Do you know the difference between core vaccines and non-core vaccines for your dog? You may be surprised at how important vaccines are for dogs. According to the ASPCA, core vaccines are considered vital to all dogs based on these components: risk of exposure, severity of disease, or transmissibility to humans. The Task Force considers these vaccines as core vaccines: canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, and rabies.
Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leptospira bacteria. Your vet will tell you if these vaccines are an option for your dog and whether they need them.
Vaccines, as they are for humans, are vital to dog health. They help prepare the body’s immune system to fight the invasion of disease-causing organisms. Not every dog needs to be vaccinated against every disease, so it’s important to have a discussion with your vet about which vaccines your dog will be receiving and which ones they won’t be receiving. Factors that determine whether or not your dog will receive a certain vaccine include age, medical history, environment, travel habits, and lifestyle.
If your pet is in need of care, Dunloggin Veterinary Hospital is more than happy to help. You can call our office at 410-465-6218.
Visit us online at: http://dunlogginveterinaryhospital.vetstreet.com/