Going to the vet is an important part of owning a dog. Vet visits will keep your dog happy and healthy. An important part of these visits is getting your dog vaccinated when needed. There are several illnesses that could put your dog at risk of getting severely sick or dying. Vaccines help protect them and the other dogs around them.
There are two categories of vaccines: core vaccines and non-core vaccines. The core vaccines are important for every dog to get, while the non-core ones will be recommended or not depending on your lifestyle and who your dog interacts with regularly.1
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, core vaccines include:
- Canine distemper
- Canine parvovirus
- Canine adenovirus-2
- Rabies virus2
Non-core vaccines are:
- Leptospirosis
- Lyme disease
- Canine parainfluenza
- Kennel cough
- Canine influenza2&3
Many of these are very contagious diseases between dogs. They are very serious but can be prevented with these vaccines. Distemper, for example, attacks the nervous system and respiratory system, and parvovirus attacks the gastrointestinal system and can cause severe dehydration that can be deadly.4
By vaccinating your dog, you’re helping their immune system recognize these illnesses so they can fight them off if they’re exposed.5 Your dog may not need every single vaccine – your vet will know which non-core vaccines to give your dog. Plus, many of these vaccines are able to be given as a combination vaccine, so your dog doesn’t need to get several injections.2
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