Immunization, also called vaccination, is considered one of the widely discussed issues in pet health care. Vaccines may protect your dog from several ailments, some of which could be fatal. They are also prescribed by your veterinarian during a regular wellness appointment.
The dispute over pet vaccines seems to represent the conflict over vaccines in human medicine. But the fact is, vaccines are a vital part of your dog’s overall wellbeing. What is to be done by the dog owner concerned?
Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate
Are you going to have your dog vaccinated or not? The query itself is part of the dilemma here. Rather than deciding between providing vaccines and skipping vaccines, it is wiser to think about how your dog is being vaccinated. It is not an advisable idea to skip vaccines entirely. Vaccines also do protect against disease. Unvaccinated pets are at a much higher risk of developing and transmitting deadly diseases. Conditions that are now considered uncommon can once again become common. To put it simply, not vaccinating your dog is usually bad for your dog AND for the canine community.
Vaccines Have Risks
While veterinary surgeons emphasize that vaccines are generally safe for dogs, they know that vaccines are not without risk. According to AHAA (American Health Hospital Association), “All canine vaccinations are generally very effective and only a small percentage of vaccinated dogs, regardless of the form of a vaccine, experience serious adverse reactions.” If you want to take steps to minimize the possibility of injuries for your dog, there are a few things you can do.
- Choose a veterinarian who meets existing vaccination recommendations and pays attention to the types of vaccines used. Healthy vets select the best, most effective vaccine available. That’s why buying the vaccine at home is not a smart idea. Your vet has the experience and resources to find the best available vaccine, not the cheapest. If you are looking for vet surgery places, exotic pet care or vaccinations in Greensboro, you can click here to know more about it.
- If your dog has already responded to vaccines, your vet will prescribe antihistamine and probably steroid pre-treatment. This makes the reaction less severe (if the dog even reacts at all). Of course, it is also a good idea to watch your dog closely for the first 12 hours after the vaccine has been given (even longer if you are concerned).
- If you are worried about your immune system stress, you can want to stagger your dog’s vaccinations. This ensures that your vet will be given one vaccine at a time, then waiting three or more weeks until the next type of vaccine is given.
- If you want natural options to help your dog’s immune system after vaccination, you can prefer a holistic/homeopathic vet. But, this does not mean that missing the vaccines are suggested. An excellent veterinarian will help you select the most natural choices for your dog while minimizing the possibility of an outbreak of the disease in your dog and the canine community.
Conclusion
When in doubt, do your research, but don’t forget to take what you learn with a grain of salt. There are a lot of websites there with inaccurate information published by untrained, uneducated people. If you see stories of “horrible vaccine hazards” and so-called “vaccine myths” that are not backed up by empirical facts, you should probably avoid this website. Instead, seek the advice of a trustworthy veterinarian, and keep the lines of communication open.
