3 Important Optional Vaccines For Your Dog
There are lots of mandatory vaccines for your dog. There are also lots of optional vaccinations for your dog that depend upon where you live and your dog's social life. Canine Cough, Leptospirosis, and Lyme disease are a few important "optional" vaccinations that you should discuss with your vet to see if your dog could benefit from these vaccinations.
#1 Canine Cough
If your dog spends a lot of time around other dogs, canine cough is a smart vaccination to give your dog. Any dog that visits dog parks, goes to dog training classes, attends dog shows, goes to the pet store, visits the groomer or is boarded or attends doggy daycare should get vaccinated against the canine cough.
Canine cough is also often referred to as kennel cough, but its scientific name is canine infectious tracheobronchitis. It is really contagious and can easily be spread from one dog to another through direct contact, contaminated surfaces, and through the air.
Canine cough can make your dog lethargic and cause them to lose their appetite. It can give them a runny nose and a strong cough as well as a fever. It can be treated, but it can be tough for your dog to go through and can be really serious for both young and old dogs without fully developed immune systems. You can protect your dog from canine cough with an optional vaccination.
#2 Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a disease that is caused by a bacteria that is carried around by wildlife. If you live in an area with lots of standing water from sources such as drainage ditches, ponds, swamps and streams, your dog is at risk of picking up Leptospirosis from the water. If you live in an urban area where there are a lot of rodents around, your dog is also at risk of picking up Leptospirosis.
Whether or not your dog should be vaccinated against Leptospirosis depends upon where you live. Your vet could advise you if there have been cases of Leptospirosis in your area and if your dog should be vaccinated against it.
Leptospirosis spread throughout your dog's blood stream and can damage all of your dog's major systems, such as their liver, kidney, reproductive system, eyes and nervous system. It has serious consequences and can be fatal.
#3 Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is concentrated in certain areas of the country. It is more often found in areas such as the Northeast, Pacific Northwest and the Upper Midwest. Check with your vet and see if any cases of Lyme disease have been found in your area.
Lyme disease is spread by infected ticks that carry the disease. The tough thing about Lyme disease is that your dog can get the infection from a tick bite but not show symptoms for months.
When your dog does finally show symptoms, the situation can be very serious. Lyme disease can cause your dog to develop a fever and achy joints. Over time, it can neurological systems and your dog's heart.
You can protect your dog from Lyme disease with a simple vaccination that will protect your dog.