You’ve seen that people can get flu shots, but what about your dog? Can dogs get flu shots? It turns out they can.
Dog owners who want to vaccinate their dogs against the flu can opt for annual or seasonal flu vaccines. These are given to dogs every year, and it is important that they are not done too close to the time of giving heartworm preventatives. There are several things to consider when weighing whether or not your pet should get vaccinated.
This article will break down why many people vaccinate their pets against the flu, what the risks of vaccination are, and what these risks maybe if your pet gets sick too close before getting vaccinated.
Effects Of Vaccination In Dogs
When dogs are vaccinated against the flu, they receive a small dose of the vaccine. This affects them in two ways. The first is that dogs will develop an immunity to influenza. This enables dogs to combat the influenza infection when it occurs in the future. This means that dogs that are not immunized cannot fight off infections when they occur in the future.
The second thing that happens when you vaccinate your dog against flu is that dogs develop an immune response to influenza virus particles in their body, which enables them to produce antibodies in response to influenza infection when it occurs at a later time. These antibodies can help prevent or control infections from future influenza viruses as well as other infections, such as bacterial infections and parasites.
This does not mean that dogs are immune to the flu for the entire rest of their lives, but it means that they will be able to fight off infections better than dogs who are not vaccinated.
What If Your Dog Is Sick During The Time Of Vaccination?
It is important to remember that if your dog has an infection or disease close to the time they are due for their vaccination against influenza, you should wait until they are no longer sick before giving them their vaccination. This way, your dog will be able to create antibodies more easily and fight off infections more effectively.
If your dog starts developing an infection during the six weeks between getting the flu shot and when he should be due for their next vaccination, then it might be necessary for you to give them another round of vaccination. This will depend on what type of vaccination they need. It is possible that your vet may still think it is safe for you to give them their flu vaccination, but you should always ask them first.
If your dog is sick due to an infection, then they will need their vaccination at the time that you would give them their regular annual or seasonal vaccination. This way, they will be able to create antibodies for the flu season when it begins. If you wait too long to give your dog their annual or seasonal flu vaccine, then the antibodies in their body will not be enough to fight off any infections they encounter in the future.
Things You Should Know About Canine Influenza
Canine influenza is often mild and rarely causes a problem in a dog’s quality of life. While some dogs might develop a secondary infection in their lungs, this complication is not common and has no long-term effects on canine health or quality of life.
What Are Some Symptoms Of Canine Influenza?
The symptoms are similar to those in humans, but they affect dogs differently than humans. Some symptoms of canine influenza include high fever (higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit), lethargy (sluggishness), light sensitivity, and coughing. If you believe your dog might have this virus or any others common to pets, it’s best to speak with a veterinarian. If left untreated, the virus may escalate into pneumonia or other complications like liver damage.
How Dangerous Is Canine Influenza?
While the virus is mostly harmless to dogs, it does cause some health problems. In humans, influenza can lead to a high fever and a chest infection called pneumonitis. However, most dogs do not have this complication. The virus itself only affects the respiratory system and has no effect on other organs or systems in dogs. Very few dogs have actually died from canine influenza, but there have been some cases of liver failure caused by the virus.
To know more about Canine Influenza, check out our article ‘Can dogs get the flu?’
If your dog is sick because of an infection with a different type of virus or bacteria than influenza, then it might still be safe for you to give them their vaccination if you know that none of this else ever came near them after they received it.
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