Vaccinations
There are several diseases that puppies are vaccinated against. These are referred to as CORE and NON CORE vaccines.
CORE vaccines protect our dogs from diseases that are very prominent in the environment and considered deadly. The CORE vaccines are Distemper virus,
Parvo virus, Canine Hepatitis (Adeno virus), and Rabies.
NON - CORE vaccines are given for significant diseases that effect dogs but we don't necessarily vaccinate all dogs for them. These are Parainfluenza, Bordatella, Leptospirosis, Corona, and Lyme. These vaccines are optional and need to be discussed individually with your veterinarian depending on your dogs exposure risk.
We vaccinate puppies based on a schedule that attempts to build a puppy's immune system while the maternal antibodies are receding. There is no accurate way to measure the amount of maternal antibodies a puppy has in their system. So we vaccinate on a schedule that has proven over time to be the most effective for the highest number of puppies.
Once a dog has completed it's first adult dog vaccines, then the core vaccines are then repeated every three years.
There has been a lot of controversy over the frequency that adult dog vaccines should be given. Up until a few years ago, dogs were routinely given "booster vaccines" every year. At this point the american veterinary medical community has done consistent research, which has shown that, in the majority of dogs in the population, the antibodies made in the response to a vaccine are lasting well into the 3rd year. It is now suggested that CORE vaccines be only given every 3 yrs instead of every year. With further study, it may well be extended to 4 or 5 yrs.
There are other infectious diseases that have vaccines available and you can discuss adding these with your veterinarian if necessary. Vaccines were developed to combat common diseases. They work to stimulate a dog's immune system so that the dog develops antibodies against that disease. In order for a vaccine to work, the dog or puppy has to respond appropriately.
There are some factors that can interfere with the response to a vaccine. These include maternal antibodies, stress, and current health status. Unfortunately vaccines can fail to provide full protection. There are also some adverse reactions to vaccines. The most serious being allergic reactions. We must always weigh the benefits of a vaccine against the risks of the vaccine or the actual disease we are trying to protect against. Each animal is an individual and should be seen as that. You should always discuss your dog's lifestyle and health status with your veterinarian before proceeding with a vaccine protocol.
The following is the schedule that most veterinarians follow:
CORE VACCINATION SCHEDULE
9 weeks
Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis, +/- Corona.
(some states require Rabies at this age)
12 weeks
Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis, +/- Corona.
16 weeks
Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis, +/- Corona.
some states require Rabies at this age
12 - 16 months
Distemper, Parvo, Hepatitis, Rabies.
NON - CORE Vaccines
Parainfluenza and Bordatella.
This is because these are 2 organisms that can cause a respiratory condition called Kennel cough or infectious tracheobronchitis. If your dog goes in for boarding or grooming, these facilities, which house dogs in close quarters, allow communicable diseases to spread more easily, so it is required that dogs be vaccinated every 6 months or 2 weeks before boarding or grooming.
Leptospirosis
This is a very dangerous disease in certain parts of the country, especially here on Long Island! We vaccinate at 12 and 16 weeks of age then do yearly boosters, because we do not believe the vaccine works for more than a year. NOTE: this vaccine has been known to cause allergic reactions so your vet may want to do this separate from the other vaccines
Lyme Disease
There is a vaccine available but unfortunately has not been found to be very effective. At this point only those dogs at high risk for developing the disease are vaccinated.
We vaccinate at 12 and 16 weeks then yearly boosters.
Be sure to check out this month's companion article by Sass Levine about Stages of Puppy Development
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Dr. Ellen Leonhardt
Animal General
East Norwich
(516) 624-7500
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