Vaccines allow our dogs to be protected against diseases as serious and potentially fatal as distemper or parvovirus. This is because they work by causing the dog's immune system to build defenses against these pathogens.
Thus, if the dog comes into contact with them, her body will defend itself and the disease will not produce symptoms or it will be very mild. In this article on our site we will talk about the polyvalent vaccine for dogs, which allows, in a single puncture, to protect our dog against various diseases.
What is the polyvalent vaccine for dogs?
Vaccines can be effective against a single pathogen, but also protect against multiple diseases in a single shot. These last vaccines are what are called polyvalent, which, in turn, can be bivalent, if they act against two diseases, trivalent if they act against three and so on, they will be called tetra, penta, hexa, hepta and even octavalent. when its action covers up to eight pathogens. Therefore, the prefix indicates the number of diseases against which we are protecting our dog.
At this point it should be noted that if polyvalent vaccines are marketed it is because they have been proven to work. They are also an advantage because they save material, resources and, above all, they prevent us from having to prick the dog many times. With a single puncture we can cover, as we see, a lot of pathologies.
What does the polyvalent vaccine for dogs contain?
As we have explained, a polyvalent vaccine will be effective against three, four, five or even eight diseases, depending on the one chosen by the veterinarian. These are the most widely used polyvalent vaccines:
- Trivalent: acts against major diseases, such as distemper, hepatitis or leptospirosis.
- Tetravalent: in addition to the above, it also offers protection against canine parvovirus.
- Pentavalent: distemper, hepatitis, kennel cough, parvovirus and parainfluenza are the pathologies against which this vaccine works.
- Hexavalent: It has the same protection as the previous vaccine, but it changes the parainfluenza for two strains against leptospirosis.
- Octovalente: This vaccine is very complete, as it includes protection against distemper, hepatitis, kennel cough, parvovirus, parainfluenza, coronavirus and two strains of leptospirosis.
Faced with so many possibilities, it is normal for us to have doubts about which vaccine our dog needs. You have to know that some are considered essential or mandatory, such as those active against distemper or parvovirus, while others are administered or not depending on the circumstances of each dog. One example is the kennel cough vaccine. That is why it is the veterinarian who, evaluating the risks to which our dog is exposed, will decide what vaccines he needs and when to give them.
How often to give the polyvalent vaccine for dogs?
The schedule of administration of the polyvalent vaccine is one of the decisions that the veterinarian must make. In general, the recommendation is to start vaccinating puppies around eight weeks of age. But this first dose will not give all the necessary protection, so it should be repeated after about four weeks. It is considered that this primary vaccination should not end before 12-16 weeks of life.
Then, the normal thing is the annual revaccination, although for some diseases the protection of the primary vaccination lasts up to three years. Thus, it will be the veterinarian who tells us when to return to the clinic to have our dog revaccinated.
Is it always good to give the polyvalent vaccine for dogs?
As we explained at the beginning of the article, vaccines are preparations that serve to stimulate the immune system so that it manufactures defenses against the disease that has been shown to it. That is why for them to work and for us to consider that the dog is well vaccinated, it is essential that its immune system be able to give the expected response. In other words, there are some contraindications to vaccination, such as the following:
- Puppies that still have maternal defenses.
- Dogs immunocompromised or malnourished.
- Exemplars elders.
- Parasitized.
- Stressed.
- Sick.
- Under treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, such as corticosteroids.
- Some vaccines cannot be administered to bitches during pregnancy or lactation.
A dog in any of these circumstances does not mean that it can never be vaccinated, but that it will have to be vaccinated once the contraindication is resolved. We insist that vaccination is a clinical act that goes beyond giving an injection. The veterinarian must assess that the animal is suitable to receive the vaccine and benefit from its effects.
Side effects of the polyvalent vaccine for dogs
Normally vaccines have no effect on the dog. At most we can notice decrease or loss of appetite during the first 24 hours. You could also have a little fever In any case, it usually gets better on its own, without us having to give you any treatment. In the event that we consider it necessary to treat, it will be the veterinarian who decides with which medications. In some dogs we may detect a inflammation at the puncture site, which will also resolve spontaneously over about seven days.
Only in a small percentage of cases could a dog experience a severe allergic reaction, to the point of anaphylaxis, which requires urgent veterinary attention. Other hypersensitivity reactions are facial edema and itching These dogs may also vomit, diarrhea, tremors, or incoordination. This is one more piece of information that makes it clear that vaccinating is a clinical act that must be done in a veterinary center and always by a professional.
What is the price of the polyvalent vaccine for dogs?
There is no single price for the polyvalent vaccine, since it depends on which one the veterinarian chooses and, furthermore, there are variations depending on the clinic we go to, since each professional is free to set the prices of its services.
As an example, a heptavalent vaccine can be found for around 40-50 euros. The trivalent will be somewhat cheaper. Its price ranges between 30-40 euros. Tetra or pentavalent vaccines can cost about 35 euros.
