Vaccinations play a critical role in ensuring your pet grows up in the best of health. Much in the same way that children have to receive vaccinations at certain ages, so do puppies!
Dogs are susceptible to certain types of illnesses which vaccinations help them to ward off. A mother dog protects her puppy until around six to twelve weeks after birth. When the puppies are first born, she passes on her immunity mechanism by providing disease-fighting antibodies in her first milk. This is called the Maternally Derived Antibody (MDA), also known as “passive immunity.”
Once a dog begins to wean off of his mother’s milk, he will eventually lose the antibodies that were provided through his mother’s milk. Once the puppy has turned about six weeks old (but no younger!), the first set of core vaccinations can be administered. The core vaccinations are most important when protecting your pup against disease. The core vaccines cover the following illnesses: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and rabies.
Your pup will need to return at nine and twelve weeks of age to get the second and third portion of these vaccines, and then again at fifteen weeks for an examination.
Non-core vaccines may be suggested by your vet if you have a certain breed of dog that is susceptible to specific diseases. Your vet will be able to inform you as to when these vaccines should be administered.
Some dog owners fear the side effects of vaccination for their pets. This is a valid concern, but the benefits of vaccination far exceed the risks. Effectiveness may not be guaranteed 100% but with the combination of proper nutrition and eating habits, a good and sanitized environment, vaccination is a great way to protect your dog and other of your pets as well.
In addition to getting your pet vaccinated, it’s important that you provide a healthy diet. Not all dry dog foods live up to their promise of providing the highest quality of ingredients. If you want more information about what’s really in store-bought dog food, visit Dog Food for Life to read the Confidential Dog Food Report.
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