Vaccinating your pet is one of the easiest, most effective ways to protect them from deadly diseases. Only a few vaccines are available for cats, but the options may seem endless for dogs. Aloha Veterinary Hospital follows the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) canine vaccine guidelines, which help veterinarians determine the vaccines an individual dog needs. Our vaccine protocols are never one-size-fits-all because each pet’s disease risk is different depending on their lifestyle. Here are a few commonly asked dog vaccine questions to help you better understand the reasoning behind our recommendations.

How do dog vaccines work?

Vaccines introduce killed or inactivated organisms to your dog’s immune system, which then produces antibodies to fight the organism in the future. Making antibodies takes time, and often the response to a single dose of vaccine is not adequate, so booster doses are given two to four weeks later. The antibody response from a second exposure is much stronger than the first, providing long-lasting protection. 

Why do puppies need so many vaccines?

Puppies receive some antibodies from their mother’s milk, but the protection only lasts for a few weeks before waning dramatically, and the antibodies can interfere with vaccine antibodies. This competition makes it difficult to determine when vaccines will be fully effective, so we start giving core vaccines at 6 weeks of age and repeat them every two to four weeks until at least 16 weeks, when we know for sure maternal immunity has worn off. Non-core vaccines are started when puppies are a bit older and require a series of two shots. Rabies is the exception to most vaccine rules because the vaccine only requires one dose to provide full immunity. 

What are core dog vaccines?

Core vaccines are those that are recommended for all puppies and dogs, and that make up the bulk of the puppy vaccine series. These include:

  • Distemper virus
  • Adenovirus
  • Parvovirus
  • Parainfluenza virus
  • Rabies virus

Most of the core vaccines, with the exception of rabies, are combined into a single product known as the distemper combination, DA2PP, DAPP, or DHPP. These viruses can be carried by other dogs and wildlife, often affect entire litters of unvaccinated puppies, and may cause deadly illness. 

How often does my dog need core vaccine boosters?

After the initial distemper combination puppy series of three to four doses, or a series of two doses for unvaccinated adults, we give a booster one year later. After that, boosters are needed once every three years. Rabies is given as a single dose around 14 to 16 weeks, and repeated every one or three years, depending on local rabies laws. 

What are non-core vaccines?

These are additional vaccines that may be recommended based on your pet’s lifestyle. These include:

  • Leptospirosis — Recommended for most dogs, spread through contact with infected wildlife or rodent urine
  • Bordetella (kennel cough) — Required for dogs who spend time at boarding, grooming, and day care facilities, or dog parks
  • Canine influenza — Recommended and may be required for dogs who are frequently boarded or spend time at grooming and day care facilities and dog parks, or in areas where outbreaks occur
  • Lyme disease — Recommended for dogs with frequent tick exposure
  • Rattlesnake toxoid — Recommended for dogs in rattlesnake-endemic areas

How often does my dog need non-core vaccines?

Your veterinarian will discuss your dog’s expected lifestyle and exposure risks at each visit to determine which non-core vaccines they should receive. Most non-core vaccines are given as a series of two doses, two to four weeks apart, then repeated annually. Intranasal or oral Bordetella vaccines require only a single initial dose, and rattlesnake vaccine recommendations vary based on weight. Your veterinarian will reassess risk factors each year at your dog’s annual wellness exam to determine which vaccines they still need. 

What are vaccine titers?

Vaccine titers measure antibody levels in your dog’s bloodstream and may be used to determine whether a dog has protective immunity or needs a booster vaccine. Because immunity is a complex process, antibody levels cannot definitively predict whether a dog is completely protected, so routine titer testing is recommended only for dogs with serious underlying health conditions or adverse vaccine reactions. Routine boosters are a safer, and more cost-effective, option for most dogs.

What about vaccine reactions? Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are safe for most dogs and necessary to protect individual dogs and other pets in the community. Rabies and leptospirosis vaccines also help to protect human public health, as these can be passed from dogs to humans. Without vaccinations, many puppies and adult dogs would suffer or die from infectious diseases. While vaccines can cause occasional allergic reactions, they cannot infect your dog with the target organism. 

Normal vaccine immune response can be confused with an abnormal vaccine reaction. A normal immune response may cause your pet to feel unwell or sore for a few days. An abnormal reaction is usually an allergy to a protein-based vaccine component, and, while uncommon, such reactions can be serious. Signs usually start within minutes or hours after vaccination, and may include:

  • Fever
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Itching or hives
  • Facial swelling
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Collapse

Pets with a history of mild reactions can be given an antihistamine or steroid injection before their next vaccination to prevent recurrence. Spreading vaccines over multiple visits, rather than administering them all at once, also can reduce the chance for a reaction. If your pet has a serious reaction, your veterinarian will reassess their individual needs to determine whether vaccines will be continued.

Some evidence suggests that vaccines may trigger or exacerbate immune-mediated diseases in predisposed pets. This does not mean that vaccines cause disease, only that they are one of many complex, intertwining factors underlying disease development. The decision to vaccinate pets with serious autoimmune disease depends on their current health status and overall disease risk.

Vaccines are crucial to your dog’s overall health, as well as to the health of other dogs and people in the community. In most cases, vaccine benefits far outweigh risks, and our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team can determine which vaccines your individual dog needs based on their age and lifestyle. Contact us to schedule a vaccination or wellness appointment, or if you have questions regarding your pet’s recommended vaccination schedule.