When should dogs be vaccinated ?

Dogs should be vaccinated for the first time when they are young puppies (from 9 weeks of age - and occasionally earlier) to protect them against a number of important infectious diseases. They usually require more than one dose initially (called the primary course) followed by booster vaccinations at regular intervals to maintain protection.

Vaccination of dogs is required for movement across many International borders, and before dogs can enter boarding kennels or dog shows. The National Greyhound Racing Club in the UK insists on vaccination of dogs participating in the sport.

Canine Distemper Virus Vaccination

Maternal antibodies interfere with vaccination but will have declined sufficiently by 12 weeks of age. In some individuals it may have fallen by 8-9 weeks of age. For this reason two vaccine doses are usually advised - one at 9 weeks, the other at 12 weeks. In high risk environments (e.g. rescue centres) vaccination should be given as early as possible - even as young as 6 weeks if necessary. If protection is needed earlier because the puppy has been exposed to infected animals a measles vaccine can be used from 5 weeks of age.

An initial booster vaccination is usually advised at 12 months of age, followed by a booster every year, or every 2 years. Some vaccine manufacturers  now recommend Boosters every 3 years.

Licensed products in the UK are live vaccines, often incorporated in mixed vaccine

Measles Vaccine

Human measles virus shares some antigens with canine distemper virus and vaccination of dogs with measles vaccine will provide some cross-protection. This vaccine is used to protect puppies over 5 weeks of age if they are at risk of exposure to canine distemper virus.

Licensed products in the UK are live vaccines.

Canine Parvovirus Vaccine

Initially feline parvovirus vaccines were used to vaccinate dogs against canine parvovirus infection but now they are derived from the canine virus and these confer better immunity which lasts longer.

Even low concentrations of maternal antibodies (which can persist for 4-20 weeks in a puppy following birth) can interfere with the response to vaccination and there is a risk that puppies may be susceptible to field infection before they can mount a response to vaccination. Unless a puppy's antibody levels are measured at regular intervals (not practical under most conditions) vaccination should be given at 2-4 week intervals from 6 to 18 weeks of age. Boosters can be given every year, every 2 years, and some are now recommended to be given every 3 years.

Live vaccines can produce a viraemia and so they should not be given to pregnant bitches. The protection conferred by modified live virus vaccination probably exceeds a year, but annual boosters are usually advised.

An antiserum is available against canine parvovirus (prepared in combination with other antisera, including canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis virus, and leptospirosis)

Licensed products in the UK are live or killed (inactivated) vaccines, the latter contains adjuvant. They are often incorporated in mixed vaccines

Infectious Canine Hepatitis Virus Vaccine

Canine Parainfluenza Virus
Canine parainfluenza virus is a major cause of Infectious tracheobronchitis ( "kennel cough") syndrome in the USA and other countries and is thought to be involved in some cases in the UK.

The first vaccine is given from 6 weeks of age and the second dose is given at 12 weeks of age, or 3-4 weeks after the first vaccine.

Pregnant animals should not be vaccinated against parainfluenza virus.

Licensed products in the UK are live vaccines, they are often incorporated in mixed vaccines.

Leptospirosis
Two types of leptospirosis are mainly responsible for causing infection and disease in dogs - L interrogans canicola and L. interrogans icterohaemorrhagiae.

Maternal antibodies to Leptospirosis have gone in puppies by 8 weeks of age and so vaccination can be started then. Two doses are given for the primary course with 2-6 weeks between them .

Annual booster vaccinations are recommended.

Licensed products in the UK are killed (inactivated) vaccines. They are often incorporated in mixed vaccines.

An antiserum is available in combination with antisera to other diseases.

Rabies

NOTE : Rabies is a serious zoonosis that can be transmitted from animals to humans. In most countries of the world it is a notifiable disease.

See Rabies  for further information about the disease

Rabies vaccines can be given from 4 weeks of age, and a second dose is given at 12 weeks of age. If vaccinated for the first time after 12 weeks only one dose is needed. Booster vaccinations are needed every 2 years.

Licensed products in the UK are killed (inactivated) vaccines and contain adjuvant.

Pregnant animals should not be vaccinated.