Canine Vaccination Guide

“Distemper” (DA2PP) - This is a core vaccine.

Canine Distemper (DA2PP) – spread by discharge from the nose of infected animals and is highly contagious. Symptoms may include fever, coughing, diarrhea, and vomiting. Damage to the nervous system occurs in later stages and may lead to convulsions, paralysis and death. Damage to organs may be permanent even if the animal recovers. This disease may be carried by other dogs or wild animals and can be transmitted to ferrets.

Canine Adenovirus Type 1 & 2 (DA2PP) - Type 1 causes infectious hepatitis and type 2 causes respiratory infections. Vaccinating for both types is called ‘cross-protecting’. This disease is spread through infected saliva, urine, or feces. Type 1 symptoms may be similar to those of early distemper and may progress to liver failure, eye damage and breathing problems.

Canine Parvovirus (DA2PP) – spread by contact with infected fecal material and is highly contagious. Symptoms include high fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and severe dehydration. Infections are most dangerous to puppies. This disease is very serious – often fatal and hard to treat.

Canine Parainfluenza (DA2PP) – spread like the common cold through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms and illness are upper respiratory in nature. This can be severe in puppies and debilitated animals.

Rabies – This is a core vaccine and legally required.

Spread through contact of infected saliva and open skin or mucous membranes. Can be carried and transmitted by many mammals (skunks, raccoons, foxes, bats, etc.) and can infect humans. This disease attacks the brain and central nervous system and is fatal. All dogs, cats, and ferrets are required by law to be vaccinated due to the possibility of transmitting the disease to humans.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

Spread like the common cold through coughing and sneezing or contact with infected but asymptomatic dogs. Symptoms include eye and nose discharge and harsh hacking/gagging cough. It may progress to pneumonia like any upper respiratory disease. Recommended for dogs that attend training classes, grooming, doggy day care, boarding facilities, or dog parks. Outbreaks are common in the spring and summer.

Leptospirosis

A bacterial disease that is spread via urine from infected animals (wildlife like rodents, foxes, raccoons, skunks, livestock, etc.) into water sources. Flu-like symptoms are common, but it can progress to fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and in severe cases, kidney or liver failure. This bacterial disease can be spread to humans. It is recommended for dogs even in suburban or city areas due to exposure from wildlife passing through dog areas.