VACCINATIONS - WHEN AND WHY
By Dr Jessica Hubbard

Canine Vaccinations
In dogs, the primary diseases that are routinely vaccinated against are:
1. Parvovirus: causes potentially fatal diarrhoea, especially in pups and dogs under 2 years.
2. Distemper: causes coughing, diarrhoea and sometimes twitching, seizures, loss of balance, blindness.
3. Hepatitis: causes vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and possibly even liver failure.
The vaccination against these three diseases is called a C3. Further protection against the components of Canine Cough is also available:
4. Parainfluenza: the viral component of Canine Cough (C3 and parainfluenza is a C4)
5. Bordatella bronchiseptica : bacterial component of the cough ( C4 and B. bronchiseptica is C5)
A C5 vaccination is the minimum requirement for most boarding kennels and is recommended for dogs mixing frequently with large numbers of dogs (eg Obedience training).



Vaccination Program
 

Do vaccinations guarantee that my pet will not sick?
Vaccinations cannot stop an animal from becoming infected by a virus, but they do reduce the chance and severity of infections and make recovery quicker. This is the reason that dogs may still pick up Canine Cough, even when vaccinated with a C5, or why cats can get the flu even when fully vaccinated. The benefits are that they are generally less unwell than an unvaccinated animal, and more resistant to the development of disease.