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Standard Poodles - Immunizations
The Importance of Immunizations Immunizations are very important in helping to prevent several highly contagious, frequently fatal diseases that can be contracted by your Standard Poodle. Annual veterinary visits and regular vaccinations should prevent you from every having to deal with any of these diseases. These puppy shots are also called “five in one” or DHLP-P vaccinations because they are a combination vaccine that will immunize against five very common but potentially deadly diseases. Distemper Distemper generally affects puppies rather than adult dogs. During their first six weeks of life, the puppies are supposedly protected from it from the colostrums in the mother’s milk. They should be immunized at four to six week with regular boosters after that. The first symptoms resemble that of a cold, which later can progress into nervous disorders. There is no cure for distemper, which means only being able to treat the symptoms and the other infections that may occur. Infectious Hepatitis Infectious Hepatitis affects the dog’s liver. It is a viral disease and is transmitted through saliva and urine. It is not the same as human hepatitis. The first symptoms are generally a high fever, thirst, sore throat, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. It is a fast progressing disease, especially in puppies and the death rate is high. If the vaccine is renewed annually, it provides almost complete protection. Even after the dog is recovered from the disease, it can still spread the virus in its urine, saliva and nasal discharge for months. Leptospirosis Leptospirosis can be contracted by humans as well as dogs and other animals and is a bacterial disease that is extremely contagious. The symptoms generally include dark colored urine, fever and chills, vomiting, stiffness in the hindquarters and abdominal pain. Parainfluenza One of the contributors to "Kennel Cough" is the viral disease Canine parainfluenza. There are other diseases that can cause Kennel Cough as well, such as the bacterial disorder "Bordatella Bronchiseptica". A separate vaccination can be given against it. All forms of Kennel Cough are very contagious and can be transmitted by nose to nose contact. Sharing of dishes between dogs can cause a healthy dog to become infected. Parvo Virus The final part of the DHLP-P combination is a vaccine for Canine Parvovirus. Parvo is a fairly new disease, first occuring in 1978. It is a very contagious viral disease contracted from contact with an infected dogs feces or vomit. Rabies Rabies is a virus disease transmitted by the saliva of various animals including horses, wolves, squirrels, and raccoons, among others. Rabies affects the nervous system, which can cause one of two different types of reactions. One reaction causes the dog to seem to go “mad” and the other causes the dog to appear “dumb” or in a state of shock. The symptoms of rabies may not show up for several weeks or months. Unfortunately, there is no cure for rabies and the animal must be put down. If there is doubt as to whether the dog is rabid or not, the dog may be isolated and watched for 10 to 14 days. If the animal is rabid it will ultimately die during this time. You should have your Standard Poodle vaccinated for rabies when it is between five to six months old, with a booster given every one to four years, depending on which type of vaccine was used. Adverse Reactions to Immunizations Ultimately, vaccinations are an important part of your dog’s life to protect it from any life-threatening diseases. Sometimes though, some dogs can have an adverse reaction to the vaccinations, which can cause a condition called Auto Immune Vaccinosis. This is a condition in which the body has been given so much poison by the vaccines that the body starts to reject one of its own organs. Usually this happens when the vaccinations are given in the incorrect dosage for the dog’s size. Smaller dogs are more likely to be at risk for this condition than larger dogs. If you feel that you would rather not give your Standard Poodle vaccinations or continue with annual vaccinations, please discuss it with your vet. You may find that your vet is agreeable to the request. Some jurisdictions require that you keep your dog vaccinated, so you may want to check with them. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to at least take your dog in for an annual checkup each year to keep it happy and healthy! For more information on the effects of immunizations in pets, check on the link below:
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