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Vaccination is the cornerstone of rabies prevention. Vaccination promotes the production of antibodies but is only effective if given before the virus enters the nervous system. Modern rabies vaccines for dogs, cats, horses, and ferrets are extremely safe and effective. The disease is zoonotic (can be transmitted from an animal to humans). It is only transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal. Rabies vaccination is required by law.

(Canine Distemper Virus, Adenovirus type 1 (hepatitis), Adenovirus type 2 (respiratory disease), Canine Parainfluenza Virus, Canine Parvovirus): Canine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. Most often they become infected through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) to the virus from an infected dog or wild animal. The virus can also be transmitted by sharing food, water bowls, and equipment.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a bacterium commonly associated with respiratory disease in dogs. It is one of the more common bacterial causes of canine infectious tracheobronchitis, which is also sometimes called kennel cough. Bordetella is highly contagious, easily transmitted through the air or direct contact, and resistant to destruction in the environment. If your pet is a regular at daycare, grooming facilities or the dog park, getting the vaccine every 6 to 12 months may be needed to help prevent canine infectious tracheobronchitis a.k.a. kennel cough.

The bacterium that causes Leptospirosis is spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. Humans and animals can become infected through contact with this contaminated urine (or other body fluids, except saliva), water, or soil. The bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth), especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Infected wild and domestic animals may continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment continuously or every once in a while for a few months up to several years. Leptospirosis causes a variety of flu-like symptoms, but it can develop into a more severe, life threatening illness that affects the kidneys, liver, brain, lungs, and heart.

Canine influenza is caused by the canine influenza virus. It is highly contagious and easily spread from infected dogs to other dogs by direct contact, nasal secretions (through barking, coughing or sneezing), contaminated objects (kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes), and by people moving between infected and uninfected dogs. Dogs of any breed, age, sex or health status are at risk of infection when exposed to the virus.