By not giving your dog its annual booster vaccinations you expose him or her to the potential of contracting several very serious diseases. Below are brief descriptions of the diseases we routinely vaccinate for. Most of these are potentially fatal, and require long term intensive care in order to save the affected animal.

Distemper - is a disease caused by an airborne virus, which means that your dog does not require direct contact with a sick dog to become infected. Symptoms of this disease include fever, coughing, sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs can also develop encephalitis and neurological problems such as muscle twitching and seizures. Dogs with distemper are also predisposed to bacterial infections.

Treatment of the disease involves giving intravenous fluids and electrolytes, antibiotics to prevent secondary infection, therapy for vomiting and diarrhea, and nutritional support. Unfortunately, even with vigorous treatment, 50 to 80 percent of all infected dogs die.

Parvovirus -  is caused by a very small virus which is passed in the feces of affected dogs. The virus is extremely stabile and can last for years in the environment. Rottweilers, Dobermans and Black Laboradors are particularly susceptible to this disease.

Symptoms of parvo include vomiting and profuse bloody diarrhea. Laboratory tests will also show a very low white blood cell count. Parvo may also result in sudden death in puppies due to heart problems.

Treatment of dogs with parvovirus involves administration of intravenous fluids, antibiotics, medical therapy for vomiting, and nutritional support. This is a very serious disease and can easily result in the death of the affected dog.

Adenovirus - can cause an acute and fatal disease which resembles both distemper and parvovirus. This virus is shed in the urine, feces, and respiratory secretions.

Symptoms of this disease include bloody diarrhea, fever, liver inflammation and bleeding abnormalities or acute death.

Treatment of this disease is similar to parvovirus.

Parainfluenza - is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It causes an inflammation of the respiratory tract resulting in a cough and fever which lasts 5 to 7 days. This virus can predispose the dog to developing a more serious bacterial pneumonia.