Vaccinations for dogs are essential for preventing your dog from a variety of hazardous and even fatal infections. Vaccines assist a pet’s immune system in preparing to protect itself against disease-causing organisms. Antigens in vaccines imitate disease-causing organisms in the immune system of dogs, but they do not cause disease. The goal of puppy and dog immunizations is to boost the immune system by causing it to detect antigens that are present. If a dog is subjected to the true disease, its immune system will recognise it and be prepared to fight it off, and at the very least mitigate its consequences.

There are two types of immunizations for pets: core vaccines and non-core vaccines. Non-core vaccinations may be recommended based on your pet’s lifestyle, whereas core vaccines are recommended for all pets.

Core Vaccinations

Core vaccinations are deemed essential for all canines due to the universal risk from exposure, the magnitude of the disease, and the risk of transmission to other dogs, as well as other animal species, including humans.

The American Animal Hospital Association’s Canine Task Force considers the following dog vaccinations to be core:

• Canine Parvovirus
• Canine Distemper
• Hepatitis
• Rabies
• Leptospirosis

Non-Core Vaccinations

Non-core vaccines are more for dogs with special needs. These entirely voluntary vaccines must be evaluated based on a dog’s risk of being exposed — lifestyle and location. For most cases, the illnesses against which these immunisation defend are self-limiting or react well to diagnosis.

Non- Core Vaccines include:

• Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
• Canine Influenza (dog flu)
• Lyme vaccine