Our dogs need us to care for them. This care includes vaccinations, proper food, and exercise. The article is going to talk about the vaccinations dogs are usually given. In some cases with new dog owners or owners that have listened to vets we don't really know what the vaccinations are that are required or given throughout their lives. It is important to know what each vaccination is supposed to do and whether your dog really needs it. Most of the time we just listen to the vet, but there is some evidence that over vaccinating your dog can be more harmful. You may also find that there are certain schedules your vet keeps your dog on. Below you will find a list of some of the common vaccinations to make sure your dog is getting what they need and not being overly vaccinated.

The first vaccination that is usually given to our dogs is the distemper. The distemper shot prevents a fatal disease that often shows signs of respiratory distress before causing seizures and death. The disease is also called distemper and it is a virus that will affect the dog. The fact is distemper can continue to reappear, which makes it important that your dog receive a shot through various stages in their lives to prevent the disease. Often times this is disease is marked by loss of appetite, discharge in the eyes and nose, vomiting, fever, lethargy, and paralysis of the limbs before death sets in.

Kennel Cough viruses are another type of disease you need to have vaccinated. This type of disease affects the bronchi and trachea of the dog giving them a loud, dry cough. It is not a fatal disease to contract, so the vaccination is usually optional and the disease can be treated after infection. You may consider not having this vaccination for your dog, unless you are in an area where there is a high rate of the disease as it is very infectious.

Leptospirosis is a serious disease that is usually vaccinated for on a schedule throughout the dog's life. It affects the liver and kidneys of dogs. Larger dogs are typically going to be more susceptible to the disease so you will have an option of not including it in their regiment of vaccinations. It is also a very uncommon disease. When the vaccination is given it is usually in combination with other vaccines.

Parvovirus causes serious dehydration, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. It can result in death. The virus affects the white blood cells in the dog causing a compromise in the immune system. Some breeds are more susceptible to this virus and therefore veterinarians recommend it for those breeds. Two of the most common breeds are the Doberman Pinscher and Rottweiler. Again the vaccination can be subjective for need. It is recommended that any dog breed more susceptible to the disease have the vaccination on the usual schedule supplied by the veterinarian.

Lyme Disease is another disease that most dogs are vaccinated for on a specific case. Lyme disease is more prevalent in certain areas, such as the warmer climates; therefore any dog that lives in a warm, humid climate or is traveling to one may need to have the vaccination. Lyme disease is serious arthritis and lethargy in a dog. There can be repeats of the disease once a dog has been infected. It is not fatal and usually antibiotics will help the dog get over the disease, but as a precaution certain areas were the disease is more prevalent require the vaccination.