{"id":531,"date":"2019-09-09T14:59:44","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T19:59:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovethemtoo.com\/blog\/?p=531"},"modified":"2022-08-18T15:20:58","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T20:20:58","slug":"vaccines-101-for-dog-owners-in-des-moines-iowa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovethemtoo.com\/blog\/vaccines-101-for-dog-owners-in-des-moines-iowa\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaccines 101: For Dog Owners in Des Moines, Iowa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Vaccines should be catered to each individual pet.\u00a0 Location, lifestyle and the dog’s health are all things that should be taken into account when determining what vaccines your dog should have.\u00a0 Your Veterinarian will partner with you to create a plan to keep your pooch at his healthiest!<\/p>\n

First off, location does play a factor in what vaccines are necessary for your pet.\u00a0 There are certain diseases or bacteria that are more relevant in our area than other parts of the country and vice versa.\u00a0 \u00a0The rattlesnake vaccine is unheard of in Iowa for obvious reasons, but down south in certain areas, you may see a dog with this vaccine.\u00a0 We also have different wildlife and bugs that transmit certain diseases in our area.\u00a0 For example, have you ever found a tick on you, your pet, or someone you know? In Iowa, approximately 1 out of every 36 dogs was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2018.\u00a0 In South Carolina, it was 1 out of 84 dogs, and in Louisiana 1 out of 748. Location definitely matters.<\/p>\n

Your dog’s health also plays a factor in vaccines.\u00a0 If your pet is sick or has some sort of illness, this can play a role in whether or not timing is good for vaccines.\u00a0 Maintaining a relationship with your veterinary team is essential for this.<\/p>\n

Lastly, lifestyle plays a factor.\u00a0 Where your dog goes, what activities he partakes in, what types of animals he interacts with, all will play a factor in your pet’s needs.\u00a0 So lets break down the vaccines and talk about when and why certain vaccines are important.<\/p>\n

Rabies Vaccine:\u00a0<\/strong> When we think about Rabies, we tend to associate it with an angry dog drooling heavily like in the movie, Old Yeller<\/em>.\u00a0 While this can be an accurate representation of Rabies, there’s more that you should know.\u00a0 First off, Rabies is fatal in an unvaccinated dog.\u00a0 Always.\u00a0 Let that sink in for a moment.\u00a0 It is always fatal.\u00a0 There is no treatment, there is no way to stop it once contracted.\"\"<\/p>\n

Secondly, Rabies is zoonotic.\u00a0 This means that it can be transmitted from animals to humans, typically through a bite.\u00a0 Many types of mammals can contract Rabies, not just our companion animals.\u00a0 In Iowa, the more common wild mammals to contract Rabies are skunks, bats, raccoons\u00a0 and foxes.<\/p>\n

Distemper Combo Vaccine:\u00a0<\/strong> This is another very contagious disease and can also be fatal.\u00a0 There is no cure for distemper, only supportive care can be given once exposed.\u00a0 Puppies and dogs with compromised immune systems are most at risk for this disease.\u00a0 The combo vaccines typically protect your pooch against specific upper respiratory viruses as well as the commonly known, parvo virus.\u00a0 Parvo is spread dog to dog through feces, both directly and indirectly.\u00a0 Puppies are most at risk from this disease.\u00a0 Following a vaccine protocol provided by your veterinarian and avoiding potential high traffic dog areas for the first couple of months is important if you have a new puppy.\u00a0 Recovery from parvo can be dependent on how quickly your pup receives treatment.\u00a0 It is also very expensive to treat with no guarantee on recovery.<\/p>\n

Leptospirosis (Lepto) Vaccine:\u00a0<\/strong> While we used to consider dogs that went hunting or swimming often most at risk for leptospirosis, we \"\"are finding that dogs that only go outside in their own backyard are just as much at risk in Iowa.\u00a0 Leptospirosis is a bacteria that is spread through the infected urine of wildlife.\u00a0 Common carriers include deer, raccoons, oppossums, skunks, and other rodents that we may see in our neighborhoods.\u00a0 This can also be spread to humans.\u00a0 Many times we see an increase of Lepto after heavy rainfalls or flooding in our area.\u00a0If caught early, lepto can be treated by your Veterinarian.\u00a0 The vaccine protects against the 4 most common strains of Leptospirosis.<\/p>\n

Bordetella Vaccine:<\/strong>\u00a0 Bordetella, commonly known as kennel cough, is a high contagious respiratory infection spread from dog to dog. Symptoms include coughing, hacking, gagging and lethargy.\u00a0 If your dog interacts with other dogs or visits high dog traffic areas on a regular basis he\/she should have this vaccinate.\u00a0 If you take your pooch to the following places in Des Moines on a regular basis, he\/she should be vaccinated:<\/p>\n