Canine Vaccines

Core Vaccines

​In dogs, the core vaccines include rabies, distemper and parvovirus.  All three of these viruses can be fatal to your pet.  

Parvovirus

Parvovirus is of most concern in puppies or unvaccinated dogs.  Parvovirus is very stable and can survive in the environment for years.  It causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting and bloody diarrhea.  Many pets will require intensive treatment, and some will not survive parvovirus infection.  This makes it very important to get your puppy vaccinated, and to limit where you bring your puppy prior to having vaccines.

distemper

​Distemper is another often fatal virus that usually affects puppies or unvaccinated dogs.  Distemper can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, and the nervous system causing severe symptoms including coughing, nasal discharge, vomiting and diarrhea, and seizures. 

Adenovirus and Parainfluenza

​Adenovirus and parainfluenza virus are also part of our distemper vaccine.  Adenovirus can cause liver failure and bleeding problems that require supportive care and often blood transfusions, but can be fatal.  Parainfluenza virus is one of the viruses that contributes to infectious tracheobronchitis and is transmitted in the air.

Rabies

​Rabies is not only fatal to pets, but also to humans.  It is transmitted through saliva of infected animals often via a bite wound.  Rabies is fatal to people which makes rabies virus and vaccination in pets very important.  Recently there have been an increased number of wildlife testing positive to rabies in Ontario.  Keeping your dog or cat up to date on their rabies vaccine is required by law, and is especially important in the occasion that your pet is in contact with a wild animal such as a bat or raccoon.   The rabies vaccine is also important for indoor cats and small dogs since there are occasions of wildlife getting indoors and cats have been known to chase bats that have found their way inside homes. 

Non-Core/Lifestyle Vaccines

​Non-core vaccines or lifestyle vaccines will be recommended based on your pets lifestyle.  These include bordetella, leptospirosis and Lyme vaccines.

Bordetella - Kennel Cough

​For dogs that are boarded at a dog kennel or frequent areas that have large numbers of dogs, the bordetella or kennel cough vaccine is recommended.  Bordetella bronchiseptica is involved in infectious tracheobronchitis or kennel cough.  It is transmitted in the air and is highly contagious between dogs.  It causes a dry, hacking cough.  Since kennel cough affects the respiratory system, an oral or nasal vaccine is usually used as they provide better immunity.  We recommend having the vaccine administered at least 1 week prior to your pet being boarded at a dog kennel to allow them time to respond to the vaccine and build immunity.

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Leptospirosis

​Leptospirosis is a bacteria that is transmitted in urine or contaminated water.  Leptospirosis usually targets the kidneys, but can also cause liver disease.  It is often carried by livestock and raccoons, so dogs who frequent farms, or are in areas that have raccoons around are recommended to have the leptospirosis vaccine.

Lyme

​The Lyme vaccine is also available – it protects against borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that is transmitted by deer ticks and causes Lyme disease.  This vaccine is most often recommended only for dogs that have a lot of exposure to ticks, but is used less now that we have more effective tick medications. 

​Talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s lifestyle so we can best determine which vaccines your dog needs.  We use a rotating vaccine protocol to avoid over vaccinating your dog, and will only vaccinate for diseases that your dog is at risk for.