August is National Immunization Month! Vaccines are important not only for us humans, but also for our pets! Since we’re also in the midst of the Dog Days of Summer, we wanted to provide you some important information about vaccines for our canine friends.
For dogs, there are a number of vaccines available that help protect our pups from illness and disease, and they are very important for ensuring a long, healthy life. Vaccines work by introducing a weakened or inactive form of a virus or bacteria, which stimulates the immune system to recognize the disease-causing organism and be able to fight it off before it causes infection.
There are two main groups of vaccines for dogs – core vaccines, and optional or risk-based vaccines.
For dogs in Minnesota, the core vaccines are Rabies, Distemper combination/ DAPP – (covers for distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, and parvovirus), and Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis was more recently added as a core vaccine due to increased prevalence – Leptospirosis is a bacteria spread by the urine of wild animals like raccoons, rodents, and skunks – all of which are very common in Minnesota.
The risk-based vaccines in Minnesota are Bordetella, Canine Influenza, and Lyme Disease. Bordetella and Influenza are recommended for dogs that have lots of contact with other dogs, such as dog parks, boarding, daycare, or grooming. Lyme Disease vaccination is recommended for many dogs in Minnesota due high prevalence of ticks in Minnesota, but especially for dogs that spend a lot of time hunting, hiking, or exploring in the woods.
Just like people, vaccine schedules vary for our pets based on their age, how many boosters they’ve had previously, and how long each vaccine has been proven to provide protection.
Do you have questions about what vaccines your dog needs or how to keep your pet protected? Reach out to your veterinarian to learn more!
Enjoy these last weeks of summer! We hope to meet your pet soon. Waconia Veterinary Clinic offers a wide range of veterinary services. These include preventative pet wellness and vaccination programs, diagnostic services, treatment of health conditions, routine and advanced surgical procedures and dentistry.
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