Vaccinating our faithful four-legged friends

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association says: “All dogs should be vaccinated against diseases that are widespread, cause serious illness, and/or are highly contagious.” Thus, dogs generally receive the basic vaccines at a young age. On the other hand, some dogs may be required to receive other vaccines depending on the risks they are exposed to. However, these are individual cases. Your pet’s veterinarian will be in the best position to guide you on which vaccines your friend should receive. 

Because some canine diseases such as rabies can be fatal, vaccinating pets is a public health issue, as it is for humans. It is therefore important to keep your pets’ vaccinations up to date so that they are as well protected as possible against the most common diseases. Indeed, as with human vaccination, dog vaccination does not necessarily provide total immunity, but it does reduce the risk of exposure to certain diseases and minimize the risk of contagion. Unvaccinated dogs represent a risk for other dogs. 

Some questions to ask yourself:
1. Did your dog receive the usual series of vaccinations in the first few weeks of life? 
2. Do any vaccines require a second dose a year later? 
3. Are there any other vaccines that would be appropriate to protect your pet from further risks?

All of these issues can be discussed with your vet, who will be able to give you the information you need to ensure that your dog is as safe as possible. 

Do dogs need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus?
Again according to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, in most cases dogs are not severely affected by the coronavirus. When they are, the symptoms may include vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, not all dogs need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Only those exposed to high risks, such as at dog shows, or in shelters that may become outbreak sites, might benefit from a vaccine. 

If you have any questions about vaccination, please consult your veterinarian!