Protecting The Pup: Dog Vaccinations
The saying ‘Prevention is better than a cure’ is particularly relevant for diseases without direct cures. Vaccinating your dog can help protect them from life-threatening illnesses, ensuring their safety and well-being.
Vaccines contain antigens that trigger an immune response in your dog’s body without causing the disease. It’s like a test run for a real infection: they help your dog’s immune system build up defences towards pathogens. When your dog gets exposed to the actual harmful virus or bacteria, they are prepared to fight them off.
Canine vaccinations cover illnesses that can be spread directly or indirectly, meaning your dog can become infected even without direct contact with an infected animal.
What are the types of dog vaccinations?
There are two widely used protocols in South Australia for dog vaccinations, ‘C3’ and ‘C5’.
C3 Vaccination
The C3 vaccination is a core vaccine recommended for all dogs. It protects against three common and potentially fatal canine viruses, none of which have a direct cure. Treatment for these viruses typically focuses on managing symptoms, though severe cases may require hospitalisation.
The C3 vaccine protects against:
Parvovirus
A highly contagious virus that poses the greatest risk to puppies and unvaccinated dogs. It causes severe gastrointestinal issues, including bloody diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and dehydration. Parvovirus has a high fatality rate in untreated dogs, and even with treatment, survival isn’t guaranteed. Treatment requires isolation in a critical care hospital, which can be both expensive and intensive.
Distemper Virus
This highly contagious virus is often fatal, with puppies and unvaccinated dogs being at the highest risk. It affects multiple organs, including the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Clinical signs are wide-ranging and can include diarrhea, vomiting, eye and nose discharge, coughing, seizures, and neurological issues such as stumbling, head tilt, and paralysis. Distemper has a high fatality rate in untreated cases and generally requires intensive hospitalisation. Dogs who survive may suffer from lifelong consequences.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH)
A viral infection from the adenovirus family. It causes a variety of clinical signs, including decreased appetite, fever, respiratory issues, and eye and nasal discharge. Young, unvaccinated puppies are often the worst affected, with additional signs like abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, edema, and jaundice. Unfortunately, ICH can be fatal.
C5 Vaccination
C5 is a vaccination that includes all the components of the C3 vaccination, plus two additional components. These two are colloquially known as “Kennel Cough,” though infection is not limited to kennels, making the name somewhat misleading.
While both of these infections are generally mild and self-limiting (meaning they resolve on their own), they can predispose the body to other concurrent infections, which may cause severe or even fatal illness. This is especially a concern for young, unvaccinated, or immunocompromised animals.
Dogs who have received the C5 vaccination can still contract “Kennel Cough,” but they are less likely to do so. When they do, their symptoms are typically less severe, and they recover more quickly.
The two pathogens included in the “Kennel Cough” component are:
Parainfluenza Virus
This is a highly contagious virus that causes a mild upper respiratory tract infection, affecting the nose, pharynx, and bronchi. While infection with Parainfluenza Virus is usually mild and self-limiting, it can lead to more significant secondary infections. A small number of dogs may develop pneumonia, but most respond very well to proper treatment.
Bordetella Bronchiseptica
This is a highly contagious bacterial infection commonly associated with respiratory disease in dogs. Infection signs may include a dry cough, nasal discharge, lethargy, and fever. It is often compared to Whooping Cough in humans.
What is the vaccination protocol?
Most puppies receive a course of three vaccinations, typically administered at 6-8, 10-12, and 16+ weeks of age. The exact schedule can vary based on the type of vaccine, the puppies’ age, and the timing of the first dose.
Puppies are not considered fully protected until two weeks after their final vaccination. During this period, they are still vulnerable to infection, so it’s important to keep them in a safe environment.
After the puppy series is complete, we recommend ongoing annual vaccinations to keep them protected. These yearly appointments also include a full health check-up, allowing your veterinarian to assess your dog’s condition and address any concerns you may have.
Which vaccine should my dog get?
The type of vaccine recommended for your dog will depend on your specific situation and your dog’s individual needs. Key factors to consider include your dog’s age, whether you have other pets in the home, previous vaccination history, lifestyle (for example, if they visit dog parks or beaches), temperament, and any underlying health conditions.
A C5 vaccination is required for dogs to attend boarding kennels, daycares, obedience training, and similar facilities.
While protocols can vary, most facilities require dogs to be vaccinated at least two weeks prior to boarding. This can cause problems for owners of unvaccinated dogs who need to board their pet in an emergency, as these facilities may not accept them.