Vaccinations are an excellent tool that owners can use to prevent dangerous illnesses that affect their pets. Dogs that aren’t vaccinated are highly susceptible to a host of serious afflictions, including canine parvovirus, distemper, rabies and canine hepatitis. That’s why it’s so critical for dog owners to understand what vaccinations are and which ones will be most beneficial for their animal. At Wapiti Labs, there’s nothing we value more than protecting the health and wellness of you and your pets, so today we’ll be discussing the potential benefits and risks of vaccinating your dog.
What Are Vaccinations and Which Ones Does My Dog Need?
Vaccinations are biological preparations containing killed or weakened microbes that cause disease. When an animal is injected with a vaccine, its immune system easily combats and destroys these microbes, developing an increased resistance to the threat in the process. Put simply, vaccines teach the body how to fight off diseases that it might encounter in the future.
Not all vaccines are appropriate or necessary for your canine friend. The proper vaccination protocol for your pet depends largely on its age, living environment, medical history and lifestyle. However, there are a select few “core vaccines” that are vital for almost every healthy dog, mostly due to the fact that the illnesses they treat are either highly dangerous or transmittable to humans. Be sure to talk with your vet about which vaccinations you should prioritize for your pet. These experts will be a fantastic source of information and guidance throughout this entire process, so make liberal use of their help.
Are Dog Vaccines Dangerous?
Administration of a vaccine is almost completely painless for your dog. Your vet will fill a small syringe with the vaccine, gently restrain your dog’s head, and inject it into the nape of the neck. Furthermore, your pet’s internal battle with the weakened disease is usually so rapid and simple that they won’t suffer any adverse effects at all. However, there is a rare chance that your dog will experience an anaphylactic reaction, resulting in low blood pressure, a slower heart rate, and unconsciousness. This can be fatal if left untreated, so it’s vital to ensure that any vaccine your dog receives is administered by a qualified veterinarian.
Other adverse side effects of vaccines include fever, sluggishness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. There’s also a small chance that your dog could develop small tumors near the point of injection or seizures. All of these scary side effects may compel you to abandon the idea of vaccinations for your pet altogether, but bear in mind that the benefits of these procedures vastly outweigh the risks. Vaccines save thousands upon thousands of humans and dogs alike from disease and death, and managing the side effects of vaccinations is certainly preferable to enduring the pain of losing a pet to an illness that could have been prevented.
How Often Should I Vaccinate My Dog?
Your dog’s vaccination timeline will vary depending on its age. Generally speaking, puppies are given their first round of vaccine injections about six to eight weeks after birth. Here’s a breakdown of which injections puppies should receive during their first year. As you can see, there are quite a few scheduled vaccines during their first 16 weeks, but this number drops off sharply afterward. Once puppyhood has passed, a majority of dog owners only visit once per year for their pet’s yearly rabies and DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus) shots. This is a perfectly feasible timeline you can follow to keep your dog safe from these nasty health conditions.
Of course, there are a number of optional vaccines you can elect to give your dog as well, including Lyme disease, bordetella and coronavirus. Depending on where and how your dog lives, these vaccines might be incredibly beneficial or almost pointless, so we highly recommend consulting with your vet before committing to any of them.
Consider Pet Supplements to Further Support Your Dog’s Health
Now that you’ve set your canine up with the ideal vaccination protocol, think about establishing a supplement regimen to maintain its long-term health. Wapiti Labs offers a diverse range of natural products that encourage your dog’s well-being, including mobility supplements that support the immune system while providing improved joint support and normal blood cell health. We’ve also developed special supplements for senior dogs that encourage proper eye function and kidney health while promoting stamina, endurance, and overall good quality of life. As always, speak with your vet before starting your dog on any new supplements or medication, and don’t hesitate to contact them if you need counsel on the best products for your four-legged friend.
Call or message us today for more methods of keeping your dog happy and in peak condition.
It’s good to know that I’ll only have to do pet vaccinations once a year after the puppy stage. We just bought a little German Shephard puppy and want to ensure that he is going to be as healthy as possible. I think that we’ll have to take him in pretty soon to get the vaccines for his early years so we know what we’ll need to do in the future as well.
My wife and I just adopted a puppy this week and we are really excited. I really appreciate you providing a list of recommended vaccines for puppies. We want to be sure he is safe and protected.
I just wanted to thank you for helping me learn more about dog vaccinations. It’s good to know that these have save many lives, dog and human alike. If this is the case, it’s probably important to make sure that you are getting these frequently and regularly, especially if it can help keep a pet healthy.
My dog, Zelma, is just old enough that she is able to leave her mom and come and live with me at my house. I want to get her starting out life right, so I figured that she should get some vaccinations to protect against bad things. Thanks for pointing out that once the dog isn’t a puppy anymore, it will basically only need the yearly DHPP and rabies shot. Now I’ll just have to find somewhere to take Zelma to.
I’m glad that you’ve discussed dog vaccinations, especially when you clarified that my dog won’t suffer any adverse effects if it was taken to the vet for a vaccine. I’ve never had a dog until now, and I didn’t really know what to do when it comes to dog care and vaccination. I’ll make sure to check on vets that offer pet vaccination near my area so that I can have my dog protected from possible diseases. Thanks!
My fiance and I just adopted a beautiful little puppy named Boomer. We want to make sure that he is properly vaccinated since pet vaccinations can mean life or death. We will be sure to look into supplements as well to increase his health.
I like how you pointed out that administration of vaccines are almost completely painless for dogs. I wonder how vets keep dogs under control when they’re doing more serious procedures. My dog has had some problems with his leg and will probably need surgery to get the problem fixed. I’m curious to know what kind of medicine or anesthesia the vet will give him.
I appreciate that you mentioned that this is completely painless. We just adopted a puppy and we need to get her to see the vet and get her vaccinations done. I just wanted to be sure that she wouldn’t feel any pain because of these.
The pup that my friend promised to give me is going to be mine this Sunday. I am thoroughly excited and so is my dad. We are dog lovers that is why I am researching about the things that should know as a pet owner. I never knew that the vaccination doesn’t apply to all dog breeds since it depends on their size, lifestyle, and even it’s age. Thanks for the information!
My wife and I are looking into getting a pet dog for our son’s birthday, and we want to make sure that everything is as safe as it can be for our son. I was surprised to learn that depending on the age and breed of my dog, they might need different types of vaccinations. I will make sure that I know exactly the type of dog we are buying before we schedule our veterinarian appointment!
My friend recently adopted a dog, so she might need to get some of his vaccines updated. It was helpful when you mentioned that vaccines should be given about once a year to adult dogs. Thanks for the information on pet vaccinations; this could really help my friend out.
It’s good to know more about dog vaccinations. I like how you said that not all are needed, but there are core ones that are needed. When we get our first dog, I’ll remember to get those for him or her.
That’s good to know that after your dog reaches adulthood that you typically only need to get the rabies and DHPP vaccines once a year. This is helpful since we’re looking into buy a Pomeranian and I want to figure out how to care for it. I’ll have to find a vet nearby I can take a puppy to for the first vaccines and then I can just go to them once a year once it gets all the puppy ones.
My kids wanted to rescue a dog they found online, but I don’t know what vaccines does he need and at what age. I never consider the fact that not all vaccines are necessary, but it all depends on their environment. I believe it would be best to take him to a vet and find out what is needed.
I just got a new puppy off from the street that I took home because he was so affectionate and hungry at the same time, so now, I’m going to take care of him. Thanks for informing me that he should receive his first round of vaccinations while he’s at six weeks old. In my opinion, I think I should take him to a veterinary clinic so that he can get vaccinated.
It’s good to know that even though necessary vaccines vary depending on things like the dog’s environment and lifestyle, there’s always a set of vaccines that all dogs should get because they’re so dangerous. I’m planning on getting a corgi for my wife’s birthday in a couple of months, and if we’re planning on just having him go on walks with us around the neighborhood and staying in the house I wasn’t sure how much we’d need to vaccinate him. We’ll want him to stay healthy, so we’ll probably have to consult a vet and make sure he gets everything he needs.
With all the diseases that a dog might catch nowadays, I’m worried about my pet Chi Chi. That’s why I am considering him to be vaccinated. I’ll keep in mind to at least visit once per year for my pet’s yearly rabies and DHPP shots.
It’s good that you point out that vaccinations can prevent your dog from getting diseases. I just got a new puppy and I’m considering taking him to a veterinary hospital to get vaccinations for that reason. I’m going to look for a good animal hospital in my area that does pet vaccinations.
It’s so helpful to know that there are a lot of needed vaccines during the first 16 weeks of a dog’s life and that you have the option to give them a Lyme disease vaccine. My older sister and her husband just adopted a puppy named Lucy. They need to get her vaccines done, so I hope they can find a good animal hospital soon.
It’s good that you point out that vaccinations can help protect your dog from diseases. I want to make sure my new puppy has a long and healthy life, so I’m considering taking him to a vet to get vaccinated. I’m going to look for a good veterinary hospital in my area that offers pet vaccinations.
It’s helpful that you point out that vaccines can help protect your dog from diseases. I want to make sure my new puppy doesn’t get sick, so I’m considering taking him to a veterinary clinic to get vaccinated. I’m going to look for a good vet in my area that does pet vaccinations.
It’s interesting how you explained that depending on the age and medical history of your pet, vaccinations are required. My sister told me that she is about to get a puppy and she is asking for tips on pet care. I will suggest to her to take it to a vet so that they can apply the vaccinations needed for his dog.
It’s great that you elaborate on the fact that vaccinations are important for protecting your dog from dangerous diseases. I want my new puppy to stay healthy, so I’m thinking about taking him to a veterinarian to get vaccinated this month. I’m going to search in my area for a good veterinarian that does dog vaccinations.
It’s cool that this article mentions that having your dog vaccinated can help keep them from getting diseases. I want to make sure my new German Shepherd stays healthy, so I’m thinking about taking him to a veterinary hospital this week to get vaccinated. I’m going to search for a good veterinary hospital in my area that does dog vaccinations.
Thank you for pointing out that having your dog vaccinated can help protect them from diseases. I want to make sure that the puppy I just adopted stays healthy, so I’m thinking about taking him to an animal hospital to get vaccinated. I’m going to search for a reputable animal hospital in my area that offers pet vaccinations.
My sister recently adopted a german shepherd puppy and doesn’t know whether or not to get him vaccinated. I like how you stated that if dogs are not vaccinated they are highly susceptible and more likely to contract serious diseases. I will make sure to recommend that she vaccinate her dog as soon as possible to prevent it from obtaining any harmful sicknesses.