Vaccinations for your Dog
There are many vaccines that are available for your dog. The list of vaccines provides a description of the disease they protect against for dogs.
Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital has made the change to administering our Core Vaccines to once-every-three years for each individual patient; this decision is based on age, health status, previous disease exposure, risk of future exposures, and home environment.
The doctors at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital do not routinely use all of these vaccines but instead, prefer to discuss the importance of each individual vaccine within the context of the lifestyle of your pet.
Core Vaccines for our Canine Patients:
Rabies:
This vaccine is given after your dog is 12 weeks of age and then at one year and every three years after that. Rabies is a severe disease that affects an animal's neurologic system and can make them more aggressive, stumble; seizure, and they can act like they are in a stupor. Conversely, wildlife with rabies will often act more friendly. Any warm-blooded animal can have and transmit rabies, but bats are the most common carriers in the northwest Rabies is transmitted through bite wounds. Rabies vaccination is so important because of the severity of the disease, the fact that it is an incurable disease, and because of the public health implication (people can contract rabies).
DHLPP (D=Distemper, H=Infectious Canine Hepatitis, L=Leptospirosis, P=Parainfluenza, P=Parvovirus):
This vaccine is given at 8, 10, 12, 16 and sometimes 20 weeks of age and then yearly.
Distemper:
A viral disease transmitted by aerosolization of infective droplets. It can cause neurologic disease, respiratory disease, conjunctivitis, and seizures.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis:
A viral disease that is shed in the urine and feces and is picked up through the oral and nasal cavity. It can cause a fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, coughing, and lethargy.
Leptospirosis:
This is a bacterial disease that is shed in the urine and can be found in standing water. It can cause liver and kidney disease manifesting as fever, inappetance, and increased thirst or decreased urine production. It is not a common disease in the Portland area.
Parainfluenza:
This is a virus transmitted by aerosolization. It is part of the kennel cough disease complex and often will manifest itself as a cough.
Parvovirus:
This is a viral disease that causes severe bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and can result in death if the animal is not treated promptly. It is shed in the feces of animals and can live in the environment for a long time.
Bordetella:
This is a bacterial disease that is part of the kennel cough complex. Animals with the disease will often present with a cough. The vaccine is recommended for dogs that are going to board in a kennel or will be around other dogs in a confined space (dog shows or obedience classes). The vaccine is given yearly but it is best to have your dog vaccinated 7-10 days before they arrive at the kennel.
Coronavirus:
This is a viral disease that can cause diarrhea (typically in very young puppies). It is sometimes given with the DHLPP vaccine on the same schedule (at 8,10,12,16 weeks and yearly thereafter). Since the virus rarely causes a disease in older animals, it is typically given only if it is required for boarding at specified kennels.
The rest of the vaccines listed are not commonly given at LVH because of:
- The low prevalence of the disease
- Concern about adverse reactions to the vaccines or the unproven efficacy of the vaccines
They are listed here to make you aware of them as further information regarding these vaccines as it becomes available.
Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferei):
This is a bacterial disease transmitted from ticks that typically causes arthritis and a fever. It has not been documented as originating in the Pacific Northwest so the vaccine is not routinely given at LVH. However, if your dog is traveling to an endemic area for the disease (most notably the Northeast), we can arrange to get this vaccine for you.
Giardia:
This is a protozoan that typically causes diarrhea. The disease is usually cleared by the animal but can become serious. This is a new vaccine that is given yearly. We do not routinely give this vaccine at LVH since the disease is usually self-limiting and typically responds well to treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vaccines
1. Why does my pet need a rabies vaccine? She never goes outside.
Rabies is an awful disease. It is a horrible way for an animal or person to die. Rabies virus is found in many of the wild life around our homes. An indoor pet can contract rabies from bats that make their way into our homes. A bat can squeeze through the tiniest opening in a screen over a window.
The bite from a bat is so small you may will not able to see it. Bats in the Pacific Northwest are assumed to be carriers of the Rabies virus. Unless you catch the bat and have it tested for rabies – you have to assume it is positive for the Rabies virus.
All people in the household would have to be inoculated against rabies. Your cat or dog, if not up to date on their Rabies vaccine, would have to be re-vaccinated and then watched for any signs of the disease process. If the pet has never been vaccinated for Rabies and the bat was positive for the virus; there is nothing that can be done to save that pet’s life.
2. Does my pet really need a vaccine very year?
We use multivalent vaccine which means they contain antigens against several diseases. Every element of these vaccines varies with respect to the length of the immunity it provides against its target disease. The length of protection will also vary from pet to pet. We are not sure that every pet needs to be vaccinated every year. What we do know is that for the some pets, an annual vaccine protocol may give them the best protections again most major infectious diseases. For pets that are older, have health issues, and other factors; an individualized vaccine protocol will be developed by the Doctors at Laurelhurst.
Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital Vaccine Reaction Handout
Your pet has received vaccinations today. Most pets show no outward signs of effects of the vaccines but a small percentage will have a vaccine reaction.
1. Normal Reactions:
Some pets, especially cats, will run a mild fever (102° – 104° F) and be slightly lethargic and not eat well for 36-48 hours after receiving vaccines. This is a normal response of the immune system to the vaccine and should not require treatment. Also, some pets may develop a small lump (up to the size of a quarter) at the site of the vaccine. If it occurs it should gradually get smaller and go away within 6-8 weeks.
Call the Veterinarian if your pet:- runs a fever for more than 48 hours or has a temperature of over 104°F.
- seems severely lethargic
- refuses to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
- develops a lump that does not go away after 4-8 weeks, continues to increase in size or bothers your pet.
- vomits repeatedly
- if you are concerned for any reason after your pet has received vaccinations
2. Allergic reactions:
In rare cases a pet may have an allergic reaction to a vaccine. These usually happen within the first few hours after the vaccine is given but may occur up to 72 hours after the injection. Allergic reactions usually require treatment.
Call the Veterinarian or seek after hours care at an emergency clinic if you notice any of the following:
- difficulty breathing
- hives ( red welts most visible on the stomach)
- swelling, especially of the eyes, lips or muzzle
- profuse vomiting or diarrhea
- excessive scratching, (may even draw blood) especially around the neck.
- extreme lethargy, inability to waken