Puppy - Vaccination

Is there a recommended vaccination programme?

As a result of considerable discussion regarding the use of vaccines in 2007 and work done by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) revised guidelines for canine vaccination were published by the Veterinary Guidelines Group (VGG).

Is the puppy likely to have any protection when I buy it?

Most puppies have some temporary immunity from their mothers. This disappears when the puppy is about two months of age. If the puppy has come from kennels or an environment of high risk such as a rescue centre it may have received protective vaccination as early as five weeks. In general puppies should receive their first vaccine at approximately eight weeks of age with a second vaccine at twelve weeks.

How will I know if my puppy has received any vaccinations?

If the breeder has arranged for the first injection to be administered you should be given a certificate to this effect with instructions regarding subsequent vaccination.

What is this vaccination likely to cover?

This will be noted on the certificate. Puppies are usually inoculated against the 'core diseases' distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis (canine adenovirus). Vaccination against other 'non core' diseases may also be administered if there is a perceived risk, e.g. kennel cough, kidney diseases, etc. or if the boarding kennels specifies extra protection. This varies according to location and sometimes time of year.

How often should these vaccines be repeated?

In order to obtain good adult immunity an injection at eight weeks followed by a further one at twelve weeks is essential. During this period the puppy should not be exposed to risk of infection by walking in places where unvaccinated dogs frequent, e.g. parks, pavements, etc. A further injection should be administered at approximately sixteen weeks of age followed by a full booster twelve months later.

Does this mean I will have to keep my puppy in until at least four months old?

The risks of exposure to these diseases has to be balanced against the importance of socialisation of the puppy at this age. Please discuss this with us.

Is it still necessary to have an annual booster?

Until relatively recently an annual booster against all the diseases inoculated against originally was advised. Recent work has shown that provided the puppy receives vaccinations at 8, 12 and 16 weeks followed by a booster after 12 months, further boosting of "core vaccines" is unlikely to be necessary except every two to three years depending on the vaccine.

The vaccine manufacturers' recommendations should be followed.

'Non core' vaccines, e.g. kennel cough and kidney disease, need at least annual boosting.

My dog had a kennel cough vaccine nine months ago but when I wanted to board him recently the kennel owner insisted upon a further vaccination with kennel cough vaccine. Was this correct?

Kennel cough outbreaks in this country are usually caused by the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica. Inoculation usually in the form of nasal drops is very effective but only lasts approximately 6–8 months. At certain times of the year, particularly late summer and autumn, Bordetellosis (kennel cough) is very prevalent particularly among boarding dogs so many kennel owners recommend a further kennel cough vaccine.