Are You Protecting Your Golden Retriever?

One of the central elements of dog ownership is vaccination and your Golden Retriever should be properly protected against certain diseases at certain times. This is to help safeguard him and other animals he may come in to contact with. The following is a clarification of vaccinations and why they should be given.

Your veterinarian will most likely recommend a series of three sets of vaccinations when you get a Golden Retriever puppy. The first vaccine will be at eight weeks of age and the remainder given at four week intervals. The first vaccination will be referred to as distemper, usually a combination injection that will protect your dog against the following diseases

Distemper

Also known as called canine distemper, a highly infectious disease mostly affecting young dogs. It is caused by an unidentified virus and characterized by coughing, lethargy, fever, catarrh, diarrhea and vomiting. Golden Retrievers of all ages can be afflicted by it, but mostly unvaccinated puppies. Distemper is fatal in half of the occurrences.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is characterized by jaundice, fever, liver enlargement, and abdominal pain and affects the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and the lining of blood vessels. The outcome of the disease varies, but most often it is fatal in young puppies.

Parainfluenza

Is a respiratory infection caused by a virus and it is quite mild in comparison with other infectious diseases. Symptoms include sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and coughing.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease of dogs and can be defined by fever, muscle pain, and jaundice. The liver and kidney can be affected in severe cases. The symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Usually the leptospirosis component is not a part the initial injection and will be included the next time the combination injection is due. Some dogs are allergic to the leptospirosis vaccine, but your vet will guide you on this point.

Coronavirus

Symptoms that indicate the disease Coronavirus include loss of appetite, orange or yellow diarrhea, lethargy, and fever. It causes inflammation of the intestines and the disease most often affects puppies. Prognosis is usually good.

If your Golden Retriever is liable to be mixing with other dogs then it is important that he is vaccinated for Bordetella Bronchiseptica. This is usually at the second visit or at 12 weeks of age. Most often referred to as Kennel Cough, Bordetella Bronchiseptica is extremely infectious and is usually transmitted in areas where many dogs are together such as obedience classes, boarding facilities, and dog parks. Infection usually becomes apparent when you notice a dry cough. It is worth taking into account that no vaccine is 100% effective and your dog may still become ill with this disease. A booster is usually administered at the 16 week visit and thereafter annually.

One of the more serious ailments that your Golden Retriever can get is Rabies which has an adverse influence on your dog's nervous system and affects all warm blooded animals. Normally, dogs get rabies from another animal that has been infected with the disease and the symptoms include seizures, aggression, and foaming at the mouth. Your Golden Retriever can be vaccinated against Rabies at age 16 weeks and then annually, but if you suspect your Golden has rabies, you should call the vet immediately.

Some of these diseases and ailments can be pretty serious and if your Golden Retriever starts to show any symptoms you shouldn't hesitate to contact your vet and set up an appointment. Most can be treated if you catch them in time.

By properly vaccinating your dog, you are helping to ensure both his safety and the safety of other pets and humans.

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