Canine Vaccine Basics

What Do Vaccines Protect My Dog From?

Depending on your dog's lifestyle, there are many diseases they can be exposed to. Vaccines are your dog's best defense. Here's what every dog owner should know about core, lifestyle, and heartworm prevention.

Every Dog Needs

Core Vaccines

These vaccinations are so important we recommend them for every canine patient

Rabies

Rabies is a fatal disease that affects both animals and humans. Every state in the U.S. requires that all dogs receive rabies vaccinations and remain continuously vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian for their entire life.

Rabies is transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal enters the body through a bite, scratch, or open wound, or through contact with mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, or mouth. Wild animals including bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and opossums can all carry the virus. Once rabies enters the body, it attacks the brain and spinal cord. There is no effective treatment.

Mortality rate: 100% in dogs, nearly 100% in humans

Dogs that contract rabies will die within 4 to 6 days of symptoms appearing. This fact, along with the risk to humans, is why rabies vaccination is mandatory by law.

DHPPV Core

Commonly called the "Distemper" vaccine. Protects against four serious diseases in one vaccine.

Canine Distemper

A highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Spread through the air via coughing and sneezing, or by contact with bodily secretions from infected animals. This disease can be fatal.

Canine Hepatitis

Caused by an adenovirus (you may see "A2" instead of "H" in the abbreviation). Spreads similarly to distemper and can live in the environment for a long time. You could bring it home without realizing it. Primarily affects the liver but can also damage the kidneys and eyes.

Parainfluenza

A highly infectious virus that spreads quickly among dogs in close quarters and can seriously damage the respiratory system. Part of the "Kennel Cough Complex" and is included in both the DHPPV and Bordetella vaccines.

Parvovirus

An intestinal virus that causes severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Parvo can be found in the environment or in feces from infected dogs. It is extremely dangerous, especially in puppies, and can be fatal without aggressive treatment.

Bordetella Core

Commonly known as "Kennel Cough"

Bordetella is a bacterial respiratory infection that is extremely contagious and causes a loud "goose honk" cough. Other symptoms include eye and nasal discharge, swollen tonsils, wheezing, loss of appetite, and lethargy. The coughing can persist for several weeks even in mild cases. It spreads rapidly from dog to dog through airborne transmission, casual sniffing, playing, or even sharing water dishes, making any dog that interacts with other dogs at risk.

Based on Risk

Lifestyle Vaccines

Recommended depending on your dog's activities and exposure risk

Leptospirosis

A bacterial disease that can cause liver and kidney failure. Contracted through contact with urine from raccoons, rodents, skunks, and other wildlife, often found in standing water, puddles, and soil in our own backyards.

This vaccine is available as a five-in-one combination with DHPPV, requiring only a single injection.

Canine Influenza

A viral respiratory disease that causes coughing, fever, sneezing, and lethargy. It became prominent after a 2014 outbreak in a Chicago boarding facility and has since spread nationwide.

Planning to board or use daycare? Due to recent outbreaks, more and more boarding kennels and doggy daycare facilities now require dogs to be vaccinated against canine influenza before they will accept them. It is worth checking your facility's requirements ahead of time.

Lyme Disease

A bacterial disease spread through the bite of an infected tick, and it's prevalent in our area. If we've recommended Leptospirosis for your dog, we'd recommend Lyme as well since the exposure points are essentially the same.

The Lyme vaccine is available as a two-in-one combination with Leptospirosis, requiring only one injection. Pair it with tick preventatives like Nexgard and regular skin checks for the best protection.

Don't Forget

One More Critical Prevention

Not a vaccine, but just as important

Heartworm Disease

Heartworm is a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can infect dogs, cats, and ferrets. When an infected mosquito bites your pet, the disease is transmitted and a worm matures that lives inside the heart. This causes severe heart and respiratory disease, coughing, and can be fatal.

The good news: heartworm disease is easily prevented with a simple once-a-month preventative given year-round. The bad news? If your dog does contract heartworm, treatment is expensive, painful, and requires a minimum of 6 months of strict cage rest.

Prevention is simple, affordable, and so much better than the alternative. Ask us about heartworm preventatives at your next visit.

1×/mo Simple monthly
preventative

12 mo Year-round
protection needed

6+ mo Cage rest if
treatment needed

Is Your Dog Up to Date?

Not sure which vaccines your dog needs or when they're due? Give us a call. We'll check your records and recommend the right protection based on your dog's lifestyle.

Call (608) 294-9494