups and older dogs. The virus attacks the intestines causing blood stained diarrhoea, uncontrollable vomiting and severe abdominal pain. Dogs will often die from severe dehydration despite intensive veterinary care.
It is not necessary to have direct contact with other dogs for the disease to be spread. The virus is so persistent that the infected dog's environment needs to be thoroughly cleaned with a potent disinfectant to prevent spread to other dogs.
Outbreaks occur regularly throughout Australia, especially in summer. (The Macarthur region of Sydney often experiences high instances of Parvovirus from time to time and we strongly recommend the vaccination of all dogs in our area to combat these outbreaks).
Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect dogs of any age with young puppies being at highest risk.
Symptoms vary but can include fever, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and depression. Muscle tremors, fits and paralysis usually occur later in the disease. Treatment is usually ineffective and the recovery rate very low. Dogs that do recover may have permanent brain damage.
A viral disease which, like distemper is extremely contagious and often fatal. Dogs of any age can become infected, however severe cases are rare in dogs over 2 years of age.
Symptoms include high fever, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and acute abdominal pain. In severe cases death can occur within 24 to 36 hours.
Dogs that recover may develop long term liver and kidney problems and can act as carriers spreading the disease to other dogs for many months.
Canine (or Kennel) cough is a condition produced by several highly infectious diseases which can be easily spread wherever dogs congregate, such as shows, obedience schools and boarding kennels. Among the infectious agents associated with canine cough is the bacterium known as Bordetella bronchiseptica, and the canine viruses parainfluenza, adenovirus type 2 and distemper.
Affected dogs have a hacking cough known to persist for several weeks. It is distressing for pet dogs and their owners and can disturb neighbours. It is a major problem for working and sporting dogs. Pneumonia can also be a consequence of infection.
Canine coronavirus is another contagious virus that causes depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea especially in young dogs. Diarrhoea may last for several days in some cases. Although most dogs will recover with treatment, coronavirus has the potential to be fatal, if other infectious agents such as parvovirus are present. Routine vaccination for Coronavirus is not usually needed, so please discuss this with your vet.
Canine Leptospirosis is a serious disease risk in some areas and can cause high death rates. It is spread by the urine of rats and is usually transmitted to dogs by contaminated food and water, or by rat bites.
There's an increased risk where high rat populations exist such as rubbish dumps or green sugar cane cutting areas. Incidence can also increase under long periods of wet, when rat populations are forced to move or concentrate.
Leptospirosis is an animal disease that can be caught by humans who may then suffer a persisting "flu like" illness. Routine vaccination is only recommended for dogs in contact with rats or rat urine, so please ask your vet for advice.
Puppies will be "temporarily" protected against many diseases by antibodies received through their mother's milk. Unfortunately, these maternal antibodies may also neutralise vaccines. A puppy will respond to vaccination when these maternal antibodies decline sufficiently. See vaccination guidelines, below.
At the completion of the initial course of three vaccinations an annual booster vaccinations will provide the best protection for the life of your pet.
Your dog may be lethargic and off its food for a day or two, or have some slight swelling or tenderness at the injection site. Access to food and water and a comfortable area to rest are usually all that is required for a quick recovery. However, if the response seems more severe, you should contact your veterinarian for advice.
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