Vaccinations for Puppies and Dogs

The joy that puppies bring into our homes is unlike any other. Enjoy all of the cuteness and milestones that come with this part of their life. But, please don’t forget to keep track of your new little one’s exams, vaccinations and deworming. For puppies, we typically do vaccines at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16-weeks-old, while deworming is done every 2 weeks for 3 treatments to make sure we get the full life cycle of the worms. At these first exams we will go over many things with you from vaccines to spays and neuters. These first exams can be quite overwhelming for people and their pets so please don’t hesitate to ask any and all questions. As always, you are welcome to call us at 519.426.0111 with your inquiries.

Why do puppies and dogs need vaccines?

Vaccines are an easy and affordable way to protect your canine friend from several diseases. Often, these health issues are difficult and expensive to treat and so prevention is the best course of action against them. The most common conditions that vaccines protect your dog from are:

Rabies: Rabies is a virus that can infect any mammal – this includes wildlife, livestock, domestic animals and humans. When an animal is exposed to rabies, it can quickly transmit the disease, even before symptoms begin – which is normally 10 days after exposure. The virus is found in saliva, the brain and spinal tissues. It can be spread by saliva entering the body via a bite, open cut, sore/wound, mouth, nose or eyes.

Canine Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus – These conditions are targeted by a vaccine that is part of our core vaccine program; every dog gets this vaccine as a puppy. Puppies that contract these diseases do not always survive.

Lyme disease: Your pet can get this condition from tick bites. Ticks are very common in our area and we highly recommend having this vaccine done on your pet.

Leptospirosis: This disease is transferred by wildlife that urinate in water. Your dog can get leptospirosis once they drink the infected water (e.g. ponds, streams, puddles).

Bordetella: Also known as Kennel Cough, is a highly infectious disease passed from dog to dog via nose to nose contact, saliva, mucous and aerosol. This is why we highly suggest getting this vaccine if your dog goes to the groomers, dog parks or kennels.

How should I prepare my puppy for their first vaccination visit?

We suggest that you keep your puppy calm and happy. You can use positive reinforcement and treats to reward them as you approach the hospital. Also, don’t forget to bring records given to you from the breeder or shelter, so we can use this to develop our vaccination plan.

Dog Vaccinations

In order for your pet’s immunity to remain strong, they must continue getting vaccines even when they are adult age. Vaccinating your pet is one of the easiest ways to help them live a long and healthy life. They are a proven means of protecting your dog from illnesses in the future that may require costly and extensive treatments during all stages of their life.

What vaccines does my adult dog need?

At Simcoe Animal Hospital, we highly recommend your dog continues receiving core vaccines such as those that protect against rabies, canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis. We also recommend you receive non-core vaccines, depending on your pet’s lifestyle and home environment. At a consultation in the hospital, the veterinarian can properly assess which vaccines will work best for your pet.