Mary Allen
Introduction: The Importance of Vaccinations for Boarded Dogs
When it comes to boarding your dog, you want to ensure that they are healthy and safe during their stay. One of the most important things you can do to protect your dog is to make sure that they are up-to-date on their vaccinations. Vaccines are critical to protecting your dog from a variety of diseases, many of which can be deadly.
Boarding facilities require proof of vaccination before accepting your dog. This is because communal living spaces, such as kennels, can be breeding grounds for contagious diseases. Vaccinations not only protect your dog but also other dogs they may come in contact with. By vaccinating your dog, you are helping to prevent the spread of diseases and keeping all dogs in the facility healthy.
Core Vaccines for Dogs: What are They and Why are They Important?
Core vaccines are important for all dogs, regardless of their lifestyle or environment. These vaccines protect against diseases that are potentially fatal and can be easily transmitted to other dogs. The core vaccines for dogs include the distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and rabies vaccines.
Distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus are viral diseases that are highly contagious and can be fatal. These diseases are spread through contact with infected dogs or their bodily fluids. Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. It is important to vaccinate against rabies not only to protect your dog but also because it is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans.
Rabies Vaccine: A Must-Have for Boarded Dogs
The rabies vaccine is required by law in most states for all dogs over the age of four months. Rabies is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, such as a raccoon or bat. Rabies is also a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted to humans.
If your dog is not up-to-date on their rabies vaccine, they will not be allowed to board. This is because rabies is a public health concern and boarding facilities are required to follow state and local laws. In addition to protecting your dog and other dogs they may come in contact with, vaccinating against rabies also protects you and members of your family.
Distemper Vaccine: Protecting Your Dog from a Deadly Virus
Distemper is a viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. It is highly contagious and can be fatal. The virus is spread through contact with infected dogs or their bodily fluids. Symptoms of distemper include coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.
Vaccinating against distemper is important for all dogs, but especially for those that are boarded. In a communal living space such as a kennel, it is easy for the virus to spread from one dog to another. By vaccinating your dog against distemper, you are helping to protect them from this potentially deadly disease.
Parvovirus Vaccine: Prevention is Key
Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that affects the gastrointestinal system. It is spread through contact with infected dogs or their bodily fluids. Symptoms of parvovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
Vaccinating against parvovirus is important for all dogs, but especially for those that are boarded. In a communal living space such as a kennel, it is easy for the virus to spread from one dog to another. By vaccinating your dog against parvovirus, you are helping to prevent the spread of this potentially deadly disease.
Bordetella Vaccine: Protecting Against Kennel Cough
Bordetella, also known as kennel cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is spread through contact with infected dogs or their bodily fluids. Symptoms of kennel cough include a harsh, hacking cough, sneezing, and nasal discharge. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia.
Vaccinating against bordetella is important for all dogs, but especially for those that are boarded. In a communal living space such as a kennel, it is easy for the disease to spread from one dog to another. By vaccinating your dog against bordetella, you are helping to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease.
Canine Influenza Vaccine: A Newer but Important Vaccine
Canine influenza, also known as dog flu, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is spread through contact with infected dogs or their bodily fluids. Symptoms of dog flu include coughing, sneezing, and fever. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia.
The canine influenza vaccine is a newer vaccine but is becoming increasingly important for dogs, especially those that are boarded. In a communal living space such as a kennel, it is easy for the disease to spread from one dog to another. By vaccinating your dog against canine influenza, you are helping to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease.
Lyme Disease Vaccine: Should Your Dog Get It?
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. Symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs include fever, lameness, and swollen joints. While Lyme disease is not contagious from dog to dog, it is still a concern for dogs that are boarded in areas where ticks are prevalent.
The Lyme disease vaccine is not considered a core vaccine, but it may be recommended for dogs that are boarded in areas where ticks are prevalent. It is important to speak with your veterinarian to determine if your dog should receive the Lyme disease vaccine.
Leptospirosis Vaccine: Protecting Against a Potentially Fatal Disease
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects the liver and kidneys. It is spread through contact with infected urine or contaminated water. Symptoms of leptospirosis in dogs include fever, vomiting, and lethargy. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
The leptospirosis vaccine is not considered a core vaccine, but it may be recommended for dogs that are boarded in areas where the disease is prevalent. It is important to speak with your veterinarian to determine if your dog should receive the leptospirosis vaccine.
Other Vaccines to Consider: Giardia and Coronavirus
Giardia and coronavirus are not viral or bacterial diseases but are rather caused by parasites. Giardia is a protozoan parasite that affects the gastrointestinal system, while coronavirus affects the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems.
Vaccines for giardia and coronavirus are not considered core vaccines and are generally not required for boarding. However, if your dog is at high risk for exposure to these parasites, your veterinarian may recommend vaccinating against them.
Proof of Vaccination: What You Need to Provide for Boarding Your Dog
When boarding your dog, you will need to provide proof of vaccination. This typically includes a certificate of vaccination from your veterinarian that shows that your dog is up-to-date on their vaccinations. Some boarding facilities may also require a negative fecal test, especially for parasites such as giardia.
It is important to make sure that your dog is up-to-date on their vaccinations well in advance of their boarding stay. Some vaccines require multiple doses given over several weeks, so it is important to plan accordingly.
Conclusion: Keeping Your Dog and Other Dogs Safe with Vaccinations
Vaccinating your dog is critical to protecting their health and the health of other dogs they may come in contact with. Boarding facilities require proof of vaccination to ensure that all dogs are protected from contagious diseases. By vaccinating your dog against core diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, and rabies, as well as other diseases such as bordetella and canine influenza, you are helping to prevent the spread of potentially deadly diseases. Speak with your veterinarian to determine which vaccines are right for your dog based on their lifestyle and risk factors.