Vaccinations - December 2023

Dear friends of the Riney Canine Health Center,

Thank you for joining our pack! I’m Brian Collins, an extension associate for the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center and I’m pleased to share this month’s “From the Vet’s Desk” monthly health tip with our members.

Most of us are familiar with those friendly reminders we receive from our vet offices in the form of a postcard in the mail, an email, or even a handy text when it’s time for our dog’s annual visit, which usually includes vaccinations. I’m grateful for those reminders because I’d probably always be late without them!

How do we make sense of all those “shots” that our dogs are given? When I’m working with vet students or with dog owners, I think about how I feel when I’m at the mechanic. When they start talking about carburetors (do cars have those anymore?), catalytic convertors, or alternators, I just sort of hold my breath until I hear how bad it is -- how much is this going to cost?! When it comes to dogs, I want my students and clients to understand what these vaccinations are all about.

Your veterinarian is an excellent source for information regarding what vaccinations are best for your dog. With their experience and knowledge of professional guidelines, a vaccine protocol that fits your dog’s age, lifestyle, and medical history can be recommended.

A puppy will receive some passive protection against common diseases from their mother in the form of antibodies they ingest when they nurse for the first time (known as colostrum). Vaccinations will help maintain protection as those antibodies are gradually lost by approximately 16 weeks of age. Plus, we also don’t always know the vaccination history of the mother. Your veterinarian will recommend that your puppy is first brought in for shots at 6-8 weeks of age and then return for multiple visits until 16-20 weeks of age. It’s a great idea, if you know you’ll be adopting a puppy, to get that first appointment on the books ahead of time so that your vet can give the puppy a thorough examination and get the vaccination protocol started. On the other hand, if you find yourself with a puppy on short notice (I’ve been there!), give your vet office a call and try to get an appointment ASAP.

Most adult dogs will require some vaccines on an annual basis, while other vaccines may only be needed every three years. Work with your veterinarian to decide what is best for you and your pup.

What vaccines do dogs need? We divide vaccines into 2 categories:

• Core - vaccines all dogs should receive
• Non-core vaccines based on an individual dog’s lifestyle, geographic location, and risk factors.

Core vaccines include rabies – a disease we’re all familiar with and is important for both canine and human health. Rabies is the only vaccine required by law, and rules regarding rabies vaccination are determined by each state. The other core vaccines are usually given in a combination shot and are often abbreviated as DA2P. The “D” stands for distemper virus, “A2” for Adenovirus 2, and “P” for parvovirus. Often there is a second “P” for parainfluenza virus and the combination is then DA2PP. The first 3 viruses can lead to life-threatening infections, while the last virus is a common cause of infectious canine cough and is technically considered a non-core vaccine.

Non-core vaccines include Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, influenza, and even one for rattlesnake bites!

Does your dog frequent the local dog park, have playdates with other dogs that you know, visit a groomer, attend doggy daycare, stay at a boarding kennel, participate in agility or dog shows, hike, swim, or travel to other parts of the country? Sharing your dog’s activities with your veterinarian will help them recommend the best vaccine protocol for your dog.

While no one loves needles, most dogs tolerate vaccines very well (especially if there is cheese or other tasty treats involved!). Serious adverse reactions are rare, and most dogs seem unbothered while others will just be a little sore or extra sleepy for a day or two.

For more information, check out some of our related health topics.

Canine distemper virus
Canine leptospirosis
Parvovirus: Transmission to treatment
Rabies infection and prevention

A recent study found that slightly more than half of surveyed dog owners expressed some hesitancy regarding giving vaccines to their dogs. Given the conflicting information that is available on the internet, I definitely understand concerns and confusion about the ideal recommendations. However, I want to help assure dog owners that vaccines are overwhelmingly safe, effective, and necessary to protect dogs and their human families from serious and even life-threatening illnesses. My three dogs, Iris, Dottie, and Speck are vaccinated, and it gives me great peace of mind.

As always, thank you for being a Riney Canine Health Center member. We look forward to catching up with you next month!

 Dr. Brian Collins, D.V.M. ‘94

 extension veterinarian

 Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center