The AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents' Report on Cat and Dog Vaccines has recommended that the core vaccines for dogs include distemper, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus-2and rabies.
Noncore vaccines include leptospirosis, coronavirus, canine parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica (both are causes of 'kennel cough'), and Borrelia burgdorferi (causes Lyme Disease). Consult with your veterinarian to select the proper vaccines for your dog or puppy.
AVMA Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs
Vaccination
Recommendations for Dogs
Component
|
Class
|
Efficacy
|
Length of Immunity
|
Risk/Severity of Adverse Effects
|
Comments
|
Core
|
High
|
Low
|
|
||
Measles
|
Noncore
|
High
in preventing disease, but not in preventing infection
|
Long
|
Infrequent
|
Use
in high risk environments for canine distemper in puppies 4-10 weeks of age
|
Core
|
High
|
> 1 year
|
Low
|
|
|
Core
|
High
|
> 1 year
|
Low
|
Only
use canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) vaccines
|
|
Core
|
High
|
Dependent
upon type of vaccine
|
Low to moderate
|
|
|
Noncore
|
Not adequately studied
|
Short
|
Minimal
|
If
vaccination warranted, boost annually or more frequently
|
|
Noncore
|
Intranasal
MLV - Moderate Injectable MLV - Low
|
Moderate
|
Low
|
Only
recommended for dogs in kennels, shelters, shows, or large colonies; If
vaccination warranted, boost annually or more frequently
|
|
Noncore
|
Intranasal
MLV - Moderate Injectable MLV - Low
|
Short
|
Low
|
For
the most benefit, use intranasal vaccine 2 weeks prior to exposure
|
|
Noncore
|
Variable
|
Short
|
High
|
Up
to 30% of dogs may not respond to vaccine
|
|
Noncore
|
Low
|
Short
|
Low
|
Risk
of exposure high in kennels, shelters, shows, breeding facilities
|
|
Noncore
|
Appears
to be limited to previously unexposed dogs; variable
|
Revaccinate annually
|
Moderate
|
|
A possible vaccination schedule for the 'average'
dog is shown below.
Dog Vaccination Schedule
|
|
Age
|
Vaccination
|
5
weeks
|
Parvovirus: for puppies at high risk of
exposure to parvo, some veterinarians recommend vaccinating at 5 weeks. Check
with your veterinarian.
|
6
& 9 weeks
|
Combination vaccine* without
leptospirosis.
Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern. |
12
weeks or older
|
Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian
(age at vaccination may vary according to local law).
|
12
& 15 weeks**
|
Combination vaccine
Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern. Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs. |
Adult
(boosters)§
|
Combination vaccine
Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Coronavirus: where coronavirus is a concern. Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian (time interval between vaccinations may vary according to local law). |
*A
combination vaccine, often called a 5-way vaccine, usually includes adenovirus
cough and hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Some
combination vaccines may also include leptospirosis (7-way vaccines) and/or
coronavirus. The inclusion of either canine adenovirus-1 or adenovirus-2 in a
vaccine will protect against both adenovirus cough and hepatitis;
adenovirus-2 is highly preferred.
**Some
puppies may need additional vaccinations against parvovirus after 15 weeks of
age. Consult with your local veterinarian.
§ According to the
American Veterinary Medical Association, dogs at low risk of disease exposure
may not need to be boostered yearly for most diseases. Consult with your
local veterinarian to determine the appropriate vaccination schedule for your
dog. Remember, recommendations vary depending on the age, breed, and health
status of the dog, the potential of the dog to be exposed to the disease, the
type of vaccine, whether the dog is used for breeding, and the geographical
area where the dog lives or may visit.
Bordetella and parainfluenza: For complete
canine cough protection, we recommend Intra-Trac II ADT. For dogs that are
shown, in field trials, or are boarded, we recommend vaccination every six
months with Intra-Trac II ADT.
|
Researchers at the Veterinary Schools at the
University of Minnesota, Colorado State Univers
Researchers at the Veterinary Schools at the University of Minnesota, Colorado State University, and University of Wisconsin suggest alternating vaccinations in dogs from year to year. Instead of using multivalent vaccines (combination vaccines against more than one disease), they recommend using monovalent vaccines which only have one component, e.g., a vaccine that only contains parvovirus. So, one year your dog would be vaccinated against distemper, the next year against canine adenovirus-2, and the third year against parvovirus. Then the cycle would repeat itself. Other researchers believe we may not have enough information to recommend only vaccinating every 3 years. Manufacturers of dog vaccines have not changed their labeling which recommends annual vaccinations. Again, each dog owner must make an informed choice of when to vaccinate, and with what. Consult with your veterinarian to help you make the decision.