What are
vaccinations?
Distemper
Vaccinations are a series of injections which are
given to prevent an animal from getting certain
diseases.
How do I know if my dog has distemper?
Your pet should receive its first vaccination when it
is 6-8 weeks old. The vet will tell you when you need
to bring your pet back for its next vaccination.
Distemper is a very bad disease that affects dogs.
If your dog has distemper it may have fever,
sneezing, nasal (nose) discharge, vomiting,
diarrhoea, loss of appetite (not eating) and
depression (be unhappy and lethargic).
In later stages of the disease your dog may suffer
muscle tremors, fits and paralysis (be unable to
move).
Canine Hepatitis
Canine hepatitis is a virus affecting the liver of dogs.
How do I know if my dog has canine
hepatitis?
How can it be treated?
Most dogs do not survive distemper. If your dog
survives it may have permanent brain damage.
(Parvovirus,
Leptospirosis,
Distemper,
Canine Hepatitis)
If your dog can become very sick and may die within
24 -36 hours.
How can it be treated?
Canine Hepatitis can be prevented with a simple
course of vaccinations.
Canine
Vaccinations
You should take your dog to the vet each year to
receive a vaccination against distemper.
If your dog has canine hepatitis it will suffer a loss of
appetite, fever, depression, vomiting, bloody
diarrhoea and acute abdominal pain. Your dog will
become jaundiced (gums, eyes and skin becomes
yellow).
Canine hepatitis is treated with intravenous fluids. If
your dog recovers it may have long-term problems
with its liver and kidneys.
What you
need to know
about
155 Foster Road, Walu Bay, Suva
Phone (Suva) 330 1266 or 330 4632
Phone (Nadi) 9363 977
Mobile (emergencies only) 9922 634
Email spca@kidanet.net.fj
PO Box 14216, Suva
Leptospirosis
antibiotics to stop the people and other animals
around it becoming sick.
How do I know if my dog has parvo?
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects
animals, mainly dogs, cows and rats. People can
also be infected.
How do I stop my dog getting
Leptospirosis?
If your dog has parvo it will suffer a loss of appetite,
fever, lethargy (be tired or sleepy), vomiting and
bloody diarrhoea, which causes severe dehydration,
shock and death.
There is a vaccination for adult dogs and puppies
that will prevent some forms of the disease but not
all of them. There is a small chance your dog may
still become infected after its course of vaccinations.
Its intestines will be damaged and bacteria will enter
the bloodstream, which can cause septic shock
(infection of the blood) and death.
The infection occurs when skin comes into contact
with contaminated water or the urine of an infected
animal.
Leptospirosis bacteria multiply in the blood. This
causes depression, lethargy (feeling tired or sleepy),
nausea and vomiting, anorexia (loss of appetite or
not eating), fever and joint pain.
You should also try to reduce the number of rats
around your home and drain any pools of water in
your yard.
The bacteria will then infect the kidney and/or the
liver, which stops the kidney and/or liver from
working properly.
How can it be treated?
If you think your dog is sick with parvo you need to
take it to the vet immediately. If your dog is not
treated it will die a painful death.
Your dog will need intensive care at the vet clinic,
which will include IV fluids (drip) and antibiotics. It
will take 5 – 7 days for your pet to recover.
How do I know if my pet has
leptospirosis?
How can I stop my pet getting parvo?
You will know if your pet is infected because it will
stop eating, be very thirsty and jaundiced (its gums,
eyes and skin will turn yellow).
Parvo can be completely prevented with a course of
vaccinations, which must start when the puppy is 68 weeks old.
Your dog may have bloody diarrhoea or very dark or
bloody urine.
You should keep your dog away from contaminated
areas or dogs that may be sick with the virus.
How can it be treated?
Leptospirosis can be treated by IV fluids (drip) and
specific antibiotics. If you think your dog is sick with
leptospirosis you should take your dog to the vet for
treatment immediately.
Your dog can die if it is infected with Leptospirosis
and does not get treatment as soon as it is sick.
Leptospirosis is worse in puppies and is more likely
to cause death.
If your dog survives the disease it could become a
carrier of Leptospirosis and may need to be given
Parvovirus
Your puppy needs to have all its vaccinations before
it can play with other puppies or with dogs that may
not have had their vaccinations.
Parvovirus (parvo) is a common virus that affects
the intestinal lining of dogs. It is highly contagious.
Parvo virus can be killed with bleach. Clean outside
areas with bleach before letting your puppy play on
them.
Your dog can get parvo from almost anywhere
outside but especially in areas where a dog that is
sick with parvo has been.
The virus is shed in the faeces (poo) and can easily
be spread when soil is moved around eg on the
soles of shoes.