Dog Vaccinations

Vaccinating our dog is one of the most simplest method by which we can prevent our lovely companions from suffering from hazardous diseases. There are a few disease for which there is no cure available. In such cases, taking vaccinations and thereby preventing the disease is the only alternative left.

A new born puppy receives some natural protection against various deadly diseases from their mother's milk. This protection is not permanent and loses its effect after the first few weeks. At this stage, the pup is at the peril of infection and disease. Immunity gained from mother's milk vanishes after about 6 weeks. At this time, puppies are given vaccinations so that they are able to fight off infection.

These vaccines take time to become effective, usually between 7 to 14 days. One must avoid contact with vulnerable areas during that period. Vaccinations are nothing but a very small dose of the virus or bacteria which causes a particular disease. But the quantity is so small that it is potentially harmless. But it is strong enough to stimulate the puppy's natural defense mechanisms to set up a protective screen against the disease. The body remembers this response whenever the puppy encounters virus of the same disease.

Till now, scientists have been able to develop vaccines for the following diseases:

• Canine distemper (Hard pad)
• Canine parvovirus
• Infectious canine hepatitis
• Leptospirosis
• Canine parainfluenza virus

There are a number of vaccinations available in the market but what all should be used or not depends upon a number of factors such as the place of residence, whether it is a disease prone area or not, how strong is the resistance of the dog, what are the past records, what is the genetic history of the breed and so on. The two most common and most important types of vaccines are Rabies vaccine and Distemper combination vaccine.

Rabies vaccineis a legal requirement in all countries as it can be transmitted to humans and has no cure. The first dose is given at 12/16 weeks of age. The booster dose is given the next year after which doses are administered once every two years.

Distemper combination vaccineis a combination of Distemper virus, Parvovirus, Coronavirus, Adenovirus, and Parainfluenza virus. This vaccine should be given every 3-4 weeks, beginning at 6-8 weeks of age and continuing until at least 16 weeks of age.

First Aid for Dogs

At any given time, emergency situation may arise all of a sudden. Your dog may be sick and you may not be able to reach the doc instantly, at those tiomes it is first aid given to the animal that can save or take his life. It is necessary to have a knowledge of all first aid tricks which can be used even before we are able to reach the vet. Some of the problems in which effective first aid can be given are:

• Bleeding
• Breathing Difficulties
• Burns
• Collapsing
• Convulsions/Fits
• Injuries To The Eyeball
• Shock
• Heatstroke

Bleeding

• If blood does not clot in 5 minutes, close the wound with a cloth or a cotton swab and press it slightly, so as to stop the flow of blood.
• If it does not have any effect, compress the nearby artery by using your hand.
• If the blood loss is fatal and does not stops, you can try a tourniquet, although it should be taken as a last resort.

Breathing Difficulties

Breathing difficulties can be caused due to many reasons. It can be because of obstruction of the air passage to the lungs by a foreign body or the dog's own tongue if it is unconscious, strangulation by it collar, electrocution, drowning, heart attack or chest injuries. If you do not feel heart beat but have reason to believe that the animal is not dead, apply heart massage and artificial respiration together.

Artificial respiration

• Open dog's mouth, grasp tongue and hold it outside.
• Remove any collar or restricting item.
• If the dog has drowned, hold it upside down by its rear legs for 15-30 seconds.
• If the dog is still not breathing, start artificial respiration. Close mouth, place your mouth over the dog's nose and exhale to force air through its nose to the lungs. Watch the dog's chest for the lungs to inflate. Remove your mouth, and repeat the cycle about six times a minute. You may need to carry on for 30-60 minutes, until the dog is breathing by itself or is pronounced dead.

Burns

Animals have a sharp perception to heat. Therefore, they do not get burned commonly. Burns can be of two types: Heat burns and Chemical burns.

In case of heat burn:

• Do not apply oil or any kind of cream.
• Wrap some ice in a towel, wet the towel and keep on the affected area.
• Consult a vet if the harm looks serious.
• Give your dog, some water to combat dehydration.

In case of Chemical burn:

• Wash off the affected area with plain water.
• If the burn is caused with acid, rinse with solution of 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda to 1 litre of water and wash the area. If alkali, wash off with plain water.
• Apply soothing ointment on the burn.

Convulsions/Fits

Convulsions can be divided into two types: the single convulsion which lasts for a minute or two and doesn't recur for at least 24 hours or repeated or continuous convulsions which happens after every few minutes.

In case of continuous convulsions, restrain the dog so that it doesn't injure itself by placing a towel over it. Now, take the pet to a nearby vet, immediately. While driving to the vet's clinic, inform him about the problem over the phone itself. This will save your tima as treatment will be started the moment you reach there. A;so, it will give the doctor time to make necessary arrangements as early as possible depending upon the symptoms.

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