Should I Get My Dog Vaccinated? Why & When to Do It

Should you get your dog vaccinated?

As with the vaccinations designed for humans, dog vaccines protect your pet against a range of serious diseases that could threaten its life.

While getting your dog vaccinated may seem like an unnecessary expense initially, the cost of your dog's shots is likely far less than the expense of treating the illnesses the vaccines protect against.

How Pet Vaccines Work 

Vaccines provide a defensive level of antibodies, allowing your pet's body to build immunity against specific highly contagious, serious diseases. Once your dog has been vaccinated, the body receives a disease-enabling organism to stimulate the immune system and tell the body how it should fight those diseases in the future. 

While vaccines for dogs, puppies and other pets aren't 100% effective, they can help your pet fight of illnesses or recover much more quickly if they do become infected. 

Does my dog need all of the available vaccines?

The vaccines recommended for dogs in the Danbury area include immunizations to help prevent bordetella, distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and rabies.

Your vet can recommend the most appropriate vaccines for your dog based on its age, location, and lifestyle.

Vaccination Schedule for Puppies & Adult Dogs

Are there any possible side effects of dog vaccinations?

Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to their vaccinations due to a sensitivity to specific vaccine ingredients.

Common side effects of vaccinations in dogs include lethargy, lumps and bumps, sneezing and cold-like symptoms. Different breeds may react to different ingredients.

For example, German shepherds, various collies, and some sheepdogs are known to be sensitive to certain vaccinations. Your vet will avoid using vaccines that contain ingredients your dog may be sensitive to.

Seeing your pet have an adverse reaction to a vaccine can be upsetting. However, it's important for pet owners to remember that most reactions associated with vaccines are typically short-lived and mild. That said, severe reactions are rare but can occur, and require emergency veterinary care. 

These side effects include facial swelling, vomiting, hives, diarrhea, itchiness, breathing difficulties, and anaphylaxis. When anaphylaxis occurs in dogs, it typically appears very soon after a vet has administered the vaccination. However, it's important to note that anaphylaxis can occur up to 48 hours after your dog has received a vaccination. 

Vaccination time can be made less stressful for you and your pet by understanding the most common reactions to vaccines in dogs, and what you should do if your dog has a reaction to getting their shots. 

Your vet can address any questions or concerns you may have about vaccines and their potential side effects. 

How can I prevent my dog from having a reaction to a vaccine?

The risk of your dog having a serious reaction to a vaccine is very low. Let your vet know if your dog has a reaction to any vaccine. Your vet may recommend that you skip a particular vaccination in the future, depending on a variety of factors like the severity of the reaction and your dog's risk of contracting the disease or illness the vaccine protects your pup against. 

The risk of reactions may increase when multiple reactions are administered during one appointment, particularly in smaller dogs. Your vet may recommend having your dog receive their shots over several days rather than all at once, to help reduce your dog's risk of experiencing a vaccine reaction. 

What can happen if I don't get my dog vaccinated?

Vaccinations are critical to your dog's preventive healthcare. If you don't get your dog vaccinated, they will be at risk of contracting preventable diseases like rabies. 

Even if your dog is always on leash when outdoors, there is still a grave risk of illness. Many viruses and bacteria can live for long periods of time on surfaces, so without even coming nose-to-nose with another dog, your pup could contract a serious disease.

Other conditions are airborne or are known to be transmitted by air, and are easily contracted by dogs who encounter infected pooches while out walking. These include canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, rabies, Bordetella, and canine parainfluenza. 

Many vaccinations are mandated across the United States, such as rabies for both dogs and cats. Residents require vaccination records in many areas to obtain a pet license.

If you travel with your pet, stay in pet-friendly hotels, go to dog parks or have your pet groomed, vaccinations may be required and can prevent your furry friend from contracting contagious diseases from other animals and inadvertently spreading infection. This is also true for pet-sitting services, doggy daycares and other businesses.

Starting the vaccination journey during your dog's puppy years is important. Getting your dog's shots early in life and regularly throughout adulthood provides the best opportunity for your furry friend to live a long and healthy life.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Is your dog due for vaccinations? Contact our Danbury vets today to schedule an appointment.