Vaccines for Dogs

Laurie Anne Walden, DVM

Dogs often receive vaccines during their veterinary wellness visits. But what are all of those shots for? This article describes the diseases that canine vaccines help prevent.
 
Vaccines save lives and are safe, but your dog might not need every vaccine available. Vaccination is a medical procedure, and the choice of vaccines to use is specific to each dog. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s risk factors. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) lifestyle-based vaccine calculator is a good starting point.
 
Canine vaccines fall into 2 categories: core vaccines, which are recommended for all dogs, and noncore vaccines, which are recommended for dogs whose lifestyle and environment put them at risk of infection.
 
Core vaccines
Rabies
Rabies vaccination is mandated by law in the United States. In North Carolina, all dogs, cats, and ferrets older than 4 months must be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies is caused by a virus that is spread through the saliva of infected mammals. After an incubation period that can last up to several months, the virus attacks the brain. Infection is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
 
The rabies vaccine is an example of an animal vaccine that also protects human health. Read more about rabies in the blog post about NC rabies laws.
 
Canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus 2, and parvovirus
Vaccines against canine distemper virus, adenovirus 2, and parvovirus are included in a single combination vaccine.
 
Canine distemper virus infection causes fever and respiratory symptoms (runny nose and coughing) before it proceeds to the nervous system, resulting in seizures and possibly death. Dogs that survive the initial infection can have nervous system abnormalities for the rest of their lives.
 
Canine adenovirus 1 causes infectious canine hepatitis, a potentially fatal liver disease that also affects blood clotting ability. The vaccine against adenovirus 1 can have unwanted effects, so the currently recommended vaccine targets canine adenovirus 2, a variant that causes respiratory illness. The adenovirus 2 vaccine protects against both virus variants.
 
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious, sometimes fatal infection spread through the feces of infected animals. Puppies and incompletely vaccinated dogs are most likely to be infected. Parvovirus causes severe intestinal disease (diarrhea and vomiting) and disrupts immune function.
 
Antibody tests (vaccine titers) are available for canine distemper virus, adenovirus 2, and parvovirus and may be an alternative to vaccination for some dogs.
 
Noncore vaccines
Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus
Infectious tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria. Bordetella bronchiseptica (a bacterium), canine parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus, and canine adenovirus 2 are some of the organisms that cause kennel cough. Kennel cough is usually mild, but some dogs develop more serious illness. Kennel cough vaccines target Bordetella and sometimes parainfluenza virus. Parainfluenza virus vaccine is also included in some combination distemper/parvovirus vaccines.
 
Leptospira
Leptospirosis is caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria. This infection is zoonotic: it can spread between animals and humans. Leptospira are carried by many animal species, including wildlife and farm animals, and are usually transmitted through urine. Animals become infected through any contact with infected urine, including exposure to contaminated water or soil. Leptospirosis ranges from mild illness to kidney failure, liver failure, and death.
 
Canine influenza virus
Like kennel cough, canine influenza is a very contagious respiratory illness. Most dogs develop the mild form of flu, but the disease progresses to pneumonia in some dogs and can be fatal. Two strains of influenza virus are known to cause canine flu. AAHA recommends vaccinating at-risk dogs against both strains.
 
Borrelia burgdorferi
The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease that causes fever and lameness in many animal species, including dogs and humans. North Carolina is currently on the border of one of the geographic areas with a high risk for Lyme disease.
 
For more information
Canine vaccination guidelines (AAHA)
Vaccinations (American Veterinary Medical Association)
 
Photo by Jay Wennington

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