What are vaccines and why does my dog need them?

Canine Vaccinations
Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect your dog from serious, and sometimes life-threatening, diseases. Vaccines work by safely stimulating your dog's immune system so it can recognize and fight infection if exposed in the future. While no vaccine is 100% effective, they greatly reduce the risk of illness and often lessen the severity of disease.
Every dog is different, so vaccine recommendations are based on your pet's age, health, lifestyle, travel, and risk of exposure. Our veterinarians will work with you to develop the vaccination plan that's right for your dog.
Core & Lifestyle Vaccines
Core VaccinesCore vaccines are recommended for all dogs because they protect against serious diseases that are widespread, highly contagious, or can be transmitted to people.

Core vaccines include:

• DHPP (Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza)
• Leptospirosis
• Rabies (required by New York State law)

Lifestyle (Non-Core) Vaccines
Some vaccines are recommended based on your dog's lifestyle and risk of exposure, including:

• Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
• Lyme Disease
• Canine Influenza

In our area, Lyme vaccination is recommended for all dogs due to the high prevalence of tick-borne disease.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule
Puppies receive temporary protection from their mother's antibodies, but this fades over time. Vaccinations begin at 6–8 weeks of age and are repeated every 2–4 weeks until your puppy is at least 16 weeks old to ensure lasting protection.
A typical schedule includes:

• DHPP: Beginning at 6–8 weeks, with boosters every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age.
• Leptospirosis: Usually starts at 12 weeks of age and requires a booster 2–4 weeks later.
• Rabies: Given once between 12–16 weeks of age, as required by law.
• Lyme: Recommended for dogs in Monroe County beginning at 12 weeks of age, with a booster 2–4 weeks later.

One year after the puppy series, your dog will receive booster vaccinations. After that, many vaccines are given every three years, while others are administered annually based on current guidelines and your dog's individual risk.
For your pet's safety, vaccines should always be administered by a licensed veterinary professional

Vaccine Reactions
Most dogs experience no side effects after vaccination. Mild reactions, such as slight soreness at the injection site, tiredness, or a decreased appetite for 24 hours, are normal.
Contact us immediately if your dog develops:

• Facial swelling or hives
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Persistent pain or swelling at the injection site

We recommend scheduling vaccine appointments when you can monitor your dog for the rest of the day.

What do the letters in the vaccines mean?
What does DHPP stand for?DHPP is a combination vaccine that protects against:

• D – Distemper
• H – Adenovirus (protects against Infectious Canine Hepatitis)
• P – Parainfluenza
• P – Parvovirus

Combination vaccines help protect against multiple diseases with fewer injections.

Diseases We Vaccinate Against
Distemper: A highly contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. It is often fatal but is highly preventable through vaccination.

Canine Hepatitis (Adenovirus): A contagious viral disease affecting the liver, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels. Vaccination has made this disease uncommon in vaccinated dogs.

Parvovirus: Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and can be fatal, especially in puppies. The virus survives in the environment for months and is resistant to many common disinfectants. Puppies should avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and public areas until their vaccine series is complete.

Leptospirosis: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected wildlife and contaminated water. It can affect dogs living in urban, suburban, and rural environments and can also infect people. Vaccination is an important part of prevention.

Rabies: Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects all mammals, including humans. It is spread primarily through bites from infected animals. Because there is no cure once symptoms develop, vaccination is essential and required by New York State law.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough): Bordetella is a contagious respiratory infection commonly spread where dogs gather, such as boarding facilities, grooming salons, dog daycare, and training classes. Vaccination is recommended for dogs that regularly interact with other dogs.

Lyme Disease: Lyme disease is spread by deer ticks and is common throughout our region. Vaccination, routine tick checks, and year-round veterinary-approved tick prevention are the best ways to protect your dog. If your dog is exposed to ticks, we may recommend heartworm and tick-borne disease screening based on their risk.

What About Titer Testing?
​Some owners ask about using antibody (titer) testing instead of routine vaccination. We do not recommend titers as a reliable replacement for all vaccines and are not recommended for every dog. Our veterinarians are happy to discuss whether titer testing is appropriate for your pet. www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/utilization-and-interpretation-of-serologic-titers/