Vaccinating puppies is very important since it prevents many unwanted illnesses. Some people may deem it unnecessary since they maintain cleanliness in their home or feed the puppies healthy meals. Yes, these are good practices when raising a puppy, but remember that vaccines help develop the puppy’s immune system. In this blog, we will learn the importance of vaccinating puppies and what vaccines are usually given to them.
What is a vaccine?
Before everything else, let’s first learn what exactly is a vaccine. A vaccine is either killed or alters organisms of diseases inserted into the body. This can trigger the body’s immune system and help them develop antigens that can help fight this disease without contracting it. This is very helpful because when the puppy contracts the disease, it already has the antigens to fight it causing the symptoms to be less severe.
Why is vaccination necessary for puppies?
There are a number of reasons why vaccines are necessary. Here are three examples.
- Helps develop the puppy’s immune system
- A vaccine's most critical function is to help stimulate the immune system. When a puppy is vaccinated, its immune system reacts. Exposing their body to a less deadly version of a disease can help them develop immunity. Immunity also has memory, so when their body is exposed to the actual disease, their body can quickly respond and defeat this disease. This is the reason why some puppies get weak after their vaccines, this is not something to worry about, it is just their immune system doing their job.
- Helps prevent future diseases and save money.
- As stated above, immunity has memory, so getting your puppy vaccinated, can help prevent future diseases. You may think that getting your puppy vaccinated is costly. However, it helps you save more in the long run. Once your puppy is vaccinated, it can help prevent future diseases that can cost you a fortune to treat. It’s better to develop immunity when they are still young than to suffer from something possibly deadly in the future.
- It can protect you and your family.
- Some diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animal to person. This usually poses a threat to vulnerable members of the family like babies or the elderly. Vaccinating your pets can help minimize the risk of contracting these diseases and protect you and your family. Here are two examples of this type of disease.
Lyme disease
- It is usually transmitted to a person when he/she is bitten by black-legged ticks. This disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms of this disease could include fever, a rash called erythema migrans, headache, and fatigue.
Rabies
- It is usually transmitted to a person when he/she is bitten or scratched by an animal with this disease. It infects the person's central nervous system, causing disease in bran and ultimately death. This is a preventable disease, so most places require pets to be vaccinated with anti-rabies.
Conclusion:
Vaccinating puppies is essential as this can be beneficial to both you and your pet. It can ensure your safety and help prevent future problems that can cost you or your pet’s health. Where you’re getting your puppy vaccinated is also essential. You don’t want one of your loved ones going into the wrong hands. If you live near Buffalo City, New York, consult some of the top-rated vets in Buffalo so you can get quality care for your fur babies.
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