Welcome to PawPedia

An encyclopedia of life with animals

Featured article

Vaccines for Puppies and Dogs: A Simple Guide

Vaccines are one of the simplest ways to protect a dog from serious infectious disease. A few vet visits in the first months of life, followed by boosters, keep most dogs safe from illnesses that are hard to treat and sometimes fatal.

This guide covers core and optional vaccines, the puppy schedule, boosters, side effects, and the rabies rules for travel in Europe. Your veterinarian will adjust the plan to your dog's age, health, lifestyle, and home region.

A vaccine shows the immune system a harmless form or part of a germ, so the body reacts much faster if the real infection comes later. The main vaccines against distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis usually contain a weakened live virus. Once a dog has responded well to them, protection usually lasts for years.

… that when researchers checked 200 published recipes for dogs, only 9 met basic nutrient needs? (How to Feed Your Dog)
… that puppies that get canine distemper before their adult teeth come in can be left with thin, pitted tooth enamel for life? (Canine Distemper)
… that ringworm in cats has nothing to do with worms and is named after the round, red rash it often causes in people? (Ringworm in Cats)
… that an infected female tick usually needs a day or two of feeding to pass Babesia to a dog, while a fed male tick did it within hours in one study? (Babesiosis in Dogs)
… that in cats, a few days without food can lead to serious liver disease? (How an Abandoned Cat Found a Home)