Vaccinations: Dogs

Whether you have adopted a puppy or an adult, dogs of all ages need vaccines (or regular booster shots) to stay healthy and disease-free. You may be confused about the types and number of vaccinations appropriate for your dog, but the friendly staff at Affordable Animal Hospital Covina can explain each dog vaccine, what they do, and advise you of the appropriate vaccines for your dog that will protect against the risk of contracting a serious disease.

Types of Vaccines for Dogs

All vaccines are separated into categories representing vital vaccinations for every dog and non-vital vaccinations that are administered based on individual need. Those that are recommended for every dog are called “core” vaccines, while added specific vaccines are called “non-core.”

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines are typically used to protect against the most common and contagious canine diseases. Some diseases can be fatal, but the widespread use of vaccines has reduced the number of dogs contracting these diseases. Core vaccinations are usually performed when a dog is six to eight weeks old, after they stop nursing. They can include:

• anine parvovirus, which is a virus that causes gastrointestinal harm and can be fatal
• anine hepatitis, also known as CAV-1, can cause organ failure
• anine distemper, or a systemic disease impacting many of the body’s systems and functions
• abies, which can be contracted from many different species and is can spread to humans

Once the puppy is old enough to receive its first set of core vaccines, they will need additional injections until reaching sixteen weeks old.

Non-Core Vaccines

While every dog needs core vaccines, non-core vaccines may be optional but can protect your dog against a range of diseases based on lifestyle. Medical history, environment, and age can impact the number of appropriate non-core vaccinations. Non-core vaccines can consist of the following:

• Canine cough, or upper respiratory infections common in kennels and shelters
• Leptospirosis, or a bacterial disease transmitted through contact with an infected animal’s urine
• Canine influenza, which is similar to canine cough
• Lyme disease, which is a bacterial infection usually caused by ticks