What are dog vaccinations?
Vaccinations are another tool we use to boost the immunity of your dog.
Dr. Jim Martin
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
How do vaccinations impact the health and well-being of my dog?
Vaccines boost immunity and help protect your dog against risks and challenges that they're exposed to daily.
Are vaccinations required by law?
Some vaccines, such as the rabies vaccine, are required by law. The requirements depend on the municipality you live in.
Does my dog's lifestyle factor into what vaccinations my veterinarian will recommend?
We always consider the lifestyle of the pet. Using this information, we create a customized vaccine schedule to ensure your dog gets the vaccines it needs based on risk and exposure.
How soon should I get my dog vaccinated?
Usually, we start vaccinating puppies between six and eight weeks of age. If you have a new dog and you don't have a vaccine history, we recommend you bring them in immediately for the veterinarian to make a decision.
Do I really need to avoid allowing my puppy to socialize with other dogs until they're fully vaccinated?
We recommend minimizing socialization with dogs whose health you are not familiar with. For example, it's probably a good idea to avoid areas like dog parks, lakes, and other public areas where you don't know the health of other dogs.
Why is it important to avoid missing a dog vaccine?
The goal of dog vaccines is to boost immunity, which may require multiple vaccines. There is a timeline for boosters, as immunity can start to fade. If dogs don't get the right vaccines on schedule, there may be a break in their immunity.
What are the typical puppy and dog vaccination schedules?
Once we vaccinate, we vaccinate again within two to four weeks. For puppies, we usually continue until about 15 to 16 weeks of age. For adult dogs, it's sometimes once a year, sometimes every three years.
What diseases are prevented with vaccinations?
It depends on which vaccine you use. Here at Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital, we typically protect pets against Bordetella (kennel cough), Leptospirosis, Rabies virus, Distemper, and Parvo virus, and the canine influenza virus.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Dog Vaccination - FAQs 1
Dr. Jim Martin
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
Are there any risks associated with dog vaccinations?
There may be some risks associated with dog vaccinations. Typically, we don't see a lot of vaccine reactions, but there's always the risk for something like a vaccine reaction. These reactions can range from very mild to severe ones. However, the risk is generally small.
Are there ways to minimize any risks associated with my dog's vaccinations?
The most important thing is to discuss your pet's lifestyle with the veterinarian and determine which vaccines are actually needed, so you're not over-vaccinating. When there is some type of risk of a reaction, pre-vaccine medications are sometimes given to reduce and minimize that risk.
Are vaccinations painful to my dog?
Typically, the only thing your dog might feel as far as pain might be at the injection site when we're actually giving it, which is very minimal. Just like when we receive a vaccine, they might feel a little pinch or a sting. But for the most part, they're not painful.
Can my dog get cancer from a vaccine?
It is very unlikely your dog would get cancer from a vaccine. There's very little data out there that suggests that dogs can get cancer from a vaccination.
Can my dog have an allergic reaction to a vaccine?
Yes, it is possible. Some dogs do have reactions to vaccines that can be in the form we call an anaphylactic hypersensitivity reaction.
Is it safer to opt out of any non-core dog vaccinations?
That depends. If your dog lives a lifestyle that there's no risk to those vaccines, then it's safe to go ahead and opt out of those.
Are there certain side effects associated with my dog vaccinations?
Some side effects could be pain at the injection site, as we discussed earlier. It could also be that your dog has an anaphylactic or hypersensitivity reaction.
Are certain dog breeds prone to adverse reactions to vaccinations?
Good question. Some theories suggest that smaller breeds are more prone to have vaccine reactions. Additionally, dogs that are unhealthy might be at higher risk for a vaccine reaction.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Dog Vaccination - FAQs 2
Dr. Jim Martin
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
Are all puppy and dog vaccinations necessary?
That depends on which vaccines you're talking about, and it also depends on the lifestyle of the dog. But vaccines are very important, and we consider them necessary for good health for dogs and cats.
What are the core dog vaccinations?
The core dog vaccines that typically are administered are distemper, parvovirus, and the rabies vaccine.
Are core dog vaccinations mandatory?
The only one that's mandatory is the rabies vaccine.
What are the non-core vaccinations, and why does my dog need them?
Some of the non-core vaccines might be things like Bordetella, which is kennel cough. So if your dog is going to a boarding facility or daycare or the dog park. The dog influenza vaccine. Leptospirosis, which is a bacteria in the environment. Those vaccines might not be necessary if your dog is not in that type of lifestyle.
Does my senior dog still need core vaccinations?
I think that's a really good question to ask your veterinarian. That depends on your senior dog's overall general health and, again, the lifestyle, what they're exposed to.
Dog Vaccination - FAQs 3
Dr. Jim Martin
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
When does my puppy or dog need to be vaccinated?
Typically, we recommend puppies to start their vaccine schedule between six and eight weeks of age. For adult dogs, this depends on their lifestyle. They usually come in once a year for vaccines. Some may be annual vaccines, others may be administered every three years.
How many times a year does my dog need vaccinations?
Once they finish their puppy vaccines and become adults, dogs should come in for vaccinations annually. However, depending on their lifestyle, some vaccines are given once a year and some every three years.
Can there be any variations in the puppy and dog vaccine schedules?
With puppies, we try to administer vaccines between two and four weeks of age – not sooner than two weeks or later than four weeks. With adult dogs, there can be slight variations in when they come in, whether that's at 11 months or 13 months, but we try to maintain a regular schedule.
Is it safe to get multiple dog vaccinations at the same time?
Yes, it is safe and a common practice to administer multiple vaccines at the same time. However, this depends on your dog's lifestyle and health.
What is titer testing and is it effective?
Titer testing involves measuring the levels of antibodies in the dog's system. As to its effectiveness, it's challenging to determine whether a certain level of antibodies in a dog's system is enough to prevent the dog from developing any illness from the risks they're exposed to.
Does my puppy need to restart boosters if they miss a vaccine?
We typically recommend restarting the booster schedule if your puppy misses their scheduled vaccine more than four to five weeks.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram