Puppy and Adult Vaccination Protocols
A puppy receives temporary immunity against diseases from its vaccinated mother at birth. This immunity lasts from 6 to 16 weeks, varying with each individual puppy. If vaccinated when temporary immunity is still present, NO long-term immunity will result. If the time period between diminished temporary immunity and time of vaccination is too great, the puppy is susceptible to diseases such as Rabies, Distemper, and Parvovirus. We give monthly boosters between 6 and 16 weeks to ensure permanent immunity as soon as possible after the temporary immunity diminishes. We recommend keeping your puppy from public areas until it is fully vaccinated. After your puppy is fully vaccinated at 16 weeks it will then need vaccination at one year of age. At the year one vaccinations they may then be given a three year vaccination for certain diseases.
Annual vaccinations for dogs may vary depending on your geographic location. At Danforth Animal Hospital we require: Rabies vaccination (either a 1yr. or thereafter 3yr.), Distemper/Parvo (1yr and thereafter 3 yr.), and Bordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccinations (annually). We strive to stay compliant with the American Animal Hospital Association vaccination guidelines.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease. All warm-blooded animals are susceptible. The disease is spread when an infected animal bites another animal or person. The bat, skunk, and fox are the most commonly infected wild animals. Dogs and cats are the most commonly infected domestic animals. Your dog will be vaccinated for Rabies at 16 weeks or age with a one year rabies vaccine. When your dog is a year old and has their annual vaccinations done they may be able to receive a 3 year rabies vaccination.
Distemper is another common core vaccine that we require at Danforth. Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic dogs and other animals such as ferrets, skunks, and raccoons. It is a contagious, incurable, often fatal, multisystemic viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. Your dog will need to be vaccinated during the puppy series, then after the one year vaccinations, your dog will then be vaccinated every three years for Canine Distemper Virus.
Parvovirus is a common intestinal virus seen in young puppies. Puppies become infected with parvo through contact with the stool of an infected dog or contaminated environment. Although parvo is most common in puppies, all dogs should be vaccinated with either a 1 or 3 yr. vaccination for Canine Parvovirus. The most common clinical signs for parvo include, vomiting, lethargy, and bloody diarrhea.
Infectious tracheobronchitis is also known as kennel cough. This is a disease of the upper respiratory tract. Kennel cough is highly contagious and is spread rapidly from one dog to another. Dogs affected with kennel cough most commonly have a harsh, dry cough that is often followed by gagging and coughing up foamy mucus. The Bordetella vaccine is administered either intranasally or injected and needs to be boostered annually.
Please contact Danforth Animal Hospital if you have any questions about any of these common illnesses. We do require all of our canine patients to be vaccinated for the diseases discussed above. Your individual veterinarian can develop a vaccine protocol that best suits your pet’s medical needs.