Understanding Your Dog's Vaccines and Why They Are Important
What vaccinations does my dog need?
There are a couple of different things, and it really depends on the lifestyle of your pet. That's why when you come in, we might ask you some questions like, "What does your dog like to do? Are you going to the dog daycare? Are you going to a dog park? Do you like to go hiking? Are you out in the woods a lot?" Things like that can give us a better idea of exactly what you need.
There are certain vaccines we recommend to everybody. Number one is the rabies virus vaccine. Rabies is transmitted by raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes in the US. There is no cure for the rabies virus if an animal or a person gets it. If one of our dogs or cats gets it, they can give it to a person. For that reason, we make sure everybody is protected against the rabies virus with the rabies vaccine.
The other vaccine that we recommend for everybody is what we call the distemper vaccine. It's actually a mix of a couple of different things. There's a distemper virus that causes respiratory issues, especially in young dogs, that can progress into neurological problems and even seizures. There's adenovirus that can cause inflammation of the liver. Parvovirus, which you may have heard of before, especially in puppies, causes horrible vomiting and diarrhea that can be fatal if left untreated. Parainfluenza virus is part of the things that you'll sometimes hear called kennel cough. One of the viruses that can lead to kennel cough is this parainfluenza, so that's all in that distemper combination vaccine.
Speaking of kennel cough, the other one we give for kennel cough is called Bordetella. It's a quick little thing—we just give a little squirt in the mouth, no needle or anything necessary. It keeps them protected against that, and if they did get kennel cough, it would be a much weaker version than if they weren't vaccinated for it.
Depending on their lifestyle, we may recommend the leptovirus vaccine spread by wildlife in their urine, mice, rats, and other wildlife. If they're outside and get it on their paws from any urine that could have been in a puddle or just lying around, they'll lick their paws, and then they can get it that way. We'd like to cover them for that. Lyme disease is spread by ticks. Canine influenza virus is another consideration. If they're around a lot of other dogs, especially in boarding facilities or dog parks, we would possibly want that canine influenza vaccine. It really just depends, and we can help you figure out what's going to be best for your own pet.
Are my dog's vaccinations safe?
Now the question is, are these vaccines safe? I know it seems like we're vaccinating for a lot of different things, but we are always thinking about safety as well. A lot of times, the biggest side effect we're going to see is maybe some muscle soreness, or a little lethargy or tiredness the day of a vaccine, just like when we would get a flu shot or something like that.
Maybe about 0.01%, or one out of every 10,000 dogs, shows more serious signs. I may see 10,000 cases or clients and pets a year just working in practice, so maybe one case out of the year I'll see a really bad side effect from these things. Even with those bad side effects, typically I can give a dose of epinephrine, just like a person with an EpiPen that you jab in your arm or leg. We can give a dose of that also while they're at the clinic to prevent those things from getting any worse. Maybe a Benadryl shot or something like that. With that, I always think it's way better to prevent these things, as we see them more commonly out in nature than we see these side effects occur. For that reason, I think it is always safe to keep them vaccinated.
When should my dog start vaccinations?
We start vaccines at about 6 to 8 weeks of age as a puppy. That's right about when the immunity they get from their mom starts wearing off. We need to start boosting their immune system to work on its own. We start giving them those vaccines around then, and booster them every 3 to 4 weeks until they're about 14 to 16 weeks of age or so. Then that's going to be good for the year.
What if I am concerned after my dog gets vaccines?
If you have concerns or your dog is acting a little differently after their vaccines, if we're still open, definitely bring them right back in. We'll take a look to make sure there's nothing serious happening. If there is, we can administer epinephrine, Benadryl, or even a steroid shot to ensure nothing gets worse. Most of the time, though, they're just going to be kind of tired and want to lay around a little more that day. If we're not open and you're concerned, I would recommend finding your local veterinarian, an urgent care place, or an ER that will be open at all hours. You can certainly get a veterinarian to take a peek and make sure nothing bad is going on.
How do vaccinations impact the health and well-being of my dog?
Just like with people, we vaccinate dogs for the same reason we vaccinate children. There are so many different diseases that are contagious and communicable, and unfortunately, they can be potentially life-threatening. The fact that we have vaccines to protect your dogs against some of these diseases means they can be life-saving.
Are vaccinations required by law?
Only the rabies vaccine is required by law. Every state requires that rabies be given. The other ones are not required by law, but are recommended as we're much more likely to see the diseases we're protecting against with the other vaccines than with rabies.
Do I really need to avoid allowing my puppy to socialize with other dogs until they are fully vaccinated?
If your dogs are vaccinated and in a protected area, you don't have to be as concerned about issues involving your household. But absolutely under no circumstances would I ever even think about taking a puppy to a dog park, for example, or walking down the sidewalk where you may encounter other dogs until it's been completely vaccinated.
Why is it important to avoid missing a dog vaccination?
Some of the vaccines have to be given in a certain sequence, especially when we're first getting them. If you go beyond a certain time frame for the booster, then we have to start over, which becomes basically a waste of money for you.
What is the typical puppy vaccination schedule?
Puppies start with what we call Distemper-Parvo at as young as six weeks of age. Another core vaccine would be what we call parainfluenza and Bordetella, which we start at maybe eight weeks of age. Rabies has to be given at least by 12 weeks old. There are also a couple of other vaccines for Lyme disease and canine flu, which are very much lifestyle diseases.
What diseases are prevented with vaccinations?
When discussing essential vaccinations for dogs, the core vaccine is rabies, as it's legally required. The Bordetella and parainfluenza vaccines, which include two forms of kennel cough, are also important. Additionally, the Distemper-Parvo vaccine covers distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvo in a single shot. In many cases, this vaccine may also include protection against leptospirosis. It's important to note that the initial series for the Leptospirosis vaccine requires two shots and is given alongside the Distemper-Parvo vaccine in subsequent doses.
Furthermore, the Lyme vaccine, necessary for some dogs depending on their exposure risk, also starts with a two-shot series. Similarly, the Canine Flu vaccine initially requires two shots. These vaccination series are crucial for maintaining your dog's health and preventing the spread of these diseases.
How many times a year does my dog need vaccinations?
There are around four or five different vaccines, including three core vaccines for dogs. The frequency of vaccination is based on your dog's lifestyle and varies depending on the vaccine, as each has a different schedule. Once your dog has received its initial vaccines, it's typically about a year before it needs any more. The type of vaccines administered will determine how often they are needed.
Is it safe to get multiple vaccines at the same time?
Yes, it is safe. Vaccines stimulate the body's immune system. There is no evidence that administering vaccines individually for dogs is any more beneficial than giving them simultaneously.
What is titer testing, and is it effective?
Titer testing measures the body's response to vaccines. For instance, if a dog is given a rabies vaccine and is going to be traveling overseas, they would have to get a vaccine titer. The titer tests the body's response. However, there is a limitation with titers. They only indicate that your body has responded to the vaccine, not if your body remains protected against the disease you vaccinated against.
Does my puppy need to restart boosters if they miss a vaccine?
It depends on what age the vaccines are started for your puppy. Ideally, puppies should start getting vaccines at six weeks of age, but often we see them at different ages. They need to get vaccines up to the point where they're 16 weeks of age. If a puppy is older than 16 weeks, they just need one vaccine, depending on what we're vaccinating against. If we see them before they're 16 weeks of age, then for the distemper parvo, yes, they will need to get a booster. And for leptospirosis, they need a booster regardless of any age. It really depends on the vaccine and the age at which we start.
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