Puppies are a lot of work and responsibility. One of those responsibilities you have within the first year of your puppy’s life is to make sure he gets all of the vaccinations he needs as outlined by veterinarians.

You will likely find yourself heading to the vet more often within the first six months in particular of your puppy’s life than any other time. This is because most of the puppy’s vaccinations come early in life according to a set schedule. Following this vaccination schedule with the help of a veterinarian in D’Iberville, MS will help your puppy avoid illnesses such as:

• Canine distemper: Distemper is a type of virus that attacks the gastrointestinal, respiratory and nervous systems in dogs. Common symptoms include discharge from the eyes and nose, coughing, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, twitching, seizures and more. Severe cases can lead to death.
• Bordetella bronchiseptica: This bacteria-borne illness causes the dog to experience severe episodes of coughing, vomiting and whooping, and can also lead to seizures or death.
• Corona virus: This virus can have some nasty effects on your dog’s gastrointestinal system and is also capable of causing some severe respiratory infections. The most common signs of the corona virus include most gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.), loss of appetite and more. There is no drug that kills the corona virus, so prevention through vaccination is extremely important.
• Heartworm: When the puppy is between 12 and 16 weeks old, you should begin talking to your veterinarian about starting its heartworm prevention treatment. While there is no heartworm vaccination, there are regular medications that help to prevent it. Heartworm literally features small worms that lodge in the dog’s heart, which can ultimately travel throughout the rest of the body. These worms can become extremely long and severely injure organs. Preventative action is extremely important to keep dogs from suffering greatly.
• Kennel cough: The scientific name for kennel cough is infectious tracheobronchitis. It is caused by inflammation of the upper respiratory system, which results from infections caused by viruses or bacteria. While the disease is typically mild, it can occasionally become severe enough were it goes beyond minor coughing and results in gagging, retching, loss of appetite and, potentially, death. The disease is highly contagious and spreads quickly in areas where many dogs are kept close together, hence the colloquial name “kennel cough.”
• Rabies: Rabies is an extremely serious condition. It is a virus that essentially invades the nervous system, which leads to severe headaches, anxiety, drooling, hallucinations, fear of water, paralysis and, ultimately, death. Treatment must occur within hours to avoid death, but the best treatment is prevention in the form of rabies vaccines. You are likely required by law to have your dog vaccinated for rabies.

These are just a few of the most common conditions you can help your new puppy avoid by following a rigorous vaccination schedule as laid out by your veterinarian in D’Iberville, MS. Contact D’Iberville Veterinary Hospital for more information.