| |
Vaccines are
now being divided into two classes. 'Core'
vaccines for dogs are those that should be given
to every dog. 'Noncore' vaccines are recommended
only for certain dogs. Whether to vaccinate with
noncore vaccines depends upon a number of things
including the age, breed, and health status of the
dog, the potential exposure of the dog to an
animal that has the disease, the type of vaccine
and how common the disease is in the geographical
area where the dog lives or may visit.
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),
and canine parvovirus-2.
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
|
Component
|
Class
|
Efficacy
|
Length of
Immunity |
Risk/Severity of Adverse Effects |
Comments
|
|
Canine
Distemper |
Core |
High |
> 1
year for
modified live virus (MLV)
vaccines |
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 |
|
Parvovirus |
Core |
High |
> 1 year |
Low |
|
|
Hepatitis |
Core
|
High |
> 1 year |
Low |
Only use
canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) vaccines |
|
Rabies |
Core |
High |
Dependent
upon type of vaccine |
Low to
moderate |
|
|
Respiratory
disease from canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) |
Noncore |
Not
adequately studied |
Short |
Minimal |
If
vaccination warranted, boost annually or more
frequently |
|
Parainfluenza |
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 |
|
Bordetella |
Noncore |
Intranasal
MLV - Moderate Injectable MLV - Low |
Short |
Low |
For the
most benefit, use intranasal vaccine 2 weeks
prior to exposure |
|
Leptospirosis |
Noncore |
Variable |
Short |
High |
Up to 30%
of dogs may not respond to vaccine |
|
Coronavirus |
Noncore |
Low |
Short |
Low |
Risk of
exposure high in kennels, shelters, shows,
breeding facilities |
|
Lyme |
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 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.
References and Further Reading
Al-Sarraf,
R. Update on feline vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas.
Veterinary Medicine. 1998;729-35.
American Association of Feline Practitioners/Academy
of Feline Medicine. Recommendations for Feline
Leukemia Virus Testing. The Compendium on Continuing
Education for the Practicing Veterinarian.
1997;1105-7.
Bell,
FW. Recommendations for FeLV- and FIV-positive cats
with cancer. In August, JR (ed.) Consultations in
Feline Internal Medicine. W.B. Saunders Co.
Philadelphia, PA; 1997;572-8.
Bergman, PJ; Couto, CG; Hendrick, MJ; Macy, DW;
Richards, JR; Starr, RM (contributors).
Vaccine-associated feline sarcoma symposium.
Sponsored by the Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma
Task Force and the Arm & Hammer Division of Church &
Swight Co., Inc. July 25, 1998.
Brakeman, L (ed.) Researchers suspect genetic cause
for vaccine site sarcomas. dvm 1998; July 1, 41-45.
Cole,
R. Rethinking canine vaccinations. Veterinary Forum;
1998 Jan;52-7.
Greene, CE. Immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy. In
Greene, CE (ed.) Infectious Diseases of the Dog and
Cat. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA;
1998;717-750.
Jarrett, O. Development of vaccines against feline
leukemia virus. In Kirk, RW; Bonagura, JD (eds.)
Current Veterinary Therapy XI. W.B. Saunders Co.
Philadelphia, PA; 1992;457-60.
Klingborg, DJ; Hustead, DR; Curry-Galvin, EA; Gumley,
NR; Henry, SC; Bain, FT; et al. AVMA Council on
Biologic and Therapeutic Agents' report on cat and
dog vaccines. Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association. November 15, 2002 (Volume 221,
No. 10); 1401-1407.
Pfizer Animal Health. Duration of immunity in
companion animals after natural infection and
vaccination. Pfizer Animal Health; June 30, 1998.
Roitt,
I; Brostoff, J; Male, D. Immunology. CV Mosby
Company. St. Louis, MO; 1985.
Rosen, DK. Feline infectious diseases and rational
vaccine protocols for immunization. Presented at the
Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association Convention.
October 10, 1998.
Schultz, RD. Current and future canine and feline
vaccination programs. Veterinary Medicine.
1998;233-253.
Tizard, I; Yawei, N. Use of serologic testing to
assess immune status of companion animals. Journal
of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
1998;213;54-60.
Veterinary Learning Systems. Recombinant vaccine
technology. Supplement to The Compendium on
Continuing Education for the Practicing
Veterinarian. 1997;19(2).
Veterinary Learning Systems. Vaccine technology in
the 21st century. Supplement to The Compendium on
Continuing Education for the Practicing
Veterinarian. 1998;20(8c). |