Don’t take a chance with your dog’s life. Vaccination is vital.The health of your dog should be taken seriously because canine infectious diseases have the ability to kill. There’s more to looking after your beloved dog than just food and water. All dogs need someone to look out for their ongoing healthcare needs.

A preventative healthcare programme incorporates regular health assessments which will help keep your dog in good health. By preventing infectious diseases and detecting and treating other conditions, you can improve your dog’s quality of life. All dogs should be vaccinated against serious infectious diseases.

Exactly what is vaccination? Vaccinating protects your dog against serious infectious diseases that can kill.

Vaccines are made using organisms that stimulate the animal’s immune system. When the immune system is

stimulated through vaccination, there is an increase in antibodies

that protect your dog against illness. These antibodies will start working rapidly when your dog is exposed to the specific disease it has been vaccinated against.

Immunity means there is almost no risk of falling ill

when your dog comes in contact with the infectious organism.

Immunity may come about as a result of regular vaccination or

having suffered the disease and survived.

Early socialisation of puppiesEarly socialisation is absolutely vital to ensure a balanced and well-behaved adult dog — current statistics show that more young adult dogs are put down because of behavioural problems than die from the diseases we vaccinate against.

Vaccination is essential prior to early socialisation as this means puppies can play with other dogs without the fear of disease. The goal of early socialisation is a well-mannered dog. From about three weeks of age, puppies will approach anything or anybody willingly and without fear; by the time they reach 12 weeks anything new will be approached with caution. Therefore, the critical time for getting a puppy used to its environment is between 3 - 12 weeks of age.

Nobivac® can protect your puppy from as early as 11 weeks of age. This allows the most effective opportunity for early socialisation. Talk to your local veterinarian about a Nobivac vaccination programme and the benefits of early socialisation.

Your dog is uniqueYour veterinarian will discuss and prescribe a vaccination programme for your pet based on a series of risk factors including:

travel plans

kennel/boarding plans

social contact with other dogs

pre-existing infections or disease

local prevalence of disease

age

breed

Starting your puppy off on the right pawDuring the first day or two of life, puppies usually receive some immunity (antibodies) from their mother through the first milk (colostrum).

This ‘natural’ immunity from the mother allows the puppy to resist disease, but can also stop vaccinations from working until the puppies are 6 - 10 weeks of age. The antibodies then decrease to a point where vaccination will be effective. Vaccination minimises the period a puppy may be unprotected. This is why two or more doses may be required. It is extremely important that puppies complete their full vaccination course so they are protected against disease.

ParVoVIruSLocation: Widespread throughout New Zealand.

Symptoms: Depression, severe vomiting, refusal of food and water, abdominal pain and profuse smelly, bloody diarrhoea, rapid and severe dehydration leading to death. Signs appear quickly (4 -7 days).

Worst-case scenario: Severe disease, usually fatal.

DIStEmPErLocation: No significant outbreaks in New Zealand at present.

Symptoms: The first signs are coughing and a discharge from the eyes and nose. There may also be vomiting and diarrhoea, loss of appetite and lethargy. After several weeks, nervous signs such as twitching or fits may occur.

Worst-case scenario: Severe disease, usually fatal.

InfEctIouS canInE HEPatItISLocation: Uncommon in New Zealand, but still exists.

Symptoms: Early signs include discomfort and lack of appetite, very high temperature, pale gums, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Jaundice or Blue Eye — a clouding of the cornea of the eye — may develop later on.

Worst-case scenario: Severe disease, potentially fatal.

LEPtoSPIroSISLocation: Most common in the central and northern parts of the North Island.

Symptoms: The liver and kidneys are the main organs affected. Signs include a high temperature, severe thirst, lethargy, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and jaundice.

Worst-case scenario: If not treated early, Leptospirosis in dogs is usually fatal. Can be transmitted to humans, where it can cause a serious illness called Weil’s Disease.

canInE cougHLocation: Widespread in New Zealand, particularly among dogs exposed to high risk environments such as boarding kennels and dog shows.

Symptoms: The usual sign is a persistent dry cough. Retching, mild lethargy, loss of appetite and a raised temperature may also be observed. Occasionally the disease progresses to pneumonia. Recovery may take several weeks.

Worst-case scenario: Extremely unpleasant but rarely life-threatening (except in the old or very young); however, Canine Cough has a severe impact on working and competitive dogs.

Why vaccinate at all?It’s worth remembering that many of the diseases we vaccinate our pets against are often fatal. Whereas a child with mumps will almost certainly get better, an unvaccinated dog that contracts parvovirus, for example, can easily die. Only vaccination can prevent these diseases.

When should a dog be vaccinated?Your local veterinarian is the best person to advise you about your dog’s vaccination and health requirements. Vaccination programmes may vary depending on geographical area, the age, health and lifestyle of your dog and the vaccines used. Puppy vaccination programmes can be started as early as six weeks of age and completed as early as 10 weeks of age. After that age, regular ‘booster’ vaccinations are required.

What are booster vaccinations?Annual boosters are still necessary against some diseases. Each year, at your annual visit, your veterinarian will administer only those vaccines needed to maintain protection. Your veterinarian’s primary objective is to use the minimum number of vaccine components while at the same time maintaining the optimum protection for your dog.

Booster vaccinations remind the immune system how to respond if it should meet a life-threatening disease. These should be given regularly throughout the dog’s lifetime to maintain protection against disease. The recommended frequency will depend on the health and lifestyle of your pet.

Important infectious diseases of dogs in new Zealand:

Healthy dog checks regular Health assessments

A regular health assessment (or ‘check-up’) every 6 - 12 months is highly recommended, as it gives you the chance to talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s health.

It is important to remember your dog ages a lot quicker than you do — so frequent check-ups are important.

A check-up will help identify existing health problems as well as potential future problems. This will allow appropriate action to be taken ahead of time. Only healthy dogs should be vaccinated, so your veterinarian will assess your dog’s suitability for vaccination as part of this regular process.

remember: all dogs need regular vaccination for continued protection against serious infectious diseases.

after VaccinationGenerally pets show very little or no reaction to vaccination. Occasionally they may become a little ‘off-colour’, or have some swelling or tenderness at the vaccination site.

Dogs rarely have allergic reactions when vaccinated.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s reaction following vaccination, call your veterinarian.

The risk of catching serious infectious diseases if unvaccinated far outweighs any risk from vaccination.

All dogs should receive distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis vaccinations regularly to maintain protection. Leptospirosis and Canine Cough vaccination may be recommended when dogs are likely to be at risk.

Your veterinarian will prescribe the Nobivac range of vaccines to protect the health of your dog.

The Woof! Book for dogs is a publication made available by MSD Animal Health/Nobivac aimed at giving dog owners practical advice about vaccination and healthcare.

It also includes a table for recording worm and flea treatments plus a page where you can note important milestones in your dog’s life.

You can get your copy of The Woof! Book free from any veterinarian who prescribes the Nobivac vaccine range. Be sure to bring it with you to every appointment with your veterinarian!

Nobivac® DHPPi, Nobivac® DHP, Nobivac® Parvo-C, Nobivac® KC, Nobivac® Lepto I, Nobivac® Puppy DP.

AvAilAble only under veterinAry AuthorisAtion. ®Registered trademark.

www.msd-animal-health.co.nz Phone 0800 800 543. NBV-206-2013

Why wait to protect your pet?

Vaccinate now.