Vaccinating your dog

Vaccinating your dog is an important part of your dog’s health and protects them from preventable diseases. Vaccinations are safe and effective, and we will vaccinate against the diseases that are commonly found in our region such as Lyme disease, Bordetella (Kennel Cough), and Lepto. Although Distemper is less common, we still recommend the vaccine because it has some other important vaccines like Lepto, Parvo and Adneo virus that protect your dog from Hepatitis.

Puppies are usually given their first set of vaccinations at six to eight weeks of age. Additional vaccinations are given every three to four weeks until the puppy is sixteen weeks old. We recommend that the Parvovirus vaccination is continued even longer, particularly with certain breeds of dogs. We then administer the vaccine on a biannual or annual basis. Rabies vaccinations are mandatory for all pets in our community, and upon vaccination you will receive a certificate for registering your dog.

Adverse Reactions

Animals sometimes react adversely to vaccinations. These reactions are usually very mild and brief in duration. Your dog may experience side effects such as muscle aches, low grade fever, and drowsiness. It is uncommon for dogs to have severe reactions, but if they do, the most common symptoms are vomiting, swelling of the face, and hives that appear within two hours after the shots. In most cases, an antihistamine such as Benadryl could be all your pet needs.

Please call us today to learn more about vaccinations or to schedule an appointment for your dog.