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Puppies are initially protected by antibodies passed on to them by their mother. Over time these antibodies diminish in their ability to prevent disease. Protection is then dependent on the puppy’s own immune system. Vaccines stimulate the immune system in your pet so that protective antibodies are created to help fight natural disease. No vaccine is 100% protective and animals can still get sick from exposure to the natural disease, but the course of disease may be milder following vaccination. There are lots of vaccines available and it can be confusing to determine which vaccines are necessary for your pet. Rabies and “distemper” complex are given to every dog and are considered core vaccines. Depending on your pet’s job/lifestyle additional non-core vaccines such as kennel cough and lyme vaccine may be recommended by your veterinarian.- Canine Distemper – Distemper is a contagious viral disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. The disease is very contagious and is spread in bodily fluids such as saliva, urine, or tears. The virus can also be airborne. Symptoms can include fever, diarrhea, pneumonia, seizures, paralysis, and death. Approximately 50% of dogs with distemper die from the disease, but vaccination provides good protection.
- Canine Infectious Hepatitis – Hepatitis is a viral disease that can affect the liver, kidneys, eyes, and other organs. It is very contagious and is spread when healthy dogs ingest the urine, feces, or saliva of an infected dog. Symptoms can range from slight fever, congestion, clouding of the eye (blue eye) to prolonged bleeding, severe depression, and death.
- Canine Parvovirus – Parvovirus is a serious, highly contagious viral disease that attacks the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Parvovirus can survive in the environment for long periods of time. It can be spread through the dog’s hair or feet or through contaminated shoes, cages, and objects. The disease causes fever, loss of appetite, and severe vomiting and diarrhea that can quickly lead to dehydration. Death can occur due to complications of the disease.
- Leptosporosis – This is a disease caused by a bacteria which has multiple strains. It is carried in the urine of infected animals and is spread by contact with infected urine. (for example a dog drinking from a urine contaminated puddle) The disease causes kidney and liver disease which can be fatal. It is also contagious to people.
- Parainfluenza – This is a highly contagious respiratory disease which contributes to upper respiratory disease and infectious tracheobronchitis. Symptoms include a cough that may be intensified by activity or excitement. Typically the disease is self-limiting with a course of 5-10 days duration. However, secondary bacterial infections of the respiratory tract are not uncommon.
- Rabies Virus – Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the brain. It can infect all warm blooded animals including humans. It is usually a fatal disease. Rabies is the one disease that does not follow a set pattern. Classic rabies signs are aggression with a large amount of drooling. However any unvaccinated animal that shows “neurologic signs” must be considered a rabies suspect.
- Bordatella bronchisptica – This bacteria is one of the most common causes of canine upper respiratory disease complex, “Kennel cough.” Symptoms include a harsh, dry cough aggravated by activity or excitement. The cough is often followed by retching or gagging. It is highly contagious and it is recommended that animals who are in high dog traffic areas be vaccinated (ex: grooming, boarding, training classes)
- Lyme disease – Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that causes arthritis, kidney disease, and/or heart disease. It is carried by infected ticks that spread the disease when they bite and feed from the dog. The bacteria that causes lyme disease can “hide” in tissues of the body and allow lyme disease to go into remission and then reoccur at a later date. There are blood tests available to test for lyme disease.
Vaccine schedule
8, 12, 16 weeks – DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis)
12 weeks or older – Rabies
Annual DHLPP vaccination, Rabies – the first rabies vaccination is good good for one year and each one after that is good for three years.