Vaccinating Your Dog

Kenton Taylor, D.V.M.

Preventative wellness includes vaccinations and medications to prevent development of debilitating disease conditions.

Vaccine types recommended and frequency of vaccination vary depending on the life style of the dog being vaccinated. These include travel plans, kennel/boarding, grooming establishment plans, dog park visits, etc. Because these factors and disease prevalence may change over time it is best that the vaccination plan is decided at routine annual examinations following a discussion between the veterinarian and the dog owner.

Very young puppies are very susceptible to infectious diseases because their immune systems are not yet mature. If their mother has been vaccinated, then they receive some protection with antibodies present in their mother’s milk but that protection is of a short duration. It takes time for their immune system to develop so that it can respond to vaccination. Typically, this is not until 12 weeks of age. To provide the best protection against disease during the first months of life, it is recommended to give a series of vaccinations, usually 3 to 4 weeks apart. The final vaccination is around 4 months of age when the immune system would be expected to be developed enough to provide a good response for reliable protection. 

Core vaccines are those recommended for all dogs as the diseases cause severe illness and vaccination results in good protection. For dogs this includes distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, leptospirosis and rabies. 

Distemper virus can lead to many disease symptoms and while unstable in the environment, it can affect a number of hosts such as coyotes, skunks and raccoons and has worldwide distribution.

Parvovirus is the most common cause of viral intestinal disease in dogs. Risk of infection is primarily associated with viral particles from other domestic dogs and the virus is relatively stable in the environment.

Canine adenovirus type 2 is part of the canine infectious respiratory disease complex and vaccination for it protects against type 1 also which causes an infectious liver disease. Adenovirus type 1 vaccination has been associated with occasional side effects and since vaccination for type 2 protects against type 1, it is not recommended.

There are 4 types of serovars of Leptospirosis in North America and so it is recommended to use the 4-serovar vaccination. This is a vaccination best given separately rather than in a combination with Distemper and Parvovirus vaccination. It is also best to give Leptospirosis vaccination in a location separate from other vaccines to improve response to the vaccination and there is also a possible decrease in response to Distemper and Parvovirus vaccination when given in combination with Leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis can be transmitted by rodents and so it’s no longer just a rural dog problem. Dogs most at risk are those spending any time outdoors, exposure to area where rodents have been and time in kennels or dog day cares. Leptospirosis is a disease that can be transmitted to people and is the most common zoonosis in the world. In the past there has been the concern about adverse reactions to Leptospirosis vaccination. Formulations have now been altered to minimize this likelihood. Nevertheless, it is recommended to give the initial Leptospirosis vaccination at 12 weeks of age and giving at a separate time from multiple other vaccinations.

Non-core vaccinations are optional vaccines that should be considered based on exposure risk which is primarily based on geographic distribution and your dog’s lifestyle. Non-core vaccines include Lyme disease caused by a tick-transmitted borrelia. Currently, infections are largely restricted to Connecticut and surrounding states and north eastern Canada. Since prevention of tick feeding prevents disease transmission, this disease is most effectively prevented with effective flea control.

Bordetella bacteria and Parainfluenza virus and Canine adenovirus type 2 are all organisms associated with canine infectious respiratory disease. Intranasal vaccination is recommended for dogs expected to be in close association with other dogs such as a boarding or grooming facility. Intranasal is more effective than oral in stimulating a response in the respiratory tract and injectable vaccination may have minimal benefit. Duration of immunity to Bordetella may be only 6 months at best. If your dog is regularly boarded then vaccination at least every 6 months is recommended. The vaccine should also be administered at least 1 week before boarding for maximal protection.

Canine influenza virus infections have resulted in multiple outbreaks throughout the US and was a problem in the south bay area in December 2017 to January 2018. The virus causes upper respiratory signs including a cough, nasal discharge and low grade fever with a small number progressing to a severe pneumonia. A vaccination including both serotypes H3N8 and H3N2 is recommended for broad immunity. Vaccination for dogs at boarding kennels, day care and dog parks would be recommended in an outbreak.

In regards to vaccination against rattlesnake toxoid, there is no documented efficacy at this time. The vaccine is for the Western Diamond Back rattlesnake venom toxoid and rattlesnake venom is antigenically different between rattlesnake species. As such there is also no data to support the effectiveness of vaccination to venom of rattlesnakes in this area.

Vaccinations given and frequency is based on individual needs determined by patient’s history and risk of disease exposure. Whereas core vaccines are recommended for every dog regardless of lifestyle, non-core vaccine recommendations are determined by assessing the likelihood of a dog’s exposure to a given infectious disease.

Miramonte Veterinary Hospital is accredited by American Animal Hospital Association since 1996.