VACCINES - ADULT CANINE & PUPPY

NOTE:  Vaccines form only a part of the complete puppy program.

• A Risk Assessment will be done for each patient to determine which combination of core and non core vaccines are needed.  This will involve answering a series of questions that will help determine which diseases your puppy or at dog is at risk of contracting.
• At the current time, annual vaccination is recommended for all dogs with the core vaccines.  Non core vaccines are given on an individual basis. 
• We are happy to discuss alternate vaccination protocols. 

Infections Protected for with Core Vaccines

Parvovirus

Canine Adenovirus 2

Canine Distemper Virus

Parainfluenza Virus

Infectious Canine Hepatitis

Rabies Virus

Infectious Agents for which we have Non-Core Vaccines

Lyme Disease

Leptospirosis

Bordetella

Giardia Parasite

Coronavirus

• We need to determine a realistic assessment of risk for each individual dog/puppy in order to determine what vaccine is given and how often it is given. 
• Some vaccines will deliver immunity (protection) for as long as 7 years others for as short at 7 months!

PUPPY CORE VACCINATION PROGRAM

• The age to begin vaccination depends on when your puppy was taken away from his/her mother and whether Mom was properly vaccinated with the core vaccines.
• Moms deliver antibodies in the colostrum (this is the name for milk that is the first drink of mother's milk that puppies get right after birth).  These antibodies help to protect against infection for a while but they gradually disappear and we must vaccinate to get the puppy's immunity levels back in a protective range.
• Boosters  are required at different times for different vaccines but in general every 3-4 weeks.
• How many boosters, again will depend on the age at which we are starting the vaccine program. 
• a typical vaccine program for the core vaccines is listed below.

• We have now adopted a program that assesses each individual pet for their risk of contracting a specific disease.  Vaccines may or may not be given depending on the individual pet's requirements. 
• Annual vaccination is recommended for Bordetella (Kennel Cough) and for Leptospirosis if the individual pet is at risk for contracting these diseases. 
• Add to the Core Vaccine Program vaccines from the Non-Core list that you feel your puppy is likely to be at risk.  For example if you plan on Boarding your puppy in a Boarding Kennel, or taking him/her to the groomer regularly where he/she will come into contact with many other dogs in a confined space, or if you make use of the leash free parks then consider adding in the vaccine for Bordetella.  Bordetella is the most common cause of Infectious Tracheobronochitis  (commonly referred to as Kennel Cough). 

Link to more information on vaccines and vaccination