Which Dog Vaccinations are Necessary?

---

Dog Vaccine Schedule

Dog vaccines are low cost and easy to administer. Mail-order vaccines are a perfect solution for owners seeking a cheap vaccine option.

Core Dog Vaccines

Core vaccines are considered vital to all pets based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans. Vaccines for canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies are considered core vaccines.

Vaccines designated as core should be administered to all dogs. However, because exposure risk to vaccine-preventable disease varies, selected non-core vaccines may be recommended as core in individual practices depending on geographic region, patient lifestyle, and age.

Beginning as early as 6 weeks, vaccinate healthy puppies for core vaccines at 2-3 week intervals until at least 16 weeks of age. Give at least 2 shots.

To determine the best combination for your pet, visit the lifestyle-based vaccine calculator, provided by the American Animal Hospital Association.

Dog Vaccines Rabies

Rabies vaccination of dogs is the only companion animal vaccine required by law. Rabvac-3 Rabies Vaccine is available for healthy dogs. Some states require that rabies vaccines be administered by a licensed veterinarian. In addition, most local laws require the vaccination include a certificate and tag, which are only available through your veterinarian.

Non-core Dog Vaccine: Kennel Cough

The Bordetella vaccine is a non-core vaccine that is commonly given to dogs that are frequently exposed to other dogs in boarding or social settings. Canine Bordetella Bronchiseptica, also known as kennel cough, is a bacterial respiratory tract infection transmitted by nasal and oral secretions. A harsh cough may last 1-3 weeks. Bordetella infections can occur alone or in combination with other respiratory problems.

The Bordetella vaccine is given to both puppies and adult dogs. Consult your veterinarian to determine when or if your dog needs the Bordetella vaccine.

In general, healthy adult dogs that come into contact with large groups of other dogs should have a Bordetella vaccine annually, and boarding facilities may require a booster within the last six months.

If puppies are at high risk for kennel cough, vaccinate puppies at 3-6 weeks old. Puppies vaccinated for kennel cough between 3 and 6 weeks old should be revaccinated at 6 weeks.

Dog Vaccines Cost

Click on the product links for current dog vaccine costs and promotions.

 *Core Vaccines

---

Vaccine Prevention for Common Dog Diseases

Let's look at dog vaccines, letter by letter. We'll look at each letter and the disease it stands for, and then examine some of the most common combinations.

The most common dog injectable vaccine products found in the combination products may have the letters D, A2, H, P, PV, Pv, CPV, CV, CVK, L, and L4.

"D" stands for distemper.

Distemper is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that often results in the death of the dog. It affects the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system. If the dog survives the initial infection, the illness often spreads to the nervous system, causing death. There is no specific treatment except supportive care, and over half the infected dogs die. Additionally, many more have to be euthanized due to seizures and other chronic problems. Vaccination is the key to prevention and all dogs that are able to be vaccinated should receive distemper vaccinations.

"H" and "A2" stand for hepatitis (adenovirus type 1) and adenovirus type 2.

The disease that both these vaccines protect against is infectious canine hepatitis. This illness is caused by a virus, the canine adenovirus type 1. Both canine adenovirus type 1 and type 2 are used to make vaccinations, so you may see both in the name of the vaccine. Canine infectious hepatitis can cause liver and blood vessel disease. Dogs may recover from the disease, die rapidly, or develop chronic liver problems. There is no specific treatment, except supportive therapy. Vaccination is highly effective at protecting dogs from this illness and all dogs that are able to be vaccinated should receive canine infectious hepatitis vaccinations.

"P" typically stands for parainfluenza.

Parainfluenza is a virus that causes respiratory infections in dogs. It is also one of the culprits involved in infectious canine bronchitis, commonly called “kennel cough.” Vaccination with parainfluenza vaccine is important to protect dogs from respiratory disease. All dogs that are able to be vaccinated should receive parainfluenza vaccine as part of their vaccination regime.

"PV", "Pv", "CPV", and sometimes "P" stand for canine parvovirus.

This highly contagious viral disease is a well-known cause of gastrointestinal disease and death in many dogs. It is especially lethal to young dogs or those with inadequate immune systems. Because there is no specific cure, treatment is primarily intensive in-hospital nursing and supportive care. Vaccination can be highly effective at reducing the disease. Canine parvovirus vaccination should be included in the vaccination regime of all dogs that are able to receive vaccinations.

"CV" and "CVK" stand for coronavirus disease.

This contagious viral disease causes intestinal illness that can be mild or severe, and has been associated with death, especially in young puppies. It is especially dangerous if it infects a dog at the same time as canine parvovirus. As with the other viral diseases, there is no specific therapy that eliminates the virus. Animals are treated with supportive and nursing care. It is often included in the vaccinations given to young dogs, as well as older animals.

"L" and "4L" stand for leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can cause several problems, including liver and kidney disease. The illness may be acute or chronic, inapparent or severe, and can cause death. The bacteria exist in many different subtypes, called serovars. Several of these serovars are known to cause disease in dogs. Most available vaccines protect against two of these serovars, L. canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae. A few vaccines protect against two additional serovars, L. grippotyphosa and L. pomona. It is important to read the vaccine label carefully to identify which serovars are present in the vaccine. Although vaccination against leptospirosis is very important for many dogs, not all dogs should receive this vaccine. Discuss the use of leptospirosis vaccine with your veterinarian.

 

---

Dog Combination Vaccines

There are six major components in the canine combination vaccines:

• distemper
• hepatitis (adenovirus type 1 and type 2)
• parainfluenza
• parvovirus
• coronavirus
• leptospirosis

The various combination vaccines have numbers and groups of letters to describe the vaccines present in each product. Because many manufacturers make similar types of vaccine, you may find more than one brand of each combination vaccine.

During production, vaccines are put together in different combinations to meet the needs of all types of dogs in all types of situations. Each vaccine will have a manufacturer's name, a product name, and a listing of the diseases covered by the product. The specific vaccines that you pick for your dogs will depend on several variables, including their ages, previous vaccinations, and their potential exposure to disease. Vaccines can be purchased with only one component, such as an individual parvovirus vaccine or coronavirus vaccine. However, for most dogs, combination vaccines are commonly used.
Check out Dog Vaccines from PetSuppliesDelivered here  

---

About Pet Supplies Delivered

In 1964 in the Omaha Stockyards, a vet named “Doc” had an innovative idea: cattle ranchers could save time, money, and lives by administering their own vaccinations. This visionary idea, and Doc’s pioneering spirit, continue today in Pet Supplies Delivered, the company he started. Doc’s vision lives on with Pet Supplies Delivered putting medical treatment directly in the hands of consumers when they need it and at a lower price.

Pet Supplies Delivered offers:

• Vaccine shipments prepared in a styrofoam cooler with ice packs to protect products from sunlight, extreme heat and cold
• A licensed pharmacy, staffed by licensed pharmacists, giving you the assurance your vaccine and prescription items are handled legally and properly
• Same day shipping on vaccine orders placed before 2:00 p.m. CST on Monday-Thursday

 

---

Tweet

---

Updated August 17, 2020