Canine Vaccination
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During a dog’s lifetime, it will invariably come into contact with a vast and varied bestiary of microorganisms, many of which will pose a threat to its health. Fortunately, we have a means of protecting them against such threats: vaccinations. Puppies will largely be inoculated against pathogens by the mother’s milk – provided that the mother has been vaccinated against the pathogens in question. This early phase lasts only a few weeks, however, and so it’s important that vaccination commence at an early age. In dogs, this means vaccination at around the two-month mark. The protection provided by this early vaccine can then be bolstered by a booster after a year, and then regular boosters for every year thereafter (or even more frequently, as the occasion demands).
Why vaccinate? There are four diseases which the RSPCA recommend that dogs be vaccinated against ‘routinely’. Let’s take a look at each of them in turn.
Canine Parvovirus Canine parvovirus is a hugely contagious disease which commonly attacks the cells in a dog’s intestinal tract, but which in young puppies can attack the heart muscles, leading to death. The intestinal variety of the parvovirus will severely deplete a dog’s ability to metabolise its food, causing them to quickly become dehydrated. This leads to a lack of energy, vomiting, severe weight loss and bloody diarrhoea.
The virus is transmitted through contact with infected dogs, or their faeces, where the virus is most concentrated. This virus has been shown to be capable of surviving on the ground for up to a year, meaning that potential sources of disease could be everywhere. This danger is all the greater when one considers that dogs (especially scenthounds) explore the world using their noses and mouths. Widespread early vaccination has dramatically reduced the prevalence of this terrible condition, and spared many young dogs severe pain and death.
Canine Distemper Virus This is a virus which causes a contagious, incurable and damaging illness. Domestic dogs are vulnerable, but so too are wild canine species like foxes, as well as rodents like skunks and ferrets. The virus itself is a close relative of the measles virus in humans, and it’s comparable in terms of its severity. The virus is airborne, and spread through contact with an infected animal. The virus first targets the tonsils and lymph nodes, where it will multiply before spreading through the rest of the body, where it will attack the lungs, gut and nerves. The first symptoms usually come in the form of a high fever, and runny eyes and nose. In some cases, this may be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea as the virus spreads through the gastrointestinal system. In some cases, the virus can cause the pads on the animal’s feet to swell and harden.
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Infected dogs will usually die within a few weeks, during which time they should be isolated from other dogs. Newborn puppies are especially vulnerable, and so must be kept well clear of possible sources of infection before they are vaccinated.
Symptoms begin to manifest a few days after the disease has been contracted. These include loss of appetite, pale gums and a fever, as well as vomiting and diarrheoa. The dog may go onto develop jaundice, and then die.
Leptospirosis
What about vaccination?
Leptospirosis is a disease which is caused by a special sort of corkscrew-shaped bacteria, known as leptospira, which find their way into the bloodstream. These bacteria can reproduce throughout the body – in the reproductive, nervous, excretory system and even the eyes. The first symptom to manifest is a fever, but this fever normally dissipates of its own accord in healthy adult dogs. In very young dogs, on the other hand, it can be fatal. So why bother vaccinating against such a relatively innocuous disease? Well, the problem is that leptospira are zoonotic – meaning that they can travel from animals to humans. Leptospirosis therefore poses a risk to humans – particularly children. In order to avoid having mobile disease carriers wandering the human population, it’s worth vaccinating.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis Infectious Canine Hepatitis, or ICH, is a disease which can kill a dog in a matter of hours. It’s transmitted through bodily fluids like saliva, blood, and urine. The disease is highly contagious, even after a dog has been asymptomatic for months on end. It can even survive for long periods in harsh winter conditions. Again, young puppies are at the greatest risk of contracting.
the
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You may have heard that vaccination carries with it risks – and this is true. Some dogs will develop side effects as a result of vaccination – depending on the disease being vaccinated against. But these risks must be considered alongside the benefits that vaccination can offer. As we’ve seen, vaccination offers protection against a number of extremely virulent and occasionally fatal conditions. Its ubiquity is responsible for an enormous and widespread decline in sickness in dogs, and as a consequence in humans, too. That said, not all vaccines are equally advisable. Some, like the ones we’ve mentioned, come highly recommended by both the RSPCA and the veterinary profession in general. Others, like those against rabies, are more specialised – and are only really necessary if you intend to take the animal overseas. It’s important to speak to a professional about which vaccinations might be beneficial and which ones can safely be avoided. Pose the question to your vet, and then act accordingly.
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Boosters Of course, no vaccine can offer complete protection against a virus. There will always be some strain of the virus which is resistant to the vaccine, however effective – and it’s that strain which will have an evolutionary advantage over its competitors. Since pathogens are rapidlyreproducing organisms, any mutation which helps them to resist a vaccination will quickly spread through a population, and become commonplace within that population in a matter of months. For this reason, it’s important that manufacturers continue to develop new vaccines, and that responsible dog owners ensure that their pets receive is a top-up ‘booster’ vaccinations, designed to reinforce a dog’s immune response to new strains of a pathogen. Given proper vaccination, and the right course of booster injections, a dog can lead a healthy, happy life, and avoid the sorts of harmful conditions we’ve looked at here.
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Beeston Animal Health Ltd., Whitchurch Road, Beeston Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire, CW6 9NJ
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