Does Your Dog Really Need To Be Vaccinated Against Kennel Cough?
Posted on: 23 April 2020
In this day and age, veterinarians and scientists are advocates for not over vaccinating your pets. That is to say that the old belief that pets need vaccines every single year is often no longer the recommendation. But does that mean that you should actively avoid vaccines for your pet? Absolutely not. They can protect against dangerous conditions like kennel cough that can potentially harm your pet's health and put their life at risk. Here's why your dog needs a kennel cough vaccine.
Why It Got Its Name
Kennel cough is a condition that traditionally spreads like wildfire through pet kennels when pets are unvaccinated. This is why the condition got the name that it has. Obviously, the most common symptom of it is a difficulty with breathing and a big cough, which can put your dog into a seriously anxious state on top of not feeling well.
You Don't Have To Go To a Kennel
The common misconception here is that if your dog isn't staying in a kennel that they won't be at risk for developing this condition. However, the reality is that kennel cough spreads like wildfire once a dog has it. Anywhere that your dog could potentially encounter another dog is a risk for getting kennel cough. That means that dog parks, and doggy daycare could all potentially leave your dog sick if you don't get them vaccinated. The good news is that if you do get your dog vaccinated, the likelihood of them getting this condition is almost reduced to zero, and if they do get it, their symptoms will be far less severe than if they hadn't.
What to Expect
If you've never gotten a vaccination for your dog before, there are additional vaccines that your vet will recommend to you. Listen to their advice and consider going along with it, as all the vaccinations that your dog needs will simply protect their health.
From there, your dog will be given their vaccine. This is usually done in a leg. A slender needle will be inserted into the muscle and your dog will be given a small amount of vaccine serum. That's really all there is to it. You can keep an eye on the leg to ensure that it's not looking irritated, but there's a rare likelihood of that happening. Even so, if you notice any problems with your dog's leg, contact your vet right away.
For more information on pet vaccination, be sure to talk to your vet.
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