You want your furry friend to live a happy and healthy life and so do we! With all the information and misinformation floating around regarding dog vaccinations, we felt it was important to give you a rundown on what you really need to know to protect your canine companion.
Why Vaccinations Are Important
Let’s start by talking about how vaccines help your dog live a long and healthy life. A vaccine contains antigens which mimic a particular virus or bacteria without exposing your dog to a complete live strain that could potentially be life threatening. These antigens allow your dog’s body to create antibody titers for a particular organism in order to establish a defense system against future exposures. Once vaccinated, your dog’s body will recognize the organism as an invader and will be on guard against this particular threat, allowing it to fight off a live strain of the virus or bacteria in the future.
If all of that seems a bit complicated, don’t worry, it is. The important thing to understand is that your dog’s highly complex immune system is one of nature’s greatest achievements, and vaccines can help it to work more effectively and keep your dog safe from some of the truly nasty things s/he may encounter.
When to Vaccinate Your Puppy
Now that you’ve become your new puppy’s hero by rescuing it from a shelter, this is an important time to get started with dog vaccinations. For the first weeks of your puppy’s life s/he will have received antibodies from mother’s milk, but now that s/he’s come home with you it’s your turn to help.
Puppies usually receive their first round of shots by the time they are 6-8 weeks old and follow a schedule to receive a minimum of three vaccines at 3-4 week intervals until they are 20 weeks old.
Which Vaccines Does My Puppy Need?
It’s important to know which vaccines are right for your dog and the best person to help you make those decisions is your veterinarian. They will be able to determine your dog’s individual needs by looking at age, lifestyle, and medical history. It’s also important to consider factors like the environment s/he lives in and any traveling you will do together.
There are two groups of dog vaccinations: core vaccines and (you guessed it) non-core vaccines.
Core vaccines are those considered to be vital to the health and well-being of every dog, while non-core vaccines can be selectively administered based on the the factors listed above.
For example, if you like to take your dog camping in an area where there is exposure to water and soil that may be contaminated with animal waste, you may want to discuss the need for vaccinating against things like leptospirosis. If the furthest your dog travels is on your neighborhood walks, you may not need it. Be sure to check with your vet before traveling with your dog as they may have concerns about your destination’s risks to his/her health.
Dog Vaccination Schedule
Dog vaccinations are administered on a schedule that has been determined most effective for protecting against disease, while keeping your new friend safe in the process. Your vet can help you decide on the perfect plan for your pup, but we’ve provided a sample schedule so you can get a feel for what’s to come.
| 5 weeks
Parvovirus |
Some puppies may need to be immunized against parvo as early as 5 weeks according to their exposure risk. Check with your vet. |
| 6 & 9 weeks
DHHP Combination Vaccine* |
A combination vaccine that is usually given without leptospirosis at this stage in a puppy’s life. Only administered if coronavirus is a local concern. |
| 12+ weeks
Rabies |
Age for rabies vaccination may vary depending on local law. |
| 12, 16, & 20 weeks
DHHP Combination Vaccine* Coronavirus Leptospirosis Lyme |
A combination vaccine administered along with vaccines for coronavirus, leptospirosis, and lyme disease (if living in or traveling to an area where these are a concern). |
| Adult Boosters | Any of the aforementioned vaccines may need to be boosted at different intervals in your dog’s life. |
*Combination vaccines usually include distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. They may also include leptospirosis and coronavirus.
Keeping Up with Dog Vaccinations
So you’ve taken your puppy in for her shots every 3-4 weeks and gotten all of the recommended core vaccines to keep your little one healthy. Is that everything s/he will ever need?
The short answer is, “nope.” A vaccine will help your dog develop the titers that defend against a particular non-core disease, but over time this defense system starts to fall apart, leaving chinks in the armor you helped him/her build as a puppy. Each vaccine will need boosters to keep them working, so check with your vet at every regular checkup to determine which need to be updated.
Dog Vaccinations Side effects
Vaccines are designed to stimulate an immune response, and while dog vaccinations work to ensure your four-legged friend lives a long and healthy life, there are some side effects to be aware of. Most dog vaccinations will leave your pet feeling fine, but it’s always a good idea to pay attention for:
- injection site soreness
- fever
- lameness/sluggishness
- poor appetite
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- face swelling/hives
- difficulty breathing
- seizures
- any other unusual symptoms
As with any medical procedure there are rare instances of more serious side effects like injection site tumors and immune disease. While the chances of these problems occurring in your dog are slim, it’s important to understand the risks in order to recognize any complications that may arise.
Also, be sure to make your pup’s appointment when you’ll be able to monitor them for the rest of the day, and call your vet immediately if you notice any adverse reactions.
Where to Get Your Dog Vaccinated
The CCSPCA Small Animal Hospital offers low cost vaccinations every day of the week with an appointment or on Walk-In Wednesdays in which no appointment is needed. We also offer low cost vaccinations 9am to 12pm, two Saturdays out of the month. No appointment is needed for our Saturday Vaccination Clinic. Visit our calendar for a list of dates.
Appointments for your dog’s vaccinations can be made Monday through Friday, 8am–12pm and 1pm–5pm. Call our Small Animal Hospital at 559-237-1125 to make an appointment.
Be sure to bring your pet by to see us and for more information, visit our small animal hospital page.
