Should I get my dog vaccinated?
In the vast majority of cases the answer is yes, around the world there are a number of life-threatening and life-changing diseases which your dog can be protected from with the help of a vaccine. Depending on where you live in the world these vaccines may vary slightly, but they may also help protect you too!
What are vaccines?
Vaccines are a type of medication designed to ‘teach’ the immune system all about different pathogens (disease causing organisms). They cleverly inform the system regarding various types of bacteria and viruses, building recognition regarding their size, shape, and nature. This is so, if encountered in the future, the immune response is faster and better equipped to prevent the animal from becoming sick.
Vaccines typically use either pieces of the pathogen, or a modified version of the bacteria or virus where the dangerous parts have been removed, still allowing the immune system to learn how to recognise them. The immune system then produces memory cells which stay in the blood stream for a long time. However, these do not last forever, which is why vaccines need to be refreshed and is the reason ‘booster’ vaccines are required at set time intervals.
Does my dog need every type of vaccine?
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has performed an abundance of research into animal vaccines and has produced a set of guidelines for countries to follow around the world. They classify vaccines as ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ vaccines, with the vaccines included in these categories varying from country to country. The core vaccines are recommended for all animals in every country, and the non-core vaccines are situational so may be recommended by your local veterinarian depending on how frequent certain diseases are in your area. Not all vaccines are required every year either, as some vaccines induce a better immune response than others, with some only needing to be given every third year.
Adverse effects
Just like with human vaccines, animals can have adverse reactions to some vaccinations which can range from minor to serious in severity. Severe side effects happen very infrequently, because of this it is widely accepted that the benefits from vaccines outweigh the potentiality of adverse effects. Milder side effects of vaccines can include pain and slight swelling at the injection site and feeling under the weather and more tired for the next few days. Serious side effects, which happen very infrequently (less than 1 in 10,000 dogs), can include anaphylactic type reactions and induction of immune mediated issues, however if these occur and are noticed quickly, they can be treated.
What are the core vaccines for dogs?
Across the world the vaccines that are considered core for all dogs are against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus, and in areas of the world where rabies is an endemic disease (found in wild animal populations) it is also considered a core vaccine.
Canine Distemper Virus
This is a virus that is very similar to measles in humans and can be life-threatening to dogs. Initial clinical signs of distemper include a mucous discharge from the eyes and nose, coughing, fever, and pneumonia, and it can progress to causing signs of vomiting and diarrhoea, and in cases where the immune system cannot control the virus it can progress to causing neurological signs such as seizures, weakness, and problems with balance. Distemper virus is transmitted through water droplets in the dog’s breath. There is no specific treatment for distemper, so care is focused on supporting the animal and treating the symptoms.
Canine Adenovirus
This is a virus that mainly attacks the liver and blood vessels (hence its other name which is infectious hepatitis), and results in varying degrees of illness, with milder signs including lethargy, reduced appetite, coughing, vomiting and diarrhoea, but with more severe signs resulting liver failure and sudden death. Canine adenovirus is transmitted through bodily fluids. Similarly, to distemper virus there is no specific treatment, so again care is focused on supporting the animal and treating the symptoms.
Canine Parvovirus
This is a virus that mainly attacks the intestines, primarily causing extreme vomiting and diarrhoea due to the amount of damage it causes to the lining of the intestines, and as a disease it mainly affects puppies who are very prone to rapid dehydration and is almost always life-threatening. Parvovirus is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, and indirectly through contact with infected animal’s faeces in the environment. There is no specific treatment again, so care is mainly focused on supporting your dog through the infection and treating any effects of the virus, such as the rapid dehydration and diarrhoea.
Rabies
Possibly the most well-known virus on this list, rabies virus is found all over the world and mainly works by infecting the neurological system of dogs, causing behavioural changes making them extremely aggressive, before leading to depression and paralysis which leads to death. In addition to being lethal in dogs, it can also be very dangerous in humans which is why it is such an important vaccination in countries where rabies can be found in wild animals. Rabies is transmitted primarily through the saliva of an infected animal when they bite another animal or person. In people exposed to rabies there are a number of treatment options to prevent rabies causing problems, however we do not have these for dogs and usually dogs showing clinical signs of rabies need to be euthanised.
What are the non-core vaccines for dogs?
Depending on where you live in the world some of these diseases may be more prevalent, and therefore it may be recommended that you vaccinate your dog against them. These are against kennel cough organisms (canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica) and Leptospirosis.
Kennel cough
Kennel cough is an umbrella term given to the respiratory disease caused by a group of bacteria and viruses, and it mainly results in a characteristic cough, sneezing and sometimes lethargy and reduced appetite. Kennel cough is transmitted by water droplets in the animal’s breath, however can be picked up from the environment for a short time after the infected dog has left. Usually kennel cough does not require treatment, however in some cases where the dog is particularly unwell your veterinarian may choose to use anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics to improve the clinical signs. The kennel cough vaccine is one of the vaccines where a modified version of the bacteria and viruses is used, and because of that it should not be given to dogs who are in contact with people with weak immune systems as they can become infected as well.
Leptospirosis
Leptospira are a group of bacteria that also causes Weil’s disease in humans, and mainly causes damage to the kidneys and liver resulting in clinical signs of lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain, and signs of injury to the kidneys which can involve drinking large amounts or producing very little urine. Later on in the disease you can also see signs related to liver damage, including jaundice where the gums and whites of the dog’s eyes may appear slightly yellow in colour. Leptospirosis is transmitted primarily through the urine and is mainly found in water sources where there are large number of rats nearby, as rats carry the disease but do not show signs of illness with it. Leptospirosis can be treated with antibiotics, as it is caused by a bacteria, however the consequences of the infection, such as injury to the kidneys, also need intensive treatment as these can be life-threatening in their own right. Treatment of leptospirosis is even more difficult because extra precautions need to be taken to prevent the veterinarians, nurses, and owners from becoming infected by the dog.
Conclusion
As you can see based on the list of the core vaccines, these are all vaccines against life-threatening conditions with no specific cure, and the only treatments we have for them involve supporting your dog through the clinical signs caused by these diseases. In these cases, preventing your dog from getting these diseases through vaccination is much safer for them, and much more effective than a treatment that is not able to treat the disease specifically. In the case of the non-core vaccines, it is more dependent on the disease prevalence in your local area and the recommendations of your local veterinarians.