Compulsory vaccination for dogs serves as a shield, shielding your beloved pet from highly contagious, untreatable, or potentially lethal illnesses. These diseases come with a lot of stress and suffering.Â
Many pet owners worry about the expense of vaccines and the recurring need for boosters but what they fail to understand is that - adhering to mandatory dog vaccinations in a timely manner proves far more economical than treating any of the diseases they prevent.
The sole method to safeguard your puppy or dog's well-being involves sticking diligently to a proper vaccination timetable. Missing a vaccination or booster should be avoided at all costs.Â
Some vaccines that puppies and dogs must receive in India are:
Puppy DP/DHPPiL
Anti-rabies Vaccine (ARV)
Kennel Cough Vaccine
Puppy DP and DHPPiL Vaccines
Between 6 to 8 weeks of age, every puppy should receive the Puppy DP vaccine, offering defense against two viral infections in dogs: canine distemper and canine parvovirus. This vaccine becomes crucial as, around 6 weeks old, puppies start losing the maternal antibodies acquired from their mother's milk, leaving them vulnerable to diseases.Â
Two weeks post the Puppy DP shot, the DHPPiL vaccine is administered. Puppies tend to lose antibodies rapidly, including those from vaccinations due to the presence of maternal antibodies. Therefore, it's crucial to maintain a vaccination schedule every 2 to 4 weeks until approximately 20 weeks of age, safeguarding them against Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Leptospirosis (DHPPiL). Once the final dose of DHPPiL is given, a booster vaccination after one year is imperative to ensure continued protection.
Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) for Your Puppy and Dog: Crucial Protection
Despite seeming remote, rabies affects thousands of dogs annually, and tragically, there's no cure for this disease. We often assume our dogs are safe from rabies unless they're bitten by a feral animal. However, rabies spreads not just through bites but also via contact between the infected animal's saliva and the recipient's bloodstream. Even if an infected animal licks a small wound, the virus can transmit.
Taking such risks is unwarranted, especially given the absence of post-bite rabies prevention methods. For rabies, vaccination stands as the sole prevention method.
Ensure your pet receives the rabies vaccine by the time they reach 90 days old. If they were vaccinated against rabies before 45 days of age, a booster shot is necessary once they hit the 90-day mark.
Kennel Cough VaccineÂ
Dogs and puppies frequently encounter kennel cough, especially during visits to boarding facilities and dog parks. The name of​ this vaccine suggests its easy spread in kennels.Â
This bacterial infection is highly common in shelters or any location housing multiple dogs.
Symptoms include a distinct "honking" cough, runny nose, lethargy, loss of appetite, sneezing, and sometimes a mild fever. Although treatable, it can lead to severe respiratory distress, particularly in flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds.
The wisest choice is to shield your pup from kennel cough through a single vaccination. This yearly vaccine effectively protects all dogs against Bordetella (kennel cough) infection.
In conclusion, we would like​​ to emphasize that vaccination is extremely important for the well-being of your pets and you must take ​​it seriously and not neglect it.Â
Is your dog ready for boarding? Before boarding your dog make sure to watch this video to know all about dog vaccination schedule: