Dogs Immunizations to Maintain Your Dogs Health

If you have a dog as a pet, it is advised that you get it vaccinated regularly. It is not only recommended by veterinarians, but in many cases, it is required by law to get certain types. For instance, rabies is a very dangerous disease that can be transmitted from dogs to humans. This would be one of those diseases that the law requires vaccinations, for obvious reasons.

Vaccinations for dogs are divided into two categories: Core and non-core. Core vaccines are the ones that all dogs need to have. Non-core vaccines are only recommended for certain situations.

Core vaccines include:

• Rabies: This vaccine has been highly successful and is effective according to the type administered. Side effects have been known to happen but the risk is quite low.
• Parvovirus: The vaccine offers an impressive rate of success and is effective for about 1 year. Side effects are minimal to none.
• Hepatitis: Your dog will be protected for approximately 1 year with this vaccine. Side effects are rare. The canine adenovirus-2 and CAV-2 are the only recommended vaccines to use.
• Canine Distemper: A very effective vaccine, it offers immunity for 1 year, with minimal to no side effects.

Non-Core vaccines include:

• Measles: It seems that dogs can get this disease as well as humans. However, it is only administered in situations of high risk canine distemper, and only in puppies that are 4 - 10 weeks old.
• Respiratory Disease caused by CAV-2: This is only given as needed annually, and has few side effects.
• Para Influenza: Dogs who are in shows, kennels, shelters or other large groups are advised to get this vaccine. It can be given annually or as often as needed.
• Lyme: Given annually, this one is effective in dogs with no previous exposure.
• Leptospirosis: Varying degrees of effectiveness is provided by this vaccine, and on some dogs it has no effect at all.
• Bordetella: This is an intranasal vaccine that needs to be administered 2 weeks before the dog is exposed.
• Corona Virus: There is not a lot of effectiveness in this one but is administered to dogs in kennels, shows, shelters, and breeding facilities.

There is a vaccine that combines adenovirus, hepatitis, distemper, Para Influenza, and parvovirus called the 5-way vaccine. There are some of the combinations that also add the Leptospirosis and the corona virus.

If you have a new dog or puppy, there is a recommended schedule to follow for vaccinations to be administered. The first one is parvovirus which should be given at 5 weeks of age. When your puppy is 6 weeks and then again at 9 weeks, it should receive the combination vaccine with Leptospirosis and corona virus excluded.

The rabies and combination vaccines should be received at 12 weeks. The combination vaccine should be administered again at 15 weeks. If Lyme is considered a threat, it should also be given during this same timeframe. When you have adult dogs, they need to receive the combination vaccine and the rabies vaccine. This is also the time to get the corona virus and Leptospirosis vaccines if there is a threat.

If you have any questions about when your dog needs to be vaccinated and what those vaccines should be, always check with your veterinarian.