Dog Vaccinations

Dog vaccinations play a vital role in keeping your loyal companion healthy from the playful days of puppyhood through their golden senior years. Vaccines are the safest, most effective, and economical method to shield your dog from a wide array of infectious, preventable diseases.

Over the past decade, advances in veterinary science have refined canine vaccinations, boosting both their safety profile and effectiveness against known and emerging threats. Here’s a closer look at why vaccinating your dog is so essential.

What Are the Common Dog Vaccinations?

Canine vaccines are broadly classified into two groups: core vaccines and lifestyle vaccines.

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines are essential for every dog and puppy. These fundamental vaccines include:

• The combination vaccine for canine distemper, adenovirus-2 (hepatitis), parvovirus, and parainfluenza (commonly abbreviated as DA2PP, DHPP, or DAPP)
• Rabies virus vaccine
• Leptospira (Leptospirosis) vaccine, which can be combined with the DA2PP/DAPP vaccine to form the DHLPP vaccine

Lifestyle Vaccines

Lifestyle vaccines are optional and tailored to your dog’s environment and habits. These vaccines guard against highly contagious or potentially dangerous illnesses.

Your veterinarian will assess several factors to determine which lifestyle vaccines suit your dog, including:

• Geographic area and the presence of certain diseases locally
• Whether your dog frequents doggy day care centers, dog parks, boarding facilities, or groomers
• Your dog’s exposure to travel, hiking, and outdoor wilderness environments
• Your pet’s overall health status

Typical lifestyle vaccines include:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough) vaccine
• Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) vaccine
• H3N2 and H3N8 strains of the canine influenza vaccines
• Crotalux atrox (rattlesnake) vaccine

Puppy Vaccine Schedule

When should puppies begin their vaccinations?

Puppies receive vaccines every two to four weeks until they reach at least 16 weeks of age to ensure full immunity. For certain breeds or puppies living in high-risk regions, extending vaccinations to 18–20 weeks can offer extra protection.

A typical puppy vaccine timeline might look like this:

Age	Core Vaccines	Lifestyle Vaccines
6–8 weeks	DAP*	BordetellaParainfluenza (often part of DA2PP combo vaccine)
10–12 weeks	DHLPP	LymeCanine influenza
14–16 weeks	DHLPP (final dose preferred at 16 weeks or later)Rabies vaccine (sometimes given earlier if required by law)	LymeCanine influenza

*DAP covers Distemper, Adenovirus/Hepatitis, and Parvovirus. It may also be called DHP or DHPP if parainfluenza is included, or DHLPP when combined with Leptospirosis.

Consult your veterinarian to create a customized vaccine schedule tailored specifically for your puppy.

While your puppy is still in the process of completing their vaccines, consider using a dog stroller or a backpack carrier to safely socialize your little one without direct ground contact.

Adult Dog Vaccine Schedule

Adult dogs require core vaccines along with any necessary lifestyle vaccines as determined in partnership with your veterinarian. A typical adult dog vaccination schedule can be outlined as follows:

Frequency	Core Vaccines	Lifestyle Vaccines
Annual	Rabies (initial vaccine)Leptospirosis	LymeCanine influenzaBordetella (may be given every six months)
Every three years	DAPRabies (after initial dose, administered every three years)	Currently, no lifestyle vaccines are available on a three-year schedule

Your vet will help determine vaccine intervals based on your dog’s health and lifestyle.

If your dog is overdue for vaccines or receiving them for the first time, your veterinarian might recommend boosters or yearly vaccinations to ensure robust protection.

What Diseases Do Dog Vaccines Prevent?

Staying current with vaccinations is the cornerstone of protecting your dog from many serious illnesses, including:

Rabies

Rabies is a fatal viral disease affecting the nervous system, transmissible from animals to humans through infected bites. It invariably leads to death in pets, wildlife, and people if untreated.

In the U.S., rabies vaccination is mandatory due to the disease’s severity and zoonotic risk. Despite vaccination efforts, occasional rabies cases still occur annually.

Failure to keep your pet’s rabies vaccine current can result in legal consequences. Additionally, if an unvaccinated or overdue dog encounters a suspected rabid animal or bites someone, quarantine or even humane euthanasia may be required.

Always talk with your veterinarian to establish the best vaccine schedule tailored to your puppy’s needs.

Distemper, Adenovirus (Hepatitis), Parvovirus (DAP)

The DAP vaccine protects against multiple dangerous canine diseases that spread rapidly and can be life-threatening.

• Canine distemper is a highly contagious and often fatal disease causing neurological damage, respiratory infections, fever, brain inflammation, and death.
• Adenovirus 1 causes infectious canine hepatitis, which may lead to respiratory illness, liver and kidney failure, and eye problems.
• Parvovirus is extremely contagious, causing severe gastrointestinal distress, dehydration, and death if untreated.

The vaccine may also include the parainfluenza virus, forming the DAPP or DHPP vaccines.

Bordetella and Canine Parainfluenza

These pathogens are major contributors to kennel cough, a contagious respiratory infection common in dogs attending boarding, daycare, or grooming facilities.

Most cases resolve with minimal treatment, but kennel cough can develop into pneumonia or severe respiratory illness. Because of the contagion risk, many dog care facilities require Bordetella vaccination.

Parainfluenza may be included in combination vaccines with Bordetella or DAP.

Canine Influenza

Two strains of canine influenza virus—H3N2 and H3N8—spread readily among dogs, causing coughing, nasal discharge, and mild fever.

U.S. outbreaks demand vigilance due to the potential mutation of flu viruses and their risk to other species, including humans.

Vaccination against canine flu is recommended especially if your dog frequents daycare, boarding, groomers, or any environment with high dog interaction.

Leptospirosis

This serious bacterial disease can cause kidney and liver failure in dogs and humans. Leptospira bacteria spread through the urine of infected animals and inhabit both rural and urban environments.

Once considered a lifestyle vaccine, leptospirosis vaccination has become a core recommendation due to rising cases even in cities. Dogs may contract it by coming into contact with contaminated water sources or puddles.

Leptospirosis can infect people as well, making vaccination crucial. The vaccine covers four common strains and requires an initial dose followed by a booster 2–4 weeks later, then yearly revaccination.

Lyme Disease

Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease can cause fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, shifting leg lameness, and in severe cases, kidney failure.

This disease is endemic in areas such as the Northeast, northern Midwest, and Pacific coast of the U.S. Vaccination is advised in these regions or for dogs traveling to these locations.

The Lyme vaccine requires two doses spaced 3–4 weeks apart initially, then annual boosters thereafter.

Which Dog Vaccines Does My Pet Need?

Your veterinarian will design the ideal vaccine plan by thoroughly reviewing your dog’s lifestyle, environment, and health status to recommend the most appropriate vaccines.

How Much Do Dog and Puppy Vaccines Cost?

Costs for puppy and adult dog vaccines vary by location. On average, the fundamental DHLPP vaccine ranges from $20 to $60 per dose, while the rabies vaccine typically costs $20 to $30. Prices for other non-core vaccines generally stay below $100 each.

Vaccinations are a vital part of responsible pet care and budgeting for them is important, particularly when welcoming a new puppy. Puppies usually require multiple vaccines, with boosters, before transitioning to less frequent adult vaccination schedules.

Though initial puppy vaccine expenses can feel like a commitment, these costs decrease significantly during your dog’s adult years.

To ease financial burdens, many animal shelters and humane societies offer affordable or complimentary vaccine clinics. Your veterinarian can help you find local resources.

Additionally, pet insurance policies often include wellness or preventive care plans that may cover some or all core and non-core vaccines.

While initial vaccines for a puppy may require a financial commitment, this investment diminishes as your dog matures.

Can Pets Have Adverse Reactions to Vaccines?

Although uncommon, dogs can experience adverse reactions to vaccines, medications, or even natural supplements. Because this is possible, it’s crucial to observe your pet closely after vaccination.

Mild side effects such as tenderness or swelling at the injection site are normal. Dogs may also develop low-grade fever, reduced energy, or decreased appetite temporarily.

If these signs persist beyond 24 hours, contact your veterinarian.

Severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis can occur within minutes to hours post-vaccination and include symptoms such as:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Swelling around the face and neck
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Itchy skin or hives

Though rare, these reactions can be life-threatening. Inform your veterinarian beforehand if your dog has ever had a vaccine reaction.

How many vaccines does a dog need?

Vaccine needs vary based on your dog’s age, habits, health status, and geographic location. Work closely with your veterinarian to develop a personalized vaccination plan.

What happens if your dog is not vaccinated?

Dogs without vaccines are vulnerable to numerous preventable diseases that can be costly to treat and potentially fatal. Some illnesses, like rabies and leptospirosis, also pose risks to human health.

Is it ever too late to vaccinate my dog?

No, it’s never too late to vaccinate a dog, even in their senior years. Vaccination can provide important protection at any age.