We all want our dogs to be safe, healthy, and happy, and vaccines are one safeguard we can take to make that happen. Vaccinations help prevent various illnesses by preparing the immune system to fight against disease-causing pathogens. They are an easy and affordable way to ensure that your dog lives a long, healthy life. Recently, however, there has been some degree of controversy surrounding animal immunization.
How Vaccines Work
Vaccines stimulate the immune system and may cause mild symptoms of the afflictions they are trying to prevent. These can range from light soreness to anaphylactic shock – extremely rare reactions causing labored breathing, slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, and death, if not treated immediately. In rare cases, vaccinating your dog can lead to immune-mediated disease, which can cause organ damage and even death. For this reason, it’s important that you have your pets immunized at your vet’s office rather than attempting to conduct the procedure by yourself at home.
Adverse Reactions
If you are concerned that your dog might be having an adverse reaction to an immunization, contact your vet immediately. The following symptoms might be a sign that something is not right with your animal:
- Fever
- Labored breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sensitivity or scabbing near the injection site
- Hives
- Lethargy
- Seizures
Different Vaccine Options Available
There are two types of vaccines: Core vaccines and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are essential for all healthy dogs because of exposure, severity, and potential transmission to humans and other animals. These vaccines include:
- Distemper
- Rabies
- Canine hepatitis
- Canine parvovirus
Non-core vaccines are usually given based on the animal’s potential for exposure to a given disease-causing pathogen. Not all of these are essential, but be sure to discuss with your vet which, if any, of these immunizations could benefit your dog. Non-core vaccines include:
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Borrelia burgdorferi
- Leptospira bacteria
Note: dog owners who live in the Northeast in particular should seriously consider Borrelia Burdorferi vaccination, because Lyme disease, although found in most parts of the U.S. now, is particularly endemic in that region.
The risks and benefits of vaccination should be considered carefully based on the unique health and lifestyle of each individual dog. While vaccines can be the most important aspect of your animal’s health, not every dog will need a full range of vaccinations. Puppies should receive a combination vaccine that protects against parvovirus, hepatitis, and distemper and another vaccine to prevent rabies starting around 6-8 weeks. By law, all dogs need to have up-to-date rabies vaccinations to protect the general public from the disease. Keep copies of your dog’s rabies shots along with his/her other medical records.
Controversy over dog vaccines
Every year, vaccines save the lives of tens of thousands of dogs and other animals. For every dog that has an adverse reaction, there are thousands that are prevented from illness. Not only do vaccines help keep our animals healthy, they also reduce the risk of spreading contagious diseases, keeping our neighbors’ pets healthy as well. Still, many people (and some vets) believe that we are over-vaccinating our pets, and this fear is causing many pet parents to skip vaccinations altogether. A large contingency of vets and academes believe that this stance has caused a significant rise in pet mortality in recent years.
Critics of immunization are attacking vaccination wholesale, rather than looking at the issue on a case by case basis. Some animals no longer need vaccinations after their initial shots. Some animals only need vaccinations every three years or so. Some animals are not healthy enough for certain vaccinations and others lack the necessary risk factors to necessitate a full range of vaccinations.
The problem is not with vaccinations. Instead, there exists a failure within the system to properly evaluate dogs independently of one another. The answer isn’t discarding immunization completely. It’s exercising more caution and taking more time to determine exactly what our pets need to keep them healthy. As is the case with humans, each animal is unique and will require a unique vaccination regimen.
While vaccines do carry light risks, the benefits are far too advantageous to forego immunization completely. Be sure to discuss your options with your vet and follow their recommendations. Remember, they are the experts and know exactly what to do to keep your animals safe. If it makes you more comfortable, seek a second opinion, but don’t let public hysteria prevent you from doing what is right for your animal.
