Dog Vaccines at Green Valley Veterinary Care
What vaccinations does my dog need and why are they important?
For vaccination needs, we call it a Distemper-Lepto vaccine, which is a combination of vaccines against distemper, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis. That is considered one of our core vaccines, and this is a vaccine that we administer to prevent deadly diseases. Kennel cough vaccines for Bordetella are for dogs that are at risk for being exposed to kennel cough, so that is dogs going to the grooming parlor, dogs going boarding, dogs going on vacations, dogs going to dog parks—they need a Bordetella. And then rabies vaccines are needed for all dogs.
Are vaccines for dogs really safe?
Vaccinations for dogs are absolutely safe. If anything, sometimes they can get a mild vaccine reaction from the vaccine itself, but they are extraordinarily safe and we recommend vaccinating your dog so they don't get deadly diseases. So in terms of risks versus benefits, vaccines are very safe, and we recommend vaccinating your dog.
At what age should my puppy receive its first vaccinations?
When talking about a puppy vaccination schedule, it can start at anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. We typically start a puppy vaccine at 8 weeks and then vaccinate every 3 weeks until we're done with the vaccine series.
How often will my dog need booster shots?
Some vaccines are boostered every 3 years; some are vaccinated every year. It depends on the vaccine itself and your animal's needs.
What are the symptoms of an adverse reaction to a vaccine for my dog?
For dogs, they can get facial swelling and hives. They can be little areas where their fur stands up, and they can kind of be hard to see. So most owners will see the patient's muzzle or lips starting to swell a little bit first, or maybe the ears will become hot and swollen. Then that is a vaccine reaction, and it can be accompanied with vomiting and diarrhea. A mild reaction, which is not adverse but to be expected, is being sore at the injection site, maybe being a little bit warm to the touch, and feeling tired after a vaccine—the same things that happen to us.
Will my dog be sick after their vaccination?
We do not expect your dog to be sick after a vaccine, but as we discussed, maybe they could be a little warm to the touch, feel a little bit off. And if you're concerned that your dog did not feel well after vaccines or your puppy after vaccination, give us a call the next day so we can talk to you and make sure that everything's going okay.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (937) 358-8142, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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