5 Tips for Deciding Whether to Vaccinate a Dog Showing Signs of Illness

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Maintaining your dog's vaccination schedule is an important way to keep them healthy. However, there may be times when your dog should postpone a vaccine or skip it altogether. One of these times is if your dog is severely ill and their immune system will not be able to work with the vaccine to build immunity. However, if your dog is only mildly or moderately ill, a vaccination may be more beneficial than harmful. 

If your dog is showing signs of illness, here are some tips to help you determine if you should get them vaccinated or not. 

Take the Dog for a Physical Examination 

Because your dog cannot tell you if they are feeling ill, it can be difficult to interpret the signs of illness. For example, a dog may vomit because they are ill or they may simply gag on something in the yard. Additionally, your dog may seem lethargic because they are bored and need more stimulation, not necessarily because they are ill. If you think your dog may be ill, rather than automatically putting off its vaccines, take your dog in for an examination. Your vet can determine if it is safe for your dog to receive vaccinations or whether they should wait. 

Find Out if Your Dog May Be Pregnant

If your dog may be pregnant, you need to weigh the risks of vaccinating her against the benefits. Just like with humans, some signs of illness can actually be signs of pregnancy, so if your dog is not spayed, you should have her checked for pregnancy. Your veterinarian will likely recommend against any live vaccinations, but if you have a history of parovirus, distemper, or hepatitis on your property, then your veterinarian may recommend an extra vaccination for your pregnant dog. 

Do Not Skip Laboratory Tests 

If your dog is showing signs of illness and not due for a vaccine, you may decide to skip laboratory tests that measure antibodies and help your veterinarian determine your dog's illness. However, if your dog is showing signs of illness and is due or past due for a vaccine, it is important that you order appropriate laboratory tests. This will help ensure that there are no unforeseen complications due to the vaccine and that your dog is adequately protected. 

Take the Dog's Age into Account 

Many older dogs can be vaccinated while they have minor diseases. For example, a skin condition in an older dog should not affect their immune system's ability to process and benefit from a vaccine. However, a very young puppy who is showing signs of illness may be at greater risk of an adverse reaction, so your veterinarian may choose to wait to vaccinate them. Similarly, a dog who is slightly immune-compromised due to old age should not be vaccinated until they are in near-perfect health, if possible. 

Consider Whether the Dog Ever Had an Adverse Reaction to a Vaccine 

If the vaccine is a booster and the dog has never had an adverse reaction to it in the past, then it is likely that they can receive the vaccination without complications even if they are slightly ill. However, if your dog has had a minor reaction to the vaccine in the past, it is important to make sure that they are in near-perfect health before giving them the vaccine again. If your dog has had a major reaction to a vaccine in the past, your veterinarian may recommend against continuing that vaccine even if your dog is in perfect health. 

Vaccinations should always be discussed with your veterinarian. Do not skip a scheduled booster without consulting your veterinarian. For more assistance or information, contact services like Marcum Road Animal Hospital. 

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18 July 2016

Talking About Pet Vaccinations

Hello, my name is Marissa. Welcome to my site about veterinarians. I decided to buy myself a puppy for the holidays. I searched my community for a breeder and picked up my puppy right away. Unfortunately, within a day, I noticed my puppy was not feeling well. The poor animal picked up a virus on the way home due to the lack of proper vaccinations. The vet was able to save my puppy and give her all the correct vaccinations. I will use this site to explore viruses and other conditions that vets prevent through precisely timed vaccination schedules. Thanks.