Canine Vaccines

Core Vaccines vs. Non-Core Vaccines

Core canine vaccines are vaccines that are recommended for all dogs regardless of their individual lifestyle because the viruses can be contracted from the environment and wildlife traveling through your pet's areas. There is no treatment for these viruses; ideally, we prevent your pet from ever getting ill. However, if an unvaccinated pet gets exposed to one of these viruses, the best course of action is to provide veterinary supportive care treatment, although this is no guarantee of survival. Prevention is MUCH cheaper than treatment for any of these diseases.

Rabies: Rabies is a fatal virus that is easily prevented. This is a disease that is also zoonotic, meaning that it can be transferred to humans. Rabies occurs every year in Kansas in wildlife - mainly bats and skunks. This vaccine is given one time as a puppy, around 16 weeks of age, and then is repeated once yearly or every 3 years (as a three-year vaccine) depending on the dog's environment and age. *Please note: Franklin County doesn't require rabies vaccination, but Wellsville Animal Hospital does require current rabies vaccine for your pet to be treated, if your pet is medically stable. 

DA2PP: Often referred to as a "distemper vaccine", but in reality, is a combination vaccine that covers Distemper Virus, Adenovirus-2, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza virus.

• Distemper virus is a highly contagious virus that is known to cause respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological disease. There is no known cure for this virus. Extensive supportive care is needed for the best outcome of this virus but can often still result in death.
• Adenovirus-2 vaccine aids immunity against Adenovirus types 1 and 2. Adenovirus-1 causes canine infectious hepatitis while type-2 causes respiratory disease. These diseases are usually self-limiting and often do not need treatment. Type-1 can lead to neurological disease and bleeding diseases which can lead to death, though this is a rare occurrence. 
• Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus transmitted through feces that effects rapid replicating cells such as white blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract. Mortality is greater than 90% when left untreated. Treatment is supportive and often requires days to weeks of hospitalization. 
• Parainfluenza vaccine protects against another virus that causes upper respiratory disease in dogs. Most infections are mild and self-limiting. However, it can be harmful in immunocompromised individuals. 

This vaccine series should be given as 3-4 total vaccines, starting as a puppy around 6 weeks of age, 10 weeks, 14 weeks. and 18 weeks of age. Then, repeated yearly to every 3 years (as a 3-year vaccine) depending on the dog's environment and age. 

Non-Core Vaccines

Non-core vaccinations are recommended based on the individual dog's lifestyle and exposure risk. 

Bordetella: This vaccine protects against the most common cause of "kennel cough", Bordetella bronchiseptica. This bacterium is highly contagious and causes mild to severe respiratory disease in dogs. Most cases are mild and require only supportive care as treatment, however, the severe cases can lead to pneumonia and death if left untreated. The Bordetella vaccine does not cover all of the causes of "kennel cough" as there are several. This vaccine is highly recommended for dogs that go to grooming, boarding and dog parks. 

Leptospirosis: This vaccine protects against a bacteria called Leptospira which causes acute (sudden) kidney and liver failure. This bacterium is often harbored in sources of water, such as puddles, ponds, lakes and rivers. Many rodents and other wildlife carry these bacteria and are the primary cause of transmission. This bacterium is zoonotic (transmissible to humans). Though this is not considered a core vaccine. Dr. Hoyt highly recommends this vaccine for dogs in the area, making it a part of the puppy vaccination series in all at risk dogs. 

This vaccine is given twice as a puppy and around 14 -18 weeks of age, then repeated annually. 

Influenza (combination): This vaccine covers H3N8 and H3N2 influenza viruses. These strains can cause a severe upper respiratory disease in some dogs, while others are carriers not exhibiting any symptoms. This is a highly contagious virus and can spread very quickly and efficiently. We have yet to have any cases in our area, but if your dog travels with you, a discussion with Dr. Hoyt to review health risks is highly recommended. 

This vaccine series consists of two initial vaccines 3-4 weeks apart and then repeated annually.