Dog Vaccination Program
Proper dog care includes, in addition to good nutrition and exercise, regular vaccinations, which are critical to preventing serious and often fatal diseases. Vaccination helps protect not only the animal itself, but also the wider community, helping to control the spread of disease.
Basic Vaccines
The basic vaccines or core vaccines are those that are recommended for all dogs regardless of geographical area or lifestyle, due to the high risk of the diseases they cover. These vaccines include:
- Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal to both animals and humans. Rabies vaccination is mandatory in many countries and is usually required to be renewed annually or every three years, depending on the type of vaccine.
- Carre's Disease (Canine Distemper): This is a serious viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. The vaccine is administered to puppies with a booster dose on an annual basis.
- Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus-2): This disease causes inflammation of the liver and can be fatal. The vaccine provides protection and is usually given in combination with the parvovirus and Carre's disease vaccine.
- Parvovirus (Canine Parvovirus): A highly contagious and often fatal disease that affects the gastrointestinal system of dogs, especially puppies. The disease is known for its high mortality and requires urgent treatment.
"Optional" Vaccines
"Optional" (non-core) vaccines are administered based on the animal's risk of exposure to specific diseases. These vaccines include:
- Leptospirosis: A bacterial infection that can affect both animals and humans, causing severe kidney and liver damage.
- Infectious tracheobronchitis (Canine Parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica): Causes kennel disease, a respiratory infection that is particularly common in environments with large concentrations of dogs, such as shelters and kennels.
- Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi): This bacterial infection is spread through tick bites and can cause chronic arthritis and kidney disease.
- Leishmaniasis: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease transmitted mainly through the bites of mosquitoes (Phlebotomus). It is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum and can lead to severe damage to organs such as the liver, kidneys and skin. In areas where the disease is endemic, such as the Mediterranean, vaccination is considered critical to protect the dog. The leishmaniasis vaccine is usually started when the puppy is at least 6 months old and is repeated annually.
Vaccination Schedule
The vaccination schedule for dogs varies depending on the animal's age, size, health and lifestyle. In general, puppies start vaccinating from 6-8 weeks of age with booster doses every 3-4 weeks until 16-20 weeks of age. Adult dogs that have not been vaccinated as puppies should receive two doses of the core vaccines 3-4 weeks apart.
Sources
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) , 2020 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines. Available at: aaha.org
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) , Vaccination Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Available at: wsava.org
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , Rabies in Dogs. Available at: cdc.gov
- World Health Organization (WHO) , Leishmaniasis. Available at: who.int
Proper vaccination is critical to the health and longevity of dogs. Always consult your veterinarian to establish the appropriate vaccination schedule for your dog.
