Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Canine

• Puppies 8, 12 and 16 weeks
• Repeat 1 year later
• Then repeat every 3 years
• Each patient should be evaluated for increased risk of exposure for consideration for yearly protocols
• Give in right shoulder

Rabies

• Start puppies at 12-16 weeks of age
• Repeat 1 year later
• Then repeat every 3 years
• Give in right rear limb

Non-core

Leptospirosis

• For dogs at risk for exposure give vaccine with icterhemorrhagica, canicola, pomona and grippotyphosa
• Give at 12 and 16 weeks
• Then annually
• Vaccine should be given to high risk dogs such as hunting or field trial dogs 1 month prior to hunting season
• Give in left hind limb

Bordetella

• Intranasal vaccine given to dogs at risk at least 7 days prior to exposure
• Duration of immunity 4-6 months

Corona (not recommended)

• It is generally recognized that dogs older than 11-12 weeks are not susceptible to disease.
• Current AAHA guidelines suggest that prevalence of confirmed clinical cases does not justify vaccination in the pet population.
• Consider its use in at risk animals including breeding bitches and shelter situations.
• There is a higher reaction rate when given with the leptospirosis vaccine. 

Canine Influenza

• Clinical signs include a cough, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis and a fever.  It can progress to pneumonia and rarely death.
• Current hot spots include New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Colorado, especially Denver, and parts of South Florida.
• Vaccinate dogs that are exposed to race tracks, to greyhounds, or ones that are traveling in these areas.
• Vaccine reportedly reduces the duration and intensity of clinical signs and protects against the formation and severity of lung lesions.
• Give 2 doses to at risk dogs after 6 weeks of age 2-4 weeks apart.

No other vaccines are recommended for dogs.

Feline

• Intranasal vaccine
• Give to kittens at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
• Repeat annually

Rabies

• Recombinant vaccine (canary pox)
• Give at 12-16 weeks
• Repeat  annually
• Given distally in right rear limb

Non-core

Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

• Give to cats at risk for exposure to infected cats
• Give at 12 and 16 weeks
• Repeat annually
• Give distally in left rear limb
• Transdermal recombinant vaccine can be used

No other vaccinations are recommended for cats.

There have been some recent advances in vaccine development for dogs and cats and challenge studies have been done to establish duration of immunity for these vaccines. There may be some patients that this vaccine may not be appropriate for, and we will continue to individualize our vaccination selection for each patient.  We will continue to try to minimize the number of vaccines administered to each patient while maintaining protection against these serious infectious diseases.

The vaccinations your dog has received prior to this time may be good for longer than 1 year, however, please come in for your annual exam when you receive a reminder card, and we will discuss the best vaccination protocol for your dog.
 
We have had a number of calls about the new rattlesnake vaccine. Because of the potential for adverse reactions to this vaccine and the lack of experience with it, we do not recommend using it unless your dog is at a very high risk.

We now use a new transdermal FeLV vaccine to help avoid the formation of a tumor called a fibrosarcoma at the vaccine site.

There have been no changes in the frequency of vaccine administration for cats because we use the intranasal vaccine.

Please refer to the guidelines we have established in the community practice and if you have any questions about which vaccines are appropriate for your pet please call us at 509-335-0711.