Owning a dog isn’t just about taking it on long walks or cuddling up on the couch — there are a few “adulting” things you’ll need to take care of before you and the pup can have some fun. One of the most crucial things you’ll need to do (if you haven’t done so already) is head to the vet for vaccinations, this is especially true if your dog will be farm dog or a predominantly outdoor dog living in dog kennels.
Why is Vaccination Important?
Vaccines help your dog’s body fight infections, viruses, and other disease-causing organisms. Although their bodies are pretty rugged and can take quite a beating (remember that time they ate that whole chocolate bar?), there are some viruses you don’t want to mess around with. Vaccinations help protect both your dog, other dogs, other animals, and even humans as some viruses can spread from one species to another. These vaccines are equipped with a minuscule amount of antigens which look identical to the original virus but don’t actually cause harm to your dog. Your dog’s immune system then develops it’s own antibodies to “fight” this antigen and stores copies of the antibodies for later in case your dog is exposed to the virus again in the future. If this happens, then the immune system already has a defense against this disease.
What Vaccines Are Necessary?
The core vaccines your dog needs to have include:
- Adenovirus (aka Canine Hepatitis)
- Distemper
- Parvovirus
- Rabies
These vaccinations should all be given when your dog is still a puppy or — if they are a stray — as soon as possible.
Non-Core Vaccines That Are Still Recommended
Depending on a number of factors such as the age of your dog, the geographic region you live in, and your core beliefs about vaccinations, there are a number of non-core vaccines your vet may recommend. These includ:
- Lyme Disease
- Bordetella
- Canine Influenza
- Parainfluenza
- Adenovirus Intranasal
Again, our dog training and pet boarding company recommends that you talk to your vet to determine whether or not these non-core vaccines are best for your dog. Keep in mind that most professional dog kennels will recommend that — at the very minimum — owners can their dogs vaccinated with the latest core vaccines. This helps keep other pets in the kennel safe as well as our trained staff.
Have questions, comments, or concerns about vaccines? Contact us online or give us a call at 781-767-3908!
