Düsseldorf. The health of our four-legged friends is important to us. Vaccinations play a crucial role in this, as they offer protection against serious or even fatal diseases. This should be maintained permanently against some pathogens, while against others it is only relevant depending on the region of residence and travel activities. Veterinarians adhere precisely to the recommendations. But owners should also be informed accordingly – at least about the core vaccinations that are recommended for every dog in Germany, emphasizes Dr. Max Bastian. The specialist veterinarian for microbiology heads the office of the Standing Committee on Vaccination in Veterinary Medicine (StIKo Vet) at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute.
The StIKo Vet regularly publishes and updates guidelines with recommendations on which vaccinations are currently particularly important for the various animal species (stiko-vet.fli.de/de/empfehlungen). It distinguishes between core vaccinations for all animals of a species and non-core vaccinations for individual cases.
Core vaccinations: Every dog should have this protection
“The so-called core vaccinations are a vaccination component against which every animal in Germany should be protected at all times,” explains Dr. Bastian. “There are three basic criteria for this: the pathogens must be present in our country, the diseases must have expectedly serious consequences and there should be vaccines available that reliably protect against them.”
In dogs, there are three diseases
- Distemper and “canine distemper” (Parvovirus) are viral diseases that often manifest themselves through high fever, fatigue and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. In severe cases, permanent damage or death can occur. For this reason, even puppies are given basic immunizations. This protection lasts a long time and reliably prevents infection. It is currently recommended that the protection be refreshed every three years.
- Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection. It is transmitted primarily through the urine of rodents, which contaminates puddles or bodies of water. In addition to fever and vomiting, kidney failure and shortness of breath are two serious and common consequences. “There are many variants of leptospires, some of which can have different effects. The vaccines cover a wide spectrum, but not all variants can be reliably excluded. In addition, the immune defense does not last quite as long. That is why an annual booster is recommended,” explains the expert.
Non-core vaccinations: useful and sometimes necessary
Non-core vaccinations include protection against rabies or against leishmaniasis, which is often colloquially classified as a Mediterranean disease. Since 2008, Germany has been considered free of terrestrial rabies, i.e. in domestic and wild animals that live on the ground. Rabies is therefore no longer one of the core vaccinations here. However, anyone who wants to travel abroad with their dog must still vaccinate their animal against it and have the vet enter this in the EU pet passport in order to be able to prove the vaccination status.
Leishmaniasis is transmitted by sand flies, which are mainly found in the Mediterranean region. The veterinarian said: “My dog spends his whole life in Western Pomerania, so he doesn't need a vaccination against pathogens that don't exist there. For people from southern Germany who regularly travel to Italy or southern France with their animals, vaccination can make sense.” However, leishmaniasis is a pathogen that – due to climate change – could perhaps become native to Germany. In that case, the StIKo Vet would possibly classify the vaccination as a core vaccination in the future.
No general vaccination requirement for dogs
Whether generally or only under special circumstances: there is no obligation to vaccinate in Germany, explains Dr. Bastian. “We can only make recommendations here. The only exception is the state-mandated vaccination against rabies when traveling abroad. Otherwise, dog schools, clubs or animal shelters can also make certain vaccinations mandatory for their establishments. This is within their house rules.”
Tip for owners: annual check-ups
Ideally, the vet will regularly check the vaccinations themselves and talk to the owner about how often each vaccination should be refreshed – for example during the annual health check. “If necessary, the vet will examine everything from the teeth to the blood to the vaccinations. This can also clarify whether the vaccination protection is still active or, if a trip is coming up, whether there is anything to be considered,” says Dr. Bastian. “And if you are concerned about side effects, an antibody test is a good idea. This can be used to check in advance whether a booster is even necessary or whether the vaccination protection is still sufficient.”
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