Understanding Vaccinations For Dogs

Vaccinations.  
A large debate exist in the dog world as well as with children on what is needed and when as well as potential problems. I'll add some of the research for your consideration and for you to pursue to make your own decisions.
our basic protocol is we consider parvo a very serious disease so all pups will start with that only about 6 weeks old.  at 8 to 9 weeks as mothers passed on immunity may be fading and pups are going to new homes where exposure is not necessarily as protected as here they will get the basic pup series starter.  your vet will understand the 'alphabet soup' of DH2PPV  which is distemper hepatitis adenovirus's para influenza and parvovirus. we do not give leptospirosis vaccine to young pups as one it may interfere with the uptake of distemper which is more serious and lepto can cause a reaction in younger or smaller pups.  take the vaccine protocol  up with your vet and if you feel the need add it after 12 weeks of age.   While rabies vaccination is required legally yearly since people can acquire rabies the other vaccines are for your dogs health.  Many people go with a 3 year protocol on core vaccines.  This is something you need to decide for yourself and your dog.  I seems researchers change things at times - like one year coffee is bad for you the next good - same with chocolate...  etc....

{{A stray comment and some opinion thrown in --- Years ago veterinarians did an antibody ( titer) test to see what level of protection a dog had and administer vaccinations as available / needed.  It is next to impossible to find a vet that will run these test nowadays and admittedly blood test are expensive compared to just going with a standardized protocol of vaccinations }}

How does vaccination work?
The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against infectious
disease.The body recognizes invading viruses and bacteria as ‘foreign’ and its reaction to
these ‘foreign invaders’ is called an immune response. The body produces antibodies
which destroy or remove the foreign substances.
The essence of vaccination is that it makes use of the body’s natural systems for
fighting disease. This is done by presenting a substance (the vaccine)
to the body which mimics a disease,  but does not actually cause the disease.
In dogs the  vaccine can be introduced by injection or by  intranasal delivery (to protect against
agents that contribute to upper respiratory tract disease).
The body prep  ares its immune response, which then is activated if that disease is
detected at some time in the future. The immune system of the body has memory,
especially for diseases prevented by CORE vaccines. This memory can prevent
those CORE diseases in an animal protected by previous vaccination. Vaccination is
the most important way to prevent certain diseases. The immune system is
continuously active in defense against disease and vaccination simply amplifies or
augments this system of defense.


Puppies can receive their first vaccination from approximately 8 -9 weeks of age The
reason that vaccination cannot be started any earlier relates to the fact that newborn
puppies obtain protection from infection through the ‘first milk’ or colostrum. The
colostrum is enriched with protective antibodies from the bitch (maternally-derived antibody
or MDA) that is crucial for providing protection, but also prevents the pup from mounting its own  protective immune response until such time as the MDA has gone (maternal antibodies gradually disappear until they are all gone by around 14-16 weeks of age).
The presence of inhibitory MDA, which may vary in amount between individual puppies


Until your puppy is fully vaccinated , you should ideally not take it anywhere where it might come into contact with dogs or ground that may be infected. your puppy  may not be fully protected until receiving the third vaccination  at about 16 weeks old. This is because in around 10% of puppies, the antibody received in
the colostrum from the mother (MDA) can still block responses to vaccination



Core Vaccines
Core Vaccines are those that are recommended for all dogs, barring special circumstances. These core vaccines include: distemper, parvovirus, canine adenovirus I/II, and rabies. The following descriptions are taken from the University of Tennessee Breeders’ Symposium abstract by Dr. Margret Casal of the University of Pennsylvania.

Canine Distemper Vaccine: Currently, distemper vaccines are modified-live vaccines, which are very effective. It was previously thought that combining distemper and Parvo in the same vaccine would lead to a decrease or a delay in seroconversion to the distemper component. However, (Dr. Casal’s) studies and those from Cornell have been unable to substantiate such claims. If a patient is immune deficient or pregnant, MLV vaccines should not be used, because they may cause disease in the patient or the fetuses, respectively. There is a recombinant Distemper vaccine currently available that could be used for those dogs in which MLV vaccines are not an option.

Canine Parvovirus (CPV) Vaccine: In a recent study 60 mixed-breed pups were vaccinated with these newer versions of the CPV vaccines at 6, 9, and 12 weeks. The results showed that all pups had seroconverted by 15 weeks of age, suggesting a faster response and higher serum neutralization titers. Alternatively, if there are immune deficient animals present, they may contract the disease from the vaccine virus   Parvovirus outbreaks are not prevented with more frequent vaccination. The only way to prevent outbreaks is with proper hygiene, even if this means foot baths and limited contact. CPV is spread by contact with contaminated shoes, clothes, soil, toys and other dogs, while CDV is passed on almost entirely by direct contact with infected dogs.

Canine Adenovirus Vaccine: Canine Adenovirus (CAV) type 1 causes infectious canine hepatitis and CAV-2 is part of the kennel cough complex.

Non-Core (Optional) Vaccines

Bordetella bronchiseptica Vaccine: This is probably not a very effective vaccine, and there are not enough studies to document either short- or long-term efficacy. However, there are some kennels that require Bordetella vaccinations before the dog can be boarded. The intranasal vaccine seems to provide marginally better protection than the injectable form.

Leptospira Vaccines: Because all Leptospira vaccines are bacterins, their use may result in allergic reactions. The later the vaccine is administered during the puppy series, the less likely the allergic reaction. Current AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) guidelines recommend delaying this vaccine, especially in small breeds, until the CORE vaccines are completed. Most current Leptospira vaccines contain four different serovars: grippotyphosa, canicola, icterohemorrhagica, and pomona. The vaccine is now purified, which may reduce allergic reactions and although titers drop significantly after 6 months, challenge with pathogenic forms of L. icterohemorrhagica and canicola one year after vaccination did not cause disease. Generally, this vaccine is recommended to be given in spring time, especially for dogs that come in contact with wildlife or city rodents.

Lyme Disease (Borreliosis) Vaccines: Lyme Disease in dogs can be prevented by the use of tick prevention and vaccines. The Lyme vaccines have been criticized by some veterinarians as being ineffective. While it is true that some vaccinated dogs do contract the disease, it appears that vaccinated animals are less likely to contract the disease than unvaccinated animals. Vaccination is generally limited to dogs traveling to or living in high prevalence areas.

Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) Vaccine: In May, 2009, the USDA granted a conditional license for the first vaccine against Canine Flu. This vaccine is expected to reduce incidence, severity and duration of the disease but does not necessarily prevent infection altogether. (Conditional license means it has been proven safe with good signs of efficacy, but additional studies are needed to gather more information.

Canine Parainfluenza Vaccine: This old tried and true vaccine comes in a parenteral and intranasal MLV form. It is an effective vaccine in the prevention of this component of the kennel cough complex.