The vaccinations your dog receives may vary with the area of the country. The following vaccinations and health checks are recommended and given at the beginning of 6 weeks of age and continuing until 4 months. Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Rarainfluenze - at 6, 9, 12 weeks of age, Parvovirus - at 6, 9, 15 weeks of age, Rabies - at 3 months of age then annually, Intestinal worm checks - at 6 and 15 weeks, then twice yearly, Neutering or Hysterectomy - at 5-6 months of age, Heartworm preventative - begun between 8-15 weeks of age and continues for life. Annual booster vaccinations given along with an intestinal worm check twice yearly and annual heartworm blood tests Canine Distemper Canine distemper is a disease that attacks the nervous system of a dog. It usually causes death and can affect dogs of all ages. Vaccinations are very effective in preventing this disease. Canine Hepatitis Canine Hepatitis is a viral disease which affects the liver. Most all distemper vaccines are combined with hepatitis vaccine to control most diseases. Parvovirus Parvovirus is an intestinal virus in dogs. Vaccinations are generally very effective in preventing the disease. Dogs over one year of age rarely will contract the disease, but vaccinations are recommended as insurance that the disease will not strike your dog. Vaccination for Rabies is a state law in Georgia. Hookworms can be spread through a dog's feces or can penetrate the dog's skin, or travel through the milk to nursing puppies. Whipworms can cause diarrhea, weight loss and dehydration. Heartworm Prevention Prevention of heartworm disease is very simple. Heartworms are the most life threatening parasite dogs can have. The microfilia (baby heartworms) are deposited in the dog's body by a mosquito bite. For male dogs the procedure is called neutering or castration and for female dogs it is called ovariohysterectomy.
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