Prevention is better than cure - this also applies to infectious diseases. There are effective vaccinations against the most dangerous pathogens that protect dogs from puppyhood.
These vaccinations work like a test alarm: the immune system gets to know the dangerous pathogens in a harmless version and can react much faster and more thoroughly in an emergency. Ideally, a disease such as canine distemper can then no longer break out. However, it takes around 1 to 2 weeks after vaccination for the vaccine to take effect.
Vaccinate your dog early
As the owner, you should make sure that the animal receives a good basic immunization at an early stage. This means that the vet will give two or more vaccinations at intervals of around four weeks. This develops a strong immunological memory that reliably recognizes the respective pathogens even after a long time and renders them harmless.
It is important that the immune system is as unimpaired as possible at the time of vaccination. For this reason, the dog should be dewormed one week before the first vaccination, as puppies often suffer from intestinal parasites such as roundworms and a heavy worm infestation reduces the effectiveness of the vaccination. Prior deworming is also advisable for later vaccinations. If vaccination is given before the 8th week of life, maternal antibodies can weaken the effect of the vaccination. In this case, the injection should be repeated after the 8th week.
Vaccination intervals
A good basic immunization usually lasts for several years. Many vets have therefore now started to vaccinate at longer intervals and as required instead of the annual booster vaccination. In addition to the basic immunization, this also depends on the age of the animal and how it is kept. One exception is the annual rabies vaccination, which is mandatory for stays abroad and protects your pet from the official veterinarian if a case of rabies should occur in your area.