Canine health: the importance of vaccination and the keys to its care

Just as health is important to humans, the same is true for dogs. all World Dog Day is celebrated on July 21st. A date to celebrate the unconditional love of that faithful friend of mankind. The aim of this event, among other things, is to raise awareness about the importance of providing them with a decent life. What tools are available for the healthcare of our four-legged friends?

Globally, dogs are among the most popular companion animals, present in about one in three households, and more and more families want to adopt one. Argentinawhich has the highest percentage of pet ownership (66%)is considered pet country because two out of three people have a dog, along with Mexico (64%) and Brazil (58%).

Thanks to the advancement of science, the life expectancy of dogs has doubled in the past four decades. As MSD Animal Health reports, in just 14 years, The life expectancy of American dogs has increased from 10.5 years to 11.8 years, an average of 11.4%. And this can improve despite the fact that 1 in 4 dogs are not vaccinated with regular boosters.

One of the main reasons given by teachers to justify not vaccinating them is that it is “not necessary”. This idea is problematic because it opens the door to various diseases, including zoonotic diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans.

Vaccinating them helps prevent common diseases that, if left untreated, can seriously affect a dog’s health. It is important to note that the vaccination schedule outline will depend on your vet’s criteria. Although these symptoms most often begin between 6 and 8 weeks of age.

“At a young age, one of the first vaccinations that dogs usually receive is against canine fever, which is a highly contagious disease because it is transmitted through secretions from the eyes and nose of infected dogs; therefore infection occurs through direct dog-to-dog contact. This virus is aggressive, it attacks organs, including the nervous system, which can be permanently infected even when the dog recovers,” explained MSD Animal Health.

Although the virus can survive for weeks at low temperatures, it can be easily destroyed in the environment by the use of detergents and heat, and it dies in a few minutes in hot environments.

Parvovirus is one of the most deadly infectious diseases in dogs. It attacks the intestines and some of the common symptoms that occur are vomiting, diarrhea (usually bloody), fever, and it leads to a reduced ability in dogs to fight infection. It is usually particularly dangerous in puppies and is transmitted orally. Parvovirus is a very resistant virus that can live in the environment for more than 6 months.

This is especially important because infected dogs can excrete millions of viral particles in their feces, which can lead to infection of healthy dogs through these virus-contaminated items.

Canine infectious tracheitis or “kennel cough” is a very common respiratory disease that can affect dogs. It is highly contagious and can lead to long-term illness that is annoying to both the pet and the owner.

Despite its name, only a low percentage of those infected are in foster homes or the like (there are reports of only 20%); Most cases (40%) were associated with routine social activities. The most common symptoms are a dry, harsh cough, sometimes with sputum, runny nose and eye discharge, and sneezing. As well as tachypnea (rapid breathing) and shortness of breath.

To prevent these diseases, Walter Comas, director of the Companion Animal Business Unit MSD Animal Health In the Southern District, I made key recommendations for pet care:

• Vaccination schedule is up to date.
• Deworming pets against fleas and ticks every month (there are solutions that last up to three months).
• Pet worms internally.
• Do not self-medicate pets. In case of any problem, doubt or query, go to your trusted veterinarian.

Also, another disease that can be prevented through vaccination is rabies. Preventive campaigns are carried out every year to raise awareness about this disease, which is usually fatal. It not only affects pets, but it can also affect humans. It generally attacks the central nervous system of mammals and is primarily found in the saliva and brain of infected animals.

“Currently, this disease is usually seen in vaccination plans, and even thanks to the progress of science, there are common solutions that help, in one application, to prevent this disease strategically with others. It is very important to explain that in our country dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies every year by law,” explained Walter Komas.

Fortunately, today’s pet guardians have the tools to enjoy them for much longer than they did a few decades ago. Despite the fact that the dog’s lifespan has improved, one must be aware that thanks to the care that must be taken regularly with the animal. Take good care of pets, they are happy, disease-free pets.

Read on