Vaccines for Puppies & Dogs

Vaccines are an effective way to protect your pet against harmful diseases.  

During your pet's first veterinary visit our team will discuss their vaccination. By vaccinating your canine pal, you give them immunity against diseases that can be deadly for them or even be passed on to you and your family. At our hospital we provide vaccination and other services that can keep your new pet healthy.

When should my pet be vaccinated?

The first few months of your pet's life are critical to establish a healthy life. Between the ages of 6-8 weeks old your puppy should have their first round of vaccines. Different doses are administered until your pet is around 4-months-old.

Once the puppy series is completed, they will need boosters. Boosters are given every 1 to 3 years depending on how long the initial vaccine offers immunity. Vaccines like Lyme, DHPP, Leptospirosis are effective for one year, Rabies is effective for 3 years and Bordetella is effective for 6 to 12 months. Our team will establish a vaccination schedule to ensure they don't miss their boosters or doses.

What vaccines will be recommended for my pet?

Our team may recommend a combination of core and non-core vaccines for canine pets. Core vaccines are a must for all dogs, they protect against deadly diseases that can spread easily among animals. The core vaccines that your pet should have are:

  1. Canine distemper
  2. Canine Hepatitis
  3. Canine Parvovirus
  4. Rabies

Non-core vaccines for dogs are recommended based on the pet's risk of exposure to certain diseases. Factors such as your pet's lifestyle and environment determine whether or not they will need non-core vaccines. Some examples of non-core vaccines are:

  1. Lyme disease
  2. Bordetella
  3. Leptospirosis

To learn more about vaccinating your pet against diseases, please call us at 905-683-6430.

Why does my pet need more vaccines even after they've been fully vaccinated?

Vaccines offer immunity for a certain amount of time. During that time frame the chances of your pet developing certain diseases are small. After that given time, your pet's immunity levels will be low which means they can't fight off viruses. If your pet's vaccines aren't maintained, you run the risk of having them restart the entire series to rebuild their immunity.

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