Parvo. Lepto. Kennel cough. Lyme. Rabies. Deworming. Flea, tick, heartworm prevention. You hear all this jargon mentioned by your veterinarian while you’re trying to keep your happy, bouncing new puppy still during its very first vet visit. You try to remember all that your vet said, but you leave the clinic feeling frazzled. When should my puppy get which vaccine, again? And why? This guide provides a quick synopsis on the timeline of each vaccine type as well as why inoculation and other preventative measures are important for your new puppy’s (and older dog’s) health.
Disclaimer: The following recommendations are guidelines for dogs in the United States. Veterinary counsel will vary slightly depending on your country.
Core vaccines:
These vaccines are highly recommended to protect canines against infectious agents common in the environment and which have the capacity to cause severe disease or death. Core vaccines are typically given as a combination vaccine (often called “DHPP” for “distemper,” “hepatitis,” “parvovirus,” and the non-core “parainfluenza”). The vaccine is injected as a series of 3-4 vaccine appointments every 3 weeks (often at 6, 9, 12, 15, and sometimes 18 weeks old; however, some vets prefer postponing initial vaccines until 8 weeks of age).
Parvovirus (parvo): Parvovirus kills the intestinal villi, preventing nutrient absorption in the GI tract and leading to severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting. It also leads to anemia (low red blood cells, which thereby decrease oxygen and other nutrient transport to the rest of the body’s organs) and leukopenia (low white blood cell count, preventing the immune system from fighting off other infections). This disease can be fatal if left untreated and is highly contagious among puppies (and many adult unvaccinated dogs). If your pup exhibits the symptoms described above, get your puppy to the vet ASAP for testing. Vaccination is absolutely necessary. Vaccinate during the puppy vaccine series listed above, then 1 year later, and then every 1-3 years (based on your veterinarian’s recommended vaccine schedule for adult dogs).
Click here for an in-depth discussion on canine parvovirus.
Distemper: Distemper virus causes respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurologic disease and also affects blood cells. As this disease is very contagious and often fatal, vaccination is a must! The inoculation schedule is the same as for parvovirus.
Adenovirus-2: Adenovirus causes severe and potentially fatal liver disease (canine infectious hepatitis). It is absolutely recommended to vaccinate. Its vaccination schedule is the same as for parvo and distemper.
Rabies: Infection with rabies virus causes 100% case fatality without proper post-exposure therapy. It is contagious between mammals (most often acquired via exposure to saliva from bite wounds of infected animals), and as most of us know, it is also zoonotic (can be transmitted to humans). Vaccination is required by law in the vast majority of states. Vaccinate at 3-4 months old, then 1 year later, and then every 3 years.
Learn more about the risk of Rabies worldwide with The Meowing Vet’s article.
Non-Core or Optional vaccines:
The following vaccines are optional either because their associated diseases do not carry serious risk of severity or the risk of exposure to their respective infectious agents is low (especially in certain geographic locations). Discussing the following vaccines with your personal veterinarian is suggested as he or she can advise you on which vaccines are recommended in your specific case.
Leptospirosis (Lepto): Leptospirosis is a disease transmitted by different strains (serovars) of a bacteria (Leptospira) that primarily affects the kidneys and can cause fatal renal failure. This bacteria is carried mainly by cattle and wildlife (deer, mice, etc.) and is shed in urine. Contaminated standing pools of water pose an increased risk of potential exposure. Like rabies, Leptospirosis is also a zoonotic disease, so canine vaccination is recommended in areas of high exposure risk (especially rural/farm areas). This vaccine is optional primarily due to its increased potential risk of causing adverse vaccine reactions, such as fever, lethargy, vomiting, hives, and anaphylaxis. Talk with your veterinarian about weighing the risks versus benefits of vaccinating your dog. If your vet recommends vaccinating, the schedule is typically to vaccinate at the last 1-2 puppy vaccine series (i.e. 12 weeks of age and up), then annually.
Click here to learn more about Leptospirosis and its risk to humans.
Lyme: Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria transmitted by Ixodes deer ticks (see image) and the culprit of Lyme disease. In dogs Lyme disease manifests primarily as joint and kidney disease. If your dog is infected, you may notice lethargy, decreased appetite, a reluctance to move or a slow and stiff gait as if “walking on eggshells.” Alternatively, you may notice weight loss and increased water consumption and urination due to kidney involvement. Lyme disease is also zoonotic (if you’re bitten by the same infected tick), potentially causing joint, renal, cardiac, and neurologic disease in humans and often the classic “bulls-eye” rash at the bite site. Lyme disease exposure can be screened upon your dog’s annual wellness exam via the same blood test that also typically checks for heartworms. If you live in or visit areas with a high incidence of ticks (visit IDEXX Canine Vector-Borne Disease Prevalence Map for more information) and wish to vaccinate, initially vaccinate at the two initial puppy vaccine appointments and then annually. Although vaccination is a good option in most cases, the first line of defense against Lyme disease is consistent year-round application with a good quality tick prevention (read below and ask your vet for product options).
Click here to learn more about canine Lyme disease and its risk to humans.
Kennel cough (Bordetella and/or parainfluenza): Kennel cough (a.k.a. infectious tracheobronchitis or canine infectious respiratory disease, CIRD) is an infection of the trachea and bronchi of the respiratory tree. Kennel cough is caused most often by a co-infection by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus. Administration options include parenteral (injectable), intranasal (inhaled), and oral formulations. The intranasal form is preferable in most cases as it is theoretically more protective to the respiratory system. Some vaccines only protect against Bordetella, but several vets opt for combo vaccines with Bordetella and parainfluenza. Moreover, the DHPP combo vaccine discussed above protects against parainfluenza. Kennel cough is highly contagious among unvaccinated dogs, though it is fortunately easily treated in most cases. While it is unlikely to be fatal (yet in rare cases it can escalate to life-threatening pneumonia), vaccination every 6-12 months is recommended (and often required) if your dog is to be around other canines (i.e. at boarding facilities, dog parks, pet stores, groomers, doggie daycare, etc.).
Influenza (H3N8 or H3N2): You may have heard of outbreaks of the H3N2 and/or H3N8 strains of canine influenza, primarily in the Chicago and North Carolina areas in 2015. More outbreaks were reported across several other U.S. states such as Florida, Texas, and Tennessee in 2017, many of which were linked to exposure at dog showing events. Discussion with your veterinarian is warranted if you live in or your dog travels to a high-risk area. For most of the country, vaccination is not recommended unless in the face of an outbreak or in a high-risk region.
Coronavirus: Coronavirus causes gastrointestinal disease (usually diarrhea that eventually resolves on its own). Because the disease is usually mild and self-resolving, vaccination is not usually recommended and not necessary.
Note: All vaccines carry the potential risk of adverse reaction. If they occur, most reactions are mild (short-lived lethargy and fever, occasional GI upset). However, while rare, severe reactions such as hives or anaphylactic shock (including life-threatening difficulty breathing) can occur. Consult with your veterinarian for details.
Deworming:
Deworming is a must since nearly all puppies are born with intestinal parasites acquired from their mothers. Intestinal worms can cause GI discomfort and upset (especially diarrhea), failure to gain weight, malnutrition, anemia, and even death in heavy infestations. Some worms also pose a risk to humans, especially children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people. In most cases, your vet will likely choose an oral dewormer and dose your puppy every 3 weeks during initial vaccine appointments. Common over-the-counter products usually only contain pyrantel, which is effective against roundworms and hookworms. However, your puppy could also be harboring tapeworms, whipworms, or coccidia, for which pyrantel is not effective. Providing your veterinarian a stool sample for analysis upon your puppy visits is helpful in aiding your vet in choosing an appropriate anti-parasitic drug. To help control GI parasites in the future, most heartworm preventatives also contains drugs that prevent or reduce the load of GI parasites. Going forward, annual fecal exams and deworming is recommended (more frequently if you observe or suspect worms in your dog’s stool).
Heartworm larva are transmitted by infected mosquitoes, and the adult worms can cause cardiac disease and failure in dogs when they build up in the heart and great blood vessels. The key to protection is to be consistent with monthly administration of a heartworm prevention year-round (even during the winter). Once your puppy reaches a certain weight (varies per product), he or she is eligible to start heartworm prevention. Speak with your vet about product options, which include topical (ex. Revolution®, Advantage Multi®), oral (ex. Heartgard Plus®, Interceptor®, Sentinel®, Trifexis®), and longer-lasting injectable (ex. ProHeart®6) formulations. Many products also aid in the control of GI parasites as well. To ensure product efficacy and safety, dogs should have an annual heartworm test, the first of which when they’re 6 months if they have not been on prior heartworm prevention. The SNAP® 4Dx® Plus Test kit tests a small amount of blood for heartworms as well as most tick-borne diseases (Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma; note: does not test for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever).
The Meowing Vet shines the spotlight on Heartworm Disease. Click here to learn about the consequences of heartworms and how to prevent infection in your dogs and cats.
Puppies and adult dogs should definitely be receiving a regular flea and tick prevention, whether it be a monthly topical (ex. Frontline Plus® or Frontline GOLD®, Vectra 3D®, K9 Advantix II®) or oral (ex. NexGard®, longer-acting Bravecto®) formulation or a veterinarian-approved flea and tick collar (ex. Seresto® collar) that lasts for 8 months. (Be very cautious with over-the-counter flea and tick products as many lack efficacy and some can have deleterious side effects.) Fleas can transmit tapeworms, cause anemia in young animals, and promote skin allergies and dermatitis. Ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease (as discussed above), Ehrlichiosis , Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Babesiosis. The latter four diseases can cause severe disease by affecting various blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) depending on the disease agent. Therefore, consistent flea and tick control is a must (even during the winter months)!
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If your puppy is still intact (i.e. has reproductive organs) when it is welcomed into your home, the age at which your pup is eligible to be spayed (if female) or neutered/castrated (if male) may vary by breed. With America’s pet overpopulation problem and high volume of shelter animals, alteration (i.e. spaying/neutering) is highly recommended in most cases. Spaying females prior to their first heat cycle (which usually occurs around 6 months of age) greatly minimizes the risk of mammary cancer later in life. However, under the advice of veterinary orthopedists, postponing the spaying or neutering of larger breed dogs is recommended until roughly 1 year old to allow the bones and joints extra time to develop to reduce the risk and severity of future developmental diseases (such as hip dysplasia). Speak with your vet about the best age at which your puppy should be altered as well as any potential risks associated with the surgical procedure. Additional benefits of spaying and neutering can be found in our article here.
– Maranda Elswick, DVM
