Your Lhasa Apso will require a number of vaccinations throughout his or her life. Many of these vaccinations also require yearly or bi-annual boosters of vaccines that have previously been received.
What booster vaccines does your Lhasa Apso require? The most common booster vaccines include DHLPP, rabies, Bordetella, and Lyme. Some vets encourage the vaccine and boosters for Canine Influenza, too. There are various other vaccines and boosters that are not as common as well.
There are a number of reasons that ensuring your Lhasa Apso gets booster vaccines is of importance. Additionally, there are other encouraged vaccines and some that are less of a concern. In order to be sure that your Lhasa Apso is protected from various diseases, understanding the diseases and their vaccinations are key.
Booster Overview
In understanding boosters, we must first understand the diseases they fight. Regular boosters that most veterinarians recommend include vaccines for DHLPP, rabies, Bordetella, and Lyme Disease. Each vaccine prepares your Lhasa Apso’s body to fight the disease if they were to come into contact with it.
It can be important to know which vaccines your Lhasa Apso had had prior to their life with you. While the most imperative vaccines will not cause any harm if received twice, it can save you the money if you don’t have to purchase unneeded vaccines. However, if you pick up a stray or just are not aware of vaccination history, having your vet administer the basics is generally best.
DHLPP is a vaccine designed to combat multiple diseases. These include distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Each of these diseases has their own risks and potential dangers to your Lhasa Apso, but the vaccine will prevent these dangers as long as a booster is received at least every 3 years.
Distemper is a deadly disease for puppies and Lhasa Apso dogs in old age because of their weaker immune systems. It causes a runny nose, runny eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, and eventually may cause seizures, problems with mental clarity, and possibly paralysis. Initial symptoms may begin with just a cough or sneezing, but will ultimately progress to the previously mentioned issues.
Hepatitis is a fairly well-known disease, but not all people know that their Lhasa Apso can contract it as well. Once a dog has hepatitis, treatment is difficult and usually results in the death of the animal. It is a disease that attacks the liver and eventually causes complete liver failure. Thankfully, the DHLPP vaccine and its booster
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that leads to kidney disease. Often times this is spread through bodily fluids. It may start with a fever and body aches, but ultimately the kidney failure sets in. This will cause extreme thirst, so if you have concerns about your dog having contracted this infection, be on the lookout for your Lhasa Apso drinking more water than normal. This is not a major concern in some areas, so it is sometimes left out of the DHLPP vaccine, making it DHPP instead. If this is the case, you may ask your vet about the benefits that can come from adding the Leptosirosis vaccine into the mix.
Parainfluenza is a very treatable, yet very contagious, disease. Despite the ease in which it can be treated, it is always best to be cautious. It typically consists of cold like symptoms – coughing, runny nose, and sneezing. While it will make your Lhasa Apso feel down for some time, they are usually able to bounce back to full health. A healthy Lhasa Apso will beat it faster than one with a weaker immune system.
Parvovirus is a highly contagious disease most commonly seen in puppies. If not treated properly and during the early stages of the disease, it can be deadly. Parvovirus, also known as parvo, is a gastrointestinal disease that causes diarrhea and vomiting that is so excessive it causes weight loss. It lingers on nearly every surface it comes into contact with and is especially present in fecal matter. This vaccination and booster comes highly recommended by veterinarians. However, even with the vaccine, it is important to keep an infected dog away from your Lhasa Apso.
The next vaccination booster that is extremely common is for rabies. The rabies shot is usually given around 12 weeks of age, and then is required a year after the initial dose. Most states have laws on how often your Lhasa Apso will require this booster, as some say annually and others are set at every 3 years. Your vet will know the local laws regarding the rabies vaccine.
Rabies is a disease that affects the nervous system. It often makes a dog vicious, even when they had never been so prior to contracting rabies. If treated prior to showing symptoms, there is a better chance at survival. However, rabies is usually considered highly deadly. Getting your Lhasa Apso this vaccine and keeping up to date on boosters is key to avoiding this awful disease. It will also help to prevent you or your family from contracting rabies, as it is one of the few conditions that can spread from dog to human.
Another booster that is recommended by qualified vets is for Bordetella. Also known as kennel cough, Bordetella is a disease that damages the trachea. This damage leads to a cough and often times, gagging or vomiting. Other symptoms include a fever, cold-like symptoms, depression, and a loss of appetite. Since the disease is caused by bacteria, it is considered highly contagious.
If treated, Bordetella is not considered deadly. However, untreated kennel cough often leads to pneumonia, which is a much more serious condition. This booster is usually given every year.
Lyme disease is transmitted via black-legged ticks and causes lethargy, fever, and/ or swollen lymph nodes. Although fairly uncommon, Lyme disease can be fatal to your Lhasa Apso. It is best to administer the vaccine at 10 to 12 weeks of age, and then annually thereafter.
An additional vaccine with boosters fights Canine Influenza. This disease has multiple strains, so there are a couple of different vaccines and boosters to fight it. The most common strains are known as H3N8 and H3N2. A healthy Lhasa Apso will recover from the dog flu in just a few weeks, but will suffer from respiratory illness and fever. In order to spare your Lhasa Apso the pain and suffering, a flu vaccine is recommended during puppyhood, and then each year after the initial dose.
These common vaccines and their boosters are often required or come highly recommended by veterinarians. Skipping boosters for these vaccinations often means that the vaccine, which is typically more expensive, will have to be administered again. It also means leaving your Lhasa Apso vulnerable to disease. Ensuring that your Lhasa Apso stays up to date on his or her boosters is one of the best ways to keep them in good health.
Less Common Vaccines
There are a few vaccines that are not part of the usual regimen. Canine Coronavirus and Giardiasis are two of these. The question that arises with these uncommon vaccines is simply why? Looking into the reasoning behind not giving an available vaccination may give some insight.
Canine Coronavirus is a short-lived disease involving the intestinal tract. It causes lethargy, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Although there is no treatment for the condition, it is very rarely fatal. Since this disease typically occurs in puppies under 6 weeks of age and most survive, the vaccine is not usually necessary and is not recommended by most practicing veterinarians.
It is also not recommended because a puppy younger than 6 weeks does not usually have the developed immune system to be able to handle the vaccine. Since a vaccine has a bit of the virus in it to make the immune system learn how to combat it, a puppy could develop the illness from the vaccine.
Another vaccine not commonly administered is for Giardiasis. Giardiasis is an intestinal infection that may sometimes cause diarrhea. This disease is easily treated and causes no danger to the life of a relatively healthy Lhasa Apso. Additionally, the vaccine is not entirely effective. It will combat the worsening of the disease if contracted, but will not fully prevent a Lhasa Apso contracting it.
If you feel that your Lhasa Apso would benefit from these less common vaccinations, please discuss options with your dog’s vet. Each Lhasa Apso is different and may require additional treatment or prevention than what is considered standard.
The Controversy
Like with human vaccines, canine vaccinations also bring with them controversy. Concerns have to do with a vaccines ingredients, effects on the body, and the amounts required, just as the concerns that exist with human vaccinations The 3 specific reasons some people do not wish to vaccinate their dogs are: 1. The presence of toxic metals, 2. The possible effects on the dog’s immune system, and 3. Vaccines are required too often.
The first reason can be argued with in science terms and get confusing, but what it boils down to is that toxic Mercury is not included in vaccine. Additionally, Thermisol, a concern in some vaccines that has been removed from human vaccines, is still present in some canine forms. If Thermisol is a concern to you, there are options for vaccines without the presence of the material.
Side effects on the dog’s immune system are a rarity and often a result of that specific dog’s genetics. In fact, only one in one million vaccine shots cause the dog’s immune system to go after its own red blood cells. With numbers such as these, the second concern becomes much less of a concern at all.
The third argument against vaccinating your dog is the frequency at which these vaccines are needed. In reality, vaccines are broken down into core and non-core vaccines. With smaller dogs, like Lhasa Apsos, allergic reaction to vaccines are more prominent. This is the reason some Lhasa Apso owners opt to only have the core vaccines administered, to lessen the chance of an allergic reaction.
However, many Lhasa Apso owners choose to have both core and non-core vaccines administered because in most cases the possible allergic reaction is much less of a danger than the diseases the vaccine fights against. Core vaccines are for the most common and most easily spread diseases: distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and rabies.
Non-core vaccinations can still be of great importance for a lot of dogs, although some are dependent on the geography. Checking with your local very is the best way to determine which vaccines your Lhasa Apso should receive.
If you ever plan to board your Lhasa Apso, his or her vaccines must be up to date or your dog will not be allowed to stay with the boarder. Each boarder will have different requirements, but the core vaccines are always a guarantee. The boarder will require proof from the veterinary office that the vaccines have indeed been administered. Boarders are strict about this because the spread of disease within their walls is not only bad for business, but bad for all animals in their care.
Providing your Lhasa Apso with the proper healthcare, and therefore necessary
Review
Although we’ve covered a lot of information in the previous paragraphs, it may be beneficial to go over the main points once more. The understanding of vaccines is good for our peace of mind as Lhasa Apso owners and for our little friends.
There are numerous vaccines available for our dogs, but the core vaccinations are distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and rabies. The first three can be vaccinated against with the DHPP or DHLPP vaccine and subsequent boosters. Rabies has a vaccine all on its own, but requires a booster as well.
Non-core vaccines, such as the Bordetella and Lyme disease vaccines, are not always imperative, but often a good idea for further protection for a Lhasa Apso. Speak with your vet to see which vaccines are the most important in your geographical area.
Despite some arguments against vaccinating your Lhasa Apso, each argument has a logical reason to proceed with vaccination. There have been studies and quantitative results that show that the potential dangers of vaccines are nowhere near the dangers of contracting diseases that could have been prevented.
Providing your Lhasa Apso with the best life is the ultimate goal for most owners. In order to enhance their chances of living disease free, be sure to have your veterinarian administer the appropriate vaccines.
Related Questions
What regular medications should my healthy Lhasa Apso take?
Preventative measures for fleas, ticks, and heartworm are important in keeping some diseases away from your Lhasa Apso. Many Lhasa Apso owners also give their dog daily vitamins.
Do I need to keep my sick Lhasa Apso away from my healthy one?
This is dependent on the illness, but if the condition is contagious it may be necessary to separate the two. Keeping their respective areas clean will also help prevent the spread of the illness.
How do I choose a good veterinarian for my Lhasa Apso?
Researching local vets is an important part of Lhasa Apso care. Be sure to speak with family and friends that have pets, read reviews, and meet the vet yourself.