Do you find it difficult to keep track of the vaccines your dogs receive? Do you wonder which ones they need and which ones can or should be waived? We see some vaccine prevented diseases so infrequently - thank goodness, that it is easy to forget how awful they truly can be!

Polly Pocket Outlaw Norman with a few of her biggest fans/healthcare providers - Amanda, Amy and Shonda!

Here is the quick explanation of the diseases against which we vaccinate with a more detailed explanation following. Every dog should be vaccinated against rabies, distemper, adenovirus (viral hepatitis) and parvovirus. Every dog in Omaha (and many other places) should be vaccinated against leptospirosis. Most dogs should be vaccinated against infectious tracheobronchitis (bordetella or kennel cough).

Rabies – Rabies causes uniformly fatal neurological disease in mammals and is a danger to humans.   Fortunately, rabies disease is completely preventable!

Bedford!

Distemper – Distemper causes a neurological, respiratory and gastrointestinal disease complex in dogs, raccoons and ferrets that is often fatal to dogs, and always fatal to raccoons and ferrets.

These beautiful littermate sisters Wrigley and Maddux survived distemper because of the diligent care of Kathi Ortmeier of Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland

Adenovirus – Adenovirus 1 causes infectious hepatitis.  Infectious hepatitis is rare anymore because of widespread vaccination. 

Historical Adenovirus Fact:  We vaccinate against a virus related to the adenovirus that causes infectious hepatitis, adenovirus 2, because adenovirus 2 does not cause uveitis or “blue eye” which is an inflammation of part of the eye that we learned several decades ago can be caused by vaccination against adenovirus 1.

Baby Bella Basset

Parvovirus – Parvovirus is a disease of dogs that is most common in young puppies.  Parvo causes vomiting and diarrhea which leads to dehydration and can lead to death.

Tidus the Puppy with Travis the day of Tidus's parvo diagnosis. He was so sick! He survived and thrived and is twice the size he was here and as sweet as ever.

We vaccinate against distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus in one combination vaccine in order to give your dogs as few shots as possible.

Leptospirosis – Leptospirosis causes kidney and liver disease in dogs and can be fatal.  It is transmissible to humans.

Cammi

Infectious Tracheobronchitis – Infectious tracheobronchitis is the long name for kennel cough. It is often caused by the bacteria Bordetella or the viruses adeonovirus or parainfluenza, or a combination of the three, though other infectious agents can cause kennel cough also.  The vaccine protects dogs against Bordetella, adenovirus type 2 and parainfluenza.

We usually give the “intranasal” (in the nose) form of the kennel cough vaccine, again, to minimize the number of shots your dogs receive.

Joy the Puppy with her BFF Frank

Please call Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals today to check if your pets are due for any of their vaccines or other wellness care!