Dr. Atul Anand, Dr. Sanjolly Gupta
The area around our vicinity is full of various forms of life which include microorganisms and other parasites. Some of them are potentially dangerous for your pets. In response to the severe and devastating illnesses or even fatalities that these creatures can cause, researchers and scientists have been working to find ways to eliminate them. Medications have been developed for most of the infections. Antibiotics were discovered to treat bacterial infections but the effective treatment of viral infections still eludes us. So far, the best we have been able to do is to prevent viral infections, as well as some bacterial and rickettsial infections, through the use of vaccinations. As the body undergoes attack by the virus, the immune system begins to realize there is an invader present. Since the immune system has been basically ambushed and has never been exposed to the new invader, hence the immune system is not prepared, although it makes a valiant attempt to destroy the virus. But within time, the immune system destroys the virus and the body recovers from the illness. Unfortunately, there are some viruses that appear to be fatal for the body and ultimately cause death. In the case of infections, result in recovery, the immune system exposed and memory cells are produced during the process by the body, providing immunity to the individual. If and when again the exposure from same infective organism occurs, the immune system is ready and the organism is destroyed before it is ever allowed to get a foothold.
In addition to parasite control, preventing contagious disease is also recommended. Parks have become quite popular places for the pets specially the dogs. With this mixing of different dogs, contagious diseases are easily spread. Before embarking on that fun time at the park, make sure your pet is vaccinated. There are vaccines available to help reduce your dog’s risk of acquiring diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, kennel cough and rabies, just to name a few. Vaccinations have been able to save the precious lives of millions of dogs. (Before the introduction of effective vaccines, dogs routinely died from mainly distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and complications of upper respiratory infections.) Current vaccination programs protect our dogs (and us) from the threat of rabies. Newer vaccines, including those administered through the nostrils, have been developed to protect against a variety of infections. Despite the well-known benefits of vaccination, the practice of annual vaccination of dogs is a matter of healthy debate. Some veterinarians believe that annual revaccination is an important and critical part of preventative health care. Others suggest that there is little scientific information to suggest that annual revaccination of older dogs is necessary for some diseases. There is growing evidence that the duration of immunity of properly vaccinated adult dogs extends beyond a year. Of course, some vaccines (rabies) must be administered on a regular basis.
Certainly routine vaccinations are essential for prevention of infectious diseases in puppies. Puppies receive passive immunity against infectious disease from their mother’s milk; however, this protection begins to disappear between 6 and 20 weeks of age. The exact sequence cannot be predicted without specialized blood tests. To protect puppies during this critical time, a well-researched approach is taken: a series of vaccines is given every 3-4 weeks until the chance of contracting an infectious disease is very low. The typical vaccine is a “combination” that protects against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, parainfluenza, and canine parvovirus (the four viruses are commonly abbreviated DHPP). Many veterinarians also recommend incorporating leptospirosis in the vaccination series. Rabies vaccines are given between 16 and 26 weeks of age.All vaccines require booster immunizations (“shots”) that are given one year later or accordingly. Thereafter, the issue becomes cloudier. The protective effect of vaccinations for bacterial infections (e.g. bordetella and leptospirosis) typically does not persist for more than a year making yearly (and occasionally more frequent) booster vaccines advisable. If your adult dog has an adverse reaction to the vaccine (fever, vomiting, shaking, facial swelling or hives) discuss the risk of annual revaccination with your veterinarian. The foremost recommendation is to discuss the vaccination program with your veterinarian. Don’t be hesitant to ask questions about the pros and cons of vaccinations. Your veterinarian is always there for your pet.
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