Vaccines are an essential component of a complete preventive health program since they protect your pet from the most common viral and bacterial diseases that can be picked up during their daily activities. Over time, their immunity wears off, which is why vaccines need to be boosted. At Roncy Village Vet Clinic, we recommend a vaccine schedule that is tailored to your dog’s vaccine history and lifestyle and avoids over-vaccination while still keeping your dog completely protected.
What vaccines does my dog need?
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DA2PP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza): The DA2PP vaccine protects your dog from 4 core diseases that are common and highly contagious. Parvovirus and distemper in particular cause severe illness and are often fatal, even with intensive and expensive treatment.
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Rabies: Rabies has no treatment and is always fatal. It has been found in or near Toronto recently in bats, raccoons and skunks. Since rabies is also fatal to humans, dogs are required by law to be vaccinated against rabies, so keeping your dog up-to-date also protects them from strict public health quarantine laws if they have contact with a rabid bat or other animal.
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Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a deadly disease spread through wildlife urine that dogs can catch even if they don't leave their own backyard. It is also zoonotic, which means people can catch it from animals. It is optional but we strongly recommend it due to the high risk in our neighbourhood.
What other vaccines are available for my dog?
Additional vaccines that are optional based on your dog's lifestyle include:
- Bordetella (kennel cough): Kennel cough is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection that is unpleasant for your dog, but treatable. Since it is spread so easily though, it is often required by doggy daycares, boarding facilities and training classes, and is also recommended if your dog spends time in areas where dogs gather and socialize, like dog parks.
- Lyme Disease: The borrelia burgdorferi vaccine protects against the bacteria spread by tick that causes Lyme Disease. We recommend that dogs receive monthly parasite protection medication year-round to kill ticks, fleas, and heartworm, but if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors in tick-infested areas, this vaccine can provide additional protection.
How often does my dog need to get vaccines?
Once your dog has fully completed their puppy vaccine series, including booster vaccines when they are 16 months old to lock in their initial immunity, they can transition to an adult vaccination schedule. As long as they stay up to date, we only give rabies and DA2PP vaccines to adult dogs once every 3 years. If they miss a year, or if a dog’s vaccination history is unknown, they will need a booster one year later before returning to a 3 year schedule. The leptospirosis, bordetella and Lyme disease vaccines all target bacterial diseases rather than viruses and their immunity doesn’t last as long, so your dog needs a booster every year to remain protected.
Will my dog have side effects from their vaccines?
While every pet is different and reactions or allergies to a vaccine can occur, these are rare and are usually mild, such as soreness at the injection site, lethargy, or loss of appetite for a day. The veterinarian will always discuss potential vaccine risks with you and instruct you on what to watch for. Overall, the risks posed by vaccines are far lower than the risks of the diseases they protect your dog from.
Why does my dog have to get an exam with their vaccines?
Vaccines train your dog's immune system to recognize dangerous diseases, but if your dog is unwell then getting vaccines at the same time could put too much of a burden on their immune system. Additionally, if your dog’s immune system is already fighting something, it may not be strong enough to create antibodies in response to the vaccine, which means the vaccine will not work. This is why veterinarians are only allowed to give vaccines after performing a physical exam to ensure your dog is healthy at the time of vaccination.