As a child, growing up in Mexico, my Mother would take me to the doctor. I remember going often and many times hating the doctor visits because I would receive my "vacunas" or "imunizaciones" (i.e. my "vaccines" or "immunizations"). But why did I have to get so many? This question was not answered, or not made clear to my understanding, until 20-ish years later when I was a graduate student in veterinary school.
Many clients today ask me the same question about puppy vaccines. Why do they need so many? and why do they need boosters so often? The answers may sound simple, even though the science behind these answers is a bit more complicated. The simple answer is this: A puppy's immune system, which fights infections, is very new and weak. We inject vaccines to stimulate the immune system, in each individual puppy, to produce antibodies that will protect them from certain infections in the future. Further, booster vaccines serve to re-stimulate the immune system to have a stronger and longer-lasting immune response to those specific infections in the future.
Therefore, vaccine and booster schedules function to protect and prevent infections. In most cases, the vaccines we use will help prevent severe diseases that may cause death in puppies if they are not otherwise properly vaccinated, such as: Parvoviral enteritis, distemper disease, pneumonia and rabies. At Dr. Sam Pet Hospital we have made the commitment to tailor vaccine protocols to individual patients to protect them according to their own needs and lifestyles. Moreover, puppies are vaccinated for the diseases most commonly encountered in their environment and only as often as it is needed. So, when you receive that reminder in the mail, or when you realize your puppy is due for vaccines, take action and get your puppy vaccinated as soon as possible. It will make a difference in their health.
