There’s no doubt vaccinations have saved lives – human and animal alike. Yet the variety of vaccines available can be mind boggling when actually deciding which ones your dog should get. Each dog is different, and vaccine choices should be tailored as such.
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| A message to Germs… (Photo courtesy of Purr Photography) |
There are several factors that should be considered when choosing which vaccinations your dog will receive. How to best protect your pet? Rule #1 is to visit your veterinarian, regularly. Consulting with your vet will ensure you provide your dog the best protection against disease.
Not all vaccines are for all dogs. Just as your dog is at risk if he hasn’t been vaccinated against a disease he’s exposed to, over-vaccinating your pet can also present unnecessary health problems. It may seem to be a delicate balance, but if you keep a few factors in mind, you’ll provide the best protection for your pet – and peace of mind for yourself.
Lifestyle matters. Whether your dog is a champion show dog, an athletic show-off, the life of the party at the local dog park, or poster dog couch potato – different lifestyles involve different risks. Aside from the core group of vaccinations generally agreed upon as needed by all dogs, the menu of additional vaccines can be daunting, and depend much on your dog’s lifestyle. You can take a risk assessment quiz to get a general idea of which vaccines your pet may need.
Depending on where you live, your dog’s age, health status, and lifestyle, you and your vet together will be able to determine the best choice of vaccinations for your dog. Here’s a drink from the water bowl to your dog’s health!
For more information, and even some fun activities, head on over to www.mypet.com.
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Such impawtant ino…pay attention humans!
All good things in moderation … certainly applies to vaccinations too. Choose discriminately and find out how often each type of vaccine needs to be boostered; with exception of vaccines against bacteria, such as Lepto, and possibly rabies, depending on your legislation (which hopefully will get updated everywhere), there is no such thing as annual boosters.