Your website browser is no longer supported.

The vaccinations we require at Best Friends Fur Ever are Rabies, Bordetella, Distemper, and Canine Influenza because they are essential to protect our dogs from pain-causing and life-threatening diseases. These vaccinations are focused on dog meet dog interaction and offer a barrier of protection and safety. These are vital for dogs as their core protections whether going for a walk in the neighborhood, visiting a pet-friendly store, accompanying you to a sidewalk café, playing at a dog park, or going to the vet. That is why, we as a dog training, daycare, overnight boarding, and grooming business, mandate the highest level of vaccination for dogs having multiple dog meet-ups.

Vaccinations are a medical means of protecting our dogs against an array of illnesses. They work by injecting our pet with the vaccine. The dog’s immune system recognizes the vaccine as foreign bodies and begins to fight them with antibodies. After being vaccinated, a dog’s body will recognize these infectious agents and fight them with antibodies quickly in the future. Think of them as a protective shield keeping your dog safe.

Rabies Vaccine

The rabies vaccine is a single dose given when the puppy is at least 12 weeks old. If an older dog has an unknown vaccination history, he usually can be brought up-to-date in two visits scheduled 3-4 weeks apart. Booster vaccines generally are given to adult dogs every 1-3 years, depending on vaccine type and the dog’s risk factors. Rabies is a viral disease that can be carried by many mammals including dogs, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, and even bats. It is zoonotic which means humans can catch it from their dogs. Rabies is commonly transmitted through a bite from the infected mammal. Rabies causes acute swelling of the brain and eventually infects the entire nervous system causing death. Once symptoms appear it becomes a fatal disease.

Distemper Vaccine

The canine distemper vaccination is given as a part of a combination vaccination, most commonly the DHPP. The “D” stands for distemper. This vaccination also protects against hepatitis (adenovirus), parvo, and parainfluenza. Dogs should receive a vaccination against canine distemper at 6 to 8 weeks, 10 to 12 weeks, and 14 to 16 weeks. A booster shot is provided at 12 months and every three years after. Canine distemper is an extremely contagious viral disease closely related to the virus that causes measles in humans. The virus spreads through the air and attacks the tonsils and lymph nodes and can also travel to the gastrointestinal, respiratory, urogenital, and nervous systems. It has no known cure and treatment can be extensive and costly.

Bordetella  Vaccine

The Bordetella vaccination is given as an injection, an inhaled nasal mist, or orally every 12 months to protect against one of the many viruses that can cause upper respiratory issues. We require this vaccine to combat the bacterial virus known as canine cough. This virus can easily spread through airborne droplets that can quickly contaminate food bowls, water bowls, crates, and other items in our facilities. This is one reason why our strict cleaning protocol and air filtration systems are so important to the health of our dogs. Think of it as the common cold is to children – dogs become uncomfortable, congested, have a sore throat, and will give you a very sympathetic face. Getting the vaccine greatly reduces the risk of catching canine cough which can infect a dog’s trachea and cause an awful sounding, high pitch cough requiring antibiotics and a cough suppressant.

Canine Influenza

Canine influenza (also known as dog flu) is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by specific Type A influenza viruses known to infect dogs. These are called “canine influenza viruses.” No human infections with canine influenza have ever been reported. There are two different influenza Type A dog flu viruses: one is an H3N8 virus which originated in horses and spread to dogs in 2004 and H3N2 which originated in birds and spread to dogs in 2015 and has been causing outbreaks ever since. The dog flu virus is airborne and spreads when dogs cough, bark, and sneeze and another dog inhales the particles. The symptoms are similar to the flu in humans, causing eye and nose discharge, coughing, sneezing, sleepiness, and lethargy. The vaccine is known as the Canine Influenza Bivalent which covers both strains and contains the inactivated virus to enhance flu immunity.