Vaccination Guidelines for Your Canine Companion

Originally published in TC Dog in 2006.

When I was growing up, there were very few questions asked when it came to "the annual vet visit." We would bring our family dog to the clinic for her shots and basic exam and that was that. As a matter of fact, I was always under the impression that the vaccines were the main reason we took our dog to the veterinary clinic. Fortunately, times have changed, and the days of taking a pet in to the vet every year just for shots are a thing of the past.

The issues concerning vaccinations for our companion animals are receiving more attention and research. We are now asking important questions about the frequency of administration, safety, and the need for all the vaccines our pets are getting. The process of giving a vaccine today should be looked at as a medical decision and procedure and as only one component of a comprehensive preventative health plan for your pet. There are many factors that should be taken into account before a vaccine is given. There are advantages and disadvantages of vaccinations that both a veterinarian and owner should consider prior to immunization.

The advantages of a vaccinations program are obvious. A widespread canine vaccination program has played a crucial role in the prevention of infectious diseases in veterinary medicine and has had many benefits. Vaccines instruct dogs' immune systems to build memory to disease-causing viruses and bacteria in the environment-which allows us to take our dogs to the dog park without fear for their health each time we see an unfamiliar pet. Today, canine distemper and parvovirus are relatively uncommon diseases as a result of vaccinations. In the absence of serious infectious disease problems, our pets can spend much more of their time with us in good health.

Alternatively, it is now known that some vaccines may be unnecessary and their use may actually increase the risk of adverse reactions. Evidence implicating vaccines in triggering immune-mediated and other chronic disorders (vaccinosis) is compelling. While some of these problems have been traced to contaminated batches of vaccine that essentially caused the disease they are intended to prevent, others reflect the pet's individual genetic reaction to single or "combo" vaccines. Adverse reactions can be immediate, one to two days later, or 10-45 days later. Signs may include vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of the face, stiffness, sore joints, abdominal tenderness, susceptibility to infections, nervous system disorders, bruising, etc. In addition, there are studies that show the duration of immunity from many vaccines is at least three years. In fact, current accepted guidelines are now advocating revaccinations for certain core vaccines every three years instead of the annual booster. At our Minneapolis practice, we feel it is important to limit the number of vaccinations administered at any one time. In doing so, there may be less risk of a vaccine-elicited reaction, and we can document how a dog responds to each vaccine administered.

Finally, when we consider if and when a dog needs to be vaccinated, its health status, breed, age, risk of exposure, geographic location/environment, lifestyle, travel habits, and past medical and vaccination history are important variables to assess. It is quite a list of things to consider! In other words, an older dog with chronic allergies will likely have a different vaccination protocol than a young hunting dog. Vaccines are given to healthy animals and should not be administered if an animal has any current infections or is undergoing any surgical procedures. Vaccine administration is in serious question if an animal has an immune-mediated disease such as lupus or cancer.

A core vaccine is one that is universally recommended and generally all dogs should receive. In contrast, a non-core vaccine is considered optional. It is administered selectively based on a dog's geographic and lifestyle exposure and an assessment of the risk/benefit ratio. There are also vaccines that are not recommended as stated by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

The following vaccine protocol is the general recommendation of my veterinary practice, but it may be modified. It includes the core vaccines and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian are not valid. It is a matter of professional judgement and choice.

Recommended Core Canine Vaccine Protocol 10 weeks of age Distemper, Parvo, Adenovirus (DPA) 14 wks DPA 18 wks (if needed) DPA 20 wks or older Rabies 1 year DPA 1 year Rabies (three-year product) given three to four weeks apart from distemper/parvo booster

Adult Dogs I recommend performing antibody titers for DPA on an annual basis to assess an animal's immune memory status (from the vaccine) to determine when or if the next DPA vaccine should be given. We also advocate titers when a pet has had an adverse vaccine reaction or if it has a chronic disease and we therefore want to keep all vaccines to a minimum. A titer test involves drawing a blood sample and takes up to two weeks to receive the results from an outside lab. Rabies vaccine should be given only once every three years, as required by Minnesota state law.

The common non-core vaccines are those that protect against Lyme disease, kennel cough (the bordetella vaccine), and leptospirosis. They are not routinely recommended unless your dog is determined to be at an increased risk of exposure.

The vaccines for giardia and coronavirus are not recommended. The giardia vaccine may prevent shedding of the disease, but it does not prevent infection. The prevalence of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease does not justify vaccination, and there has been no demonstrated value from this vaccine. Clinical disease rarely occurs and, when seen, it is typically mild and self-limiting. This vaccine is not even recommended for dogs in animal shelters.

Visiting your veterinarian on an annual basis is an important part of maintaining your pet's good health. After the health of your pet has been assessed, you and your veterinarian can work together to customize a vaccination protocol for your pet.