Protecting Your best friend is one of the most vital things you can do to give your dog a long and healthy life, be sure that he or she is vaccinated against common canine diseases. Your dog's mother gave her puppy the immunity he or she needed from the disease for the first few weeks of their life by providing disease-fighting antibodies in her milk. After that period in your puppy's life, the care is yours with the help and advice of Dr. Klima and the staff and Klima Small Animal Clinic.

The immunity that your puppy has at birth begins to weaken somewhere between 6 and 12 weeks of age. This is the time to begin the initial vaccinations, which will be repeated once a month until the puppy is 4 months old. After which, your dog will require repeat vaccinations for continual protection  for the remainder of his or her life. If there is too long of an interval between the first vaccination and the booster, your dog may have to repeat the entire series all over again for adequate protection.

Canine Distemper: Vaccinating against this often fatal disease is absolutely one of the most important health care vaccinations you can give your pet. It is spread by discharges from the nose and eyes of infected dogs. The symptoms can include listlessness, fever, coughing, diarrhea and vomiting; convulsions and paralysis may occur in the disease's final stages. Distemper attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which may be permanently damaged, even if the dog should recover.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis: This disease is caused by Canine Adenovirus Type I. this disease is transmitted among dogs by contact with secretions, such as saliva, infected urine or feces. Its symptoms appear similar to those found in the early stage of distemper. This disease can range from mild to fatal causing liver failure, eye damage and breathing problems. Vaccination remains the best defense.

Canine Parvovirus: This is a very contagious and devastating disease and is widespread. It is caused by a virus which emerged in many parts of the world in 1978. It is spread through infected feces and is highly resistant and can remain in the environment for many months. Symptoms include high fever, listlessness, vomiting and diarrhea. Vaccination is the only certain method for the prevention of this potentially fatal disease, which is most severe in young pups and elderly dogs.

Canine Tracheobronchitis(Canine Cough): This respiratory-tract infection is easily transmitted from one dog to another, so vaccination is imperative if your pet will come in contact with other dogs. It is caused by various airborne bacteria and viruses, including Canine Parainfluenza virus, Canine Adenovirus Type II and Bordetella Bronchiseptica.

Rabies: This is an incurable disease that affects the central nervous system of almost all mammals, including humans. It is spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals (which can include skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats) mainly through bites or any break in the skin. Vaccination will provide your pet with a much greater resistance to rabies if he or she is exposed to the disease. However, there is no cure for this disease once it has occurred. Consequently, many municipalities absolutely require that all dogs receive rabies vaccinations on a regular basis. A current rabies verification is required for dog owners if they travel with their pets within and outside of the United States.