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Astoria
Animal Hospital
Happier & Healthier Pets
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25-63 Steinway St.
Astoria, NY
USA 11103
Tel : 718-274-2867
Fax : 718-274-8668 |
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Visit Us Today
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Protecting your best friend
One of the most important things you can do
to give your dog a long and healthy life is to ensure that he or she
is vaccinated against common canine diseases. Your dog's mother gave
her puppy immunity from disease for the first few weeks of existence
by providing disease-fighting antibodies in her milk. After that
period it's up to you, with the help and advice of your veterinarian
- to provide that protection.
How do vaccines work?
Vaccines contain small quantities of
altered or "killed" viruses, bacteria or other disease-causing
organisms. When administered, they stimulate your dog's immune
system to produce disease-fighting cells and proteins - or
antibodies - to protect against disease.
When should my dog be
vaccinated?
The immunity that a puppy has at birth
begins to diminish sometime between 6 and 12 weeks. It is then
usually time to begin the initial vaccinations, which will be
repeated once a month until the puppy is about 3 to 4 months old.
Thereafter, your dog will require repeat vaccination at regular
intervals for the rest of his or her life. Above all, follow the
vaccination schedule recommended by your veterinarian - if there is
too long an interval between the first vaccination and the booster,
your dog may have to undergo the series all over again.
Which vaccinations should my dog
receive?
Most veterinarians believe that your pet
should be protected against those diseases which are most common,
highly contagious and which cause serious illness. Such diseases
could include Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Canine
Parvovirus, Canine Tracheobronchitis and Rabies. Other vaccinations
may be recommended, based on your veterinarian's evaluation of the
risks posed by such factors as your dog's particular heredity,
environment and lifestyle.
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Canine Distemper
Vaccination against this often
fatal, hard-to-treat disease is absolutely essential. Highly
contagious, it is spread by discharges from the noses and
eyes of infected dogs. Symptoms can include listlessness,
fever, coughing, diarrhea and vomiting; convulsions and
paralysis may occur in the disease's final stages. The
distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous
system, which may be permanently damaged, even if the dog
recovers.
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Canine Tracheobronchitis (CANINE
COUGH)
Just as with the human common cold,
this respiratory-tract infection is easily transmitted from
one dog to another, so vaccination is imperative if your pet
will come in contact with many other dogs in such situations
as obedience training or boarding at a kennel. Caused by
various airborne bacteria and viruses, including Canine
Parainfluenza virus, Canine Adenovirus Type II and
Bordetella Bronchiseptica, you'll first notice its onset
by your dog's dry, hacking cough.
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Canine Parvovirus
Very contagious, debilitating and
widespread, the disease caused by this virus emerged in many
parts of the world only in 1978. Spread through infected
feces, the highly resistant virus can remain in the
environment for many months. Symptoms include high fever,
listlessness, vomiting and diarrhea. Vaccination is the only
certain method of preventing this potentially fatal disease,
which is most severe in young pups and elderly dogs.
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Rabies
This incurable viral disease
affects the central nervous system of almost all mammals,
including humans. It is spread through contact with the
saliva of infected animals (which can include skunks, foxes,
raccoons and bats) through bites or any break in the skin.
Vaccination will provide your pet with much greater
resistance to rabies if he is exposed to the disease, but
you must be aware that there is no cure once it occurs. For
this reason, many municipalities absolutely require that all
dogs receive rabies vaccinations on a regular basis. Plus,
you will definitely have to prove that your dog is
vaccinated if you travel with him - whether across the
United States or around the world.
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Infectious Canine Hepatitis
Caused by Canine Adenovirus Type I,
this disease is transmitted among dogs by contact with
secretions, such as saliva, infected urine or feces. Its
symptoms are similar to those of the early stages of
distemper. Causing liver failure, eye damage and breathing
problems, the course of this disease can range from mild to
fatal. Vaccination remains the best protection.
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Other Vaccinations
After evaluating your dog's
particular situation and risk factors, your veterinarian may
also recommend vaccination against other infectious
diseases. These might include
 LEPTOSPIROSIS,
a bacterial disease which attacks the kidneys and liver
CANINE
CORONAVIRUS which attacks the intestinal system
LYME
DISEASE, transmitted by ticks to both dogs and humans
results in chronic arthritis and, sometimes, death. This
disease is more common in the northern parts of the United
States.
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How effective is
vaccination?
Like any drug treatment or surgical
procedure, vaccinations cannot be 100% guaranteed. However, used
in conjuction with proper nutrition and acceptable sanitary
conditions, vaccination is clearly your pet's best defense
against disease. Plus, when you consider what treating a serious
illness can cost you and your beloved dog in terms of both money
and distress, prevention through vaccination is extremely
cost-effective.
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We understand that
your pet is a very special member of your family. |
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