We know that you care for your dog and want to ensure that they remain happy and healthy throughout their life. And, I’m sure you will do all you can to achieve this.
One easy way in which you can help to ensure that your dog is protected from infectious diseases is to ensure that they are vaccinated as a puppy and then regularly throughout their adult life.
Why Vaccination is important?
Dogs can and, unfortunately, do become seriously ill. Most worryingly, every year some die from infectious diseases that could have been prevented through vaccination.
Regular vaccination can protect your dog from infectious diseases such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, canine parainfluenza and rabies.
Why do you need to vaccinate your dog regularly?
Primary Vaccination
For the first few weeks of life, puppies are usually protected against disease from the immunity they receive in their mother’s milk. However, this maternal immunity may also neutralise any vaccine given at this time.
Gradually this protection decreases and the maternal immunity declines to a sufficiently low level for the animal to no longer be protected. This also allows the animal to respond to vaccination and so at this stage it is possible to start the vaccination programme.
Annual Vaccination
Many people believe that if they have their pet vaccinated when they are puppies the immunity they receive will protect them for the rest of their lives.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. After the last injection, the immune level reaches a peak and then begins to decline. After a year, the level of protection offered to your pet may no longer be sufficient.
Reevaccination stimulates the immune response so that protection is maintained for another year. Without these yearly vaccinations, your pet’s immune system may not be able to protect it from serious, often fatal disease.
How vaccines work
Vaccines work by training the white blood cells in your dog’s body to recognise and attack the viruses or bacteria contained in the vaccine. This should prevent infection with that particular organism if your dog comes into contact with it again.
Fatal diseases of dogs
There are four major infectious diseases affecting dogs today. Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Leptospirosis. All are highly contagious and difficult and expensive to treat.
Canine Parvovirus
Parvovirus is perhaps the most common canine infectious disease.
Parvovirus was first recognised in the late 1970’s and rapidly became an epidemic. Many hundreds of dogs died before an effective vaccine could be produced. Sadly, this disease remains a major problem. Outbreaks still occur regularly across the country.
The disease is usually seen as bloody diarrhoea in young animals, with a characteristic offensive odour and severe dehydration. Many will die within hours of the onset of symptoms.
Once a dog becomes infected with parvovirus, the virus invades the intestines and bone marrow. This leads to sudden and severe bleeding into the gut, resulting in dehydration, shock and damage to the immune system. Death is common and frequently rapid unless emergency veterinary treatment is received.
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper, sometimes referred to as ‘Hard Pad’, is caused by a virus very similar to the measles virus, although it is not a risk to humans.
Although less common than it was 20 or 30 years ago, outbreaks still occur, mainly in urban areas, where a largely unvaccinated population of dogs and foxes exists. These tend to be ‘explosive’ in nature, causing death or permanent brain damage. Transmission of the virus is by inhalation and direct contact.
The distemper virus attacks most parts of the body, including the spleen and bone marrow. This makes it easier to catch secondary infections. As the disease progresses, the virus spreads to the lungs and gut, the eyes, skin and brain.
The classical signs are of a dog with a high temperature, a discharge from the eyes and nose, a cough, vomiting and diarrhoea. Hardening of the skin may occur, in particular, the nose and pads, hence the term ´Hard Pad´. The virus can reach the brain causing permanent damage, ranging from involuntary twitches to fits. Dogs that recover may be left with some permanent disability such as cracked pads and nose, epilepsy, and damage to teeth enamel.
Once again, treatment is lengthy, expensive and most importantly, often unsuccessful. As the incubation period is long – often about three weeks – it is usually too late to vaccinate when an outbreak occurs.
Canine Hepatitis
As the name suggests, canine hepatitis attacks the liver. Some dogs may become infected but show no obvious signs, but in acute cases, the death of your pet can occur within 24-36 hours.
The disease is spread by direct contact and from faeces, saliva and urine from infected dogs. The virus is carried to the liver and the blood vessels where the major signs of the disease appear.
The symptoms are very variable depending on the severity of the infection. Some animals may show a slight temperature and at the other extreme may die suddenly. Intermediate cases exhibit fever, vomiting, pale gums, jaundice, abdominal pain and internal bleeding. The less severe form of the disease has been associated with “Fading Puppy Syndrome”.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria that is spread in the urine of infected animals.
Two major forms of the disease exist in dogs.
One (L.icterohaemorrhagiae) causes acute illness and jaundice and is usually caught from rats – either by the animal being bitten or coming into contact with rat urine. L. icterohaemorrhagiae infection usually produces a sudden disease with fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, thirst, bleeding, and jaundice. The outcome is usually fatal and death can occur within a few hours.
The other type (L.canicola) can also cause acute disease but frequently takes a more prolonged form. This leads to the slow destruction of the kidneys and renal failure can occur many years after the original infection. Even animals that show no signs of illness may still go on to develop chronic disease.
Coronavirus
Coronavirus is a common virus that affects dogs of all ages, with puppies being particularly susceptible. It causes diarrhoea and other digestive upsets and it has also been shown to increase the severity of other disease caused by other viruses such as canine parvovirus.
Other major diseases of dogs include:
Canine Parainfluenza
This virus is one of the pathogens responsible for the disease known as ´a kennel cough´.
Dogs with this disease suffer from a harsh, dry cough that can last for many weeks, causing distress for both the dog and owner.
Rabies Vaccinations
Rabies is a fatal disease, which affects both dogs and humans. Rabies was eradicated from this country many years ago and strict systems are in place to make sure that it is never seen again.
If you are intending to take your dog to another European country and return to the UK with it, you must ensure that it is protected by having it vaccinated against rabies.
Your dog must be at least 3 months old before it can be vaccinated against rabies. It can then be vaccinated any time after it has been fitted with a microchip. Before vaccinating your dog, the vet will check its microchip number and enter it into your pet´s vaccination record.
If your dog is vaccinated against rabies before it was fitted with a microchip, it will have to be fitted with a microchip and vaccinated again. This is to make sure that your pet is correctly identified when it is vaccinated.
Booster Vaccinations
After your pet has been vaccinated, it will need regular booster vaccinations. Your vet will advise you further. You must make sure that your pet is given its booster on time otherwise it will not meet the conditions of the scheme and would have to be vaccinated and blood tested again. It would have to wait another six months before being able to enter the UK.
Please discuss with your vet’s vaccination of your puppy and dog throughout its life, the important infectious diseases and how you can help keep your dog healthy and happy.
Worming
Your dog can get worms from virtually anywhere, indoors or out, depending on the lifestyle it leads. Worms are parasites that live inside your pet, often without you knowing. Different worms pose different risks, but if left untreated, some can seriously endanger the life of your dog. Some worms can pass from pets to people through grooming, stroking or the environment. Children, the elderly and those with reduced immune systems are most at risk and whilst most human infections cause only minor symptoms, rare cases can lead to serious conditions such as blindness and epilepsy.
There are several types of worm in the UK that your dog may be prone to:
Roundworm is present in puppies from 2 weeks old. It causes lethargy, bloating, and diarrhoea and weight loss.
Tapeworm – fleas transmit a type of tapeworm so any dog that has had fleas will have a tapeworm. Dogs who scavenge or hunt may also become infected.
Whipworm and hookworm are seen most commonly in kennelled dogs. It can cause diarrhoea.
Lungworm – there are two types of lungworm associated with foxes that dogs may pick up through eating infected snails or slugs. Lungworm can cause coughing, bleeding and nervous signs.
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends that all pets are wormed every three months with high quality, broad-spectrum wormer. However, young animals and those in a higher risk environment may require worming more regularly. It’s virtually impossible to stop your pet coming into contact with worms during its life, therefore the only practical way to look after the health of your pet and family is through regular, on-going worming treatment.
Some Facts about Fleas!
At the very least, fleas cause irritation and skin problems and newly hatched fleas will often jump onto pet owners causing discomfort for us too, but the problem doesn’t end there – fleas can carry diseases that affect people as well as pets.
Adult fleas on your pet only account for 5% of the whole infestation, The other 95% consists of flea eggs, larvae and pupae that can be spread throughout your home by your pets and develop into adult fleas in a few week’s time – a centrally heated house provides the perfect breeding environment!
Waiting until your pet starts scratching could mean an infestation in your home that is hard to resolve. Treating your pet regularly to protect against fleas and ticks is the best way to prevent this occurring.
We know that you care for your dog and want to ensure that they remain happy and healthy throughout their life. And, I’m sure you will do all you can to achieve this.
One easy way in which you can help to ensure that your dog is protected from infectious diseases is to ensure that they are vaccinated as a puppy and then regularly throughout their adult life.
Why Vaccination is important?
Dogs can and, unfortunately, do become seriously ill. Most worryingly, every year some die from infectious diseases that could have been prevented through vaccination.
Regular vaccination can protect your dog from infectious diseases such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, leptospirosis, canine parainfluenza and rabies.
Why do you need to vaccinate your dog regularly?
Primary Vaccination
For the first few weeks of life, puppies are usually protected against disease from the immunity they receive in their mother’s milk. However, this maternal immunity may also neutralise any vaccine given at this time.
Gradually this protection decreases and the maternal immunity declines to a sufficiently low level for the animal to no longer be protected. This also allows the animal to respond to vaccination and so at this stage it is possible to start the vaccination programme.
Annual Vaccination
Many people believe that if they have their pet vaccinated when they are puppies the immunity they receive will protect them for the rest of their lives.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. After the last injection, the immune level reaches a peak and then begins to decline. After a year, the level of protection offered to your pet may no longer be sufficient.
Revaccination stimulates the immune response so that protection is maintained for another year. Without these yearly vaccinations, your pet’s immune system may not be able to protect it from a serious, often fatal disease.
How vaccines work
Vaccines work by training the white blood cells in your dog’s body to recognise and attack the viruses or bacteria contained in the vaccine. This should prevent infection with that particular organism if your dog comes into contact with it again.
Fatal diseases of dogs
There are four major infectious diseases affecting dogs today. Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Leptospirosis. All are highly contagious and difficult and expensive to treat.
Canine Parvovirus
Parvovirus is perhaps the most common canine infectious disease.
Parvovirus was first recognised in the late 1970s and rapidly became an epidemic. Many hundreds of dogs died before an effective vaccine could be produced. Sadly, this disease remains a major problem. Outbreaks still occur regularly across the country.
The disease is usually seen as bloody diarrhoea in young animals, with a characteristic offensive odour and severe dehydration. Many will die within hours of the onset of symptoms.
Once a dog becomes infected with parvovirus, the virus invades the intestines and bone marrow. This leads to sudden and severe bleeding into the gut, resulting in dehydration, shock and damage to the immune system. Death is common and frequently rapid unless emergency veterinary treatment is received.
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper, which is sometimes referred to as ‘Hard Pad’, is caused by a virus very similar to the measles virus, although it is not a risk to humans.
Although less common than it was 20 or 30 years ago, outbreaks still occur, mainly in urban areas, where a largely unvaccinated population of dogs and foxes exists. These tend to be ‘explosive’ in nature, causing death or permanent brain damage. Transmission of the virus is by inhalation and direct contact.
The distemper virus attacks most parts of the body, including the spleen and bone marrow. This makes it easier to catch secondary infections. As the disease progresses, the virus spreads to the lungs and gut, the eyes, skin and brain.
The classical signs are of a dog with a high temperature, a discharge from the eyes and nose, a cough, vomiting and diarrhoea. Hardening of the skin may occur, in particular, the nose and pads, hence the term ´Hard Pad´. The virus can reach the brain causing permanent damage, ranging from involuntary twitches to fits. Dogs that recover may be left with some permanent disability such as cracked pads and nose, epilepsy, and damage to teeth enamel.
Once again, treatment is lengthy, expensive and most importantly, often unsuccessful. As the incubation period is long – often about three weeks – it is usually too late to vaccinate when an outbreak occurs.
Canine Hepatitis
As the name suggests, canine hepatitis attacks the liver. Some dogs may become infected but show no obvious signs, but in acute cases, the death of your pet can occur within 24-36 hours.
The disease is spread by direct contact and from faeces, saliva and urine from infected dogs. The virus is carried to the liver and the blood vessels where the major signs of the disease appear.
The symptoms are very variable depending on the severity of the infection. Some animals may show a slight temperature and at the other extreme may die suddenly. Intermediate cases exhibit fever, vomiting, pale gums, jaundice, abdominal pain and internal bleeding. The less severe form of the disease has been associated with “Fading Puppy Syndrome”.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria that is spread in the urine of infected animals.
Two major forms of the disease exist in dogs.
One (L.icterohaemorrhagiae) causes acute illness and jaundice and is usually caught from rats – either by the animal being bitten or coming into contact with rat urine. L. icterohaemorrhagiae infection usually produces a sudden disease with fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, thirst, bleeding, and jaundice. The outcome is usually fatal and death can occur within a few hours.
The other type (L.canicola) can also cause acute disease but frequently takes a more prolonged form. This leads to the slow destruction of the kidneys and renal failure can occur many years after the original infection. Even animals that show no signs of illness may still go on to develop chronic disease.
Canine Coronavirus
Most importantly, this is not the same virus as SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19!
Coronavirus is a common virus that affects dogs of all ages, with puppies being particularly susceptible. It causes diarrhoea and other digestive upsets and it has also been shown to increase the severity of other disease caused by other viruses such as canine parvovirus.
Other major diseases of dogs include:
Canine Parainfluenza
This virus is one of the pathogens responsible for the disease known as ´a kennel cough´.
Dogs with this disease suffer from a harsh, dry cough that can last for many weeks, causing distress for both the dog and owner.
Rabies Vaccinations
Rabies is a fatal disease, which affects both dogs and humans. Rabies was eradicated from this country many years ago and strict systems are in place to make sure that it is never seen again.
If you are intending to take your dog to another European country and return to the UK with it, you must ensure that it is protected by having it vaccinated against rabies.
Your dog must be at least 3 months old before it can be vaccinated against rabies. It can then be vaccinated any time after it has been fitted with a microchip. Before vaccinating your dog, the vet will check its microchip number and enter it into your pet´s vaccination record.
If your dog is vaccinated against rabies before it was fitted with a microchip, it will have to be fitted with a microchip and vaccinated again. This is to make sure that your pet is correctly identified when it is vaccinated.
Booster Vaccinations
After your pet has been vaccinated, it will need regular booster vaccinations. Your vet will advise you further. You must make sure that your pet is given its booster on time otherwise it will not meet the conditions of the scheme and would have to be vaccinated and blood tested again. It would have to wait another six months before being able to enter the UK.
Please discuss with your vet’s vaccination of your puppy and dog throughout its life, the important infectious diseases and how you can help keep your dog healthy and happy.
Worming
Your dog can get worms from virtually anywhere, indoors or out, depending on the lifestyle it leads. Worms are parasites that live inside your pet, often without you knowing. Different worms pose different risks, but if left untreated, some can seriously endanger the life of your dog. Some worms can pass from pets to people through grooming, stroking or the environment. Children, the elderly and those with reduced immune systems are most at risk and whilst most human infections cause only minor symptoms, rare cases can lead to serious conditions such as blindness and epilepsy.
There are several types of worm in the UK that your dog may be prone to:
Roundworm is present in puppies from 2 weeks old. It causes lethargy, bloating, and diarrhoea and weight loss.
Tapeworm – fleas transmit a type of tapeworm so any dog that has had fleas will have a tapeworm. Dogs who scavenge or hunt may also become infected.
Whipworm and hookworm are seen most commonly in kennelled dogs. It can cause diarrhoea.
Lungworm – there are two types of lungworm associated with foxes that dogs may pick up through eating infected snails or slugs. Lungworm can cause coughing, bleeding and nervous signs.
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends that all pets are wormed every three months with high quality, broad-spectrum wormer. However, young animals and those in a higher risk environment may require worming more regularly. It’s virtually impossible to stop your pet coming into contact with worms during its life, therefore the only practical way to look after the health of your pet and family is through regular, on-going worming treatment.
Some Facts about Fleas!
At the very least, fleas cause irritation and skin problems and newly hatched fleas will often jump onto pet owners causing discomfort for us too, but the problem doesn’t end there – fleas can carry diseases that affect people as well as pets.
Adult fleas on your pet only account for 5% of the whole infestation, The other 95% consists of flea eggs, larvae and pupae that can be spread throughout your home by your pets and develop into adult fleas in a few week’s time – a centrally heated house provides the perfect breeding environment!
Waiting until your pet starts scratching could mean an infestation in your home that is hard to resolve. Treating your pet regularly to protect against fleas and ticks is the best way to prevent this occurring.