Vaccines For Your Dog

Initial rabies vaccine is administered around 4 months of age and repeated one year later. Additional Rabies immunizations are repeated every 3 years for the rest of your pet’s life. Tennessee state and local laws require dogs receive Rabies vaccinations and that pet owners maintain a current Rabies license and tag.

Shots to protect against these viral diseases begin as a series of puppy vaccinations. A booster shot is given one year after the last puppy immunization. Additional booster shots are administered every 3 years throughout your dog’s life.

This vaccine helps protect dogs against some forms of contagious bronchitis. It is recommended (usually required) for dogs that stay in boarding facilities, go to groomers, visit dog parks, attend dog shows or obedience classes or day care facilities, or frequently contact large numbers of dogs. Immunization is recommended every 6 months. Vaccine is placed in the nose or in the mouth.

An emerging viral disease. Currently there are two strains of dog flu virus, H3N8 and H3N2. The original strain, H3N8 was first reported in Florida in 2008. the second strain, H3N2, was seen for the first time in Chicago in 2015. Risk of exposure to this virus is essentially the same as Kennel Cough. Approximately 80% of dogs exposed to the virus will become sick. Symptoms of infection usually begin about one week after exposure. Symptoms include a cough that often persists for several weeks, loss of appetite, fever, and pus-like nasal discharge. Up to 10% of dogs may develop a more severe form of illness, with high fever, rapid breathing, and secondary bronchopneumonia. The fatality rate related to pneumonia is reported to be around 5-8%. This vaccine is given for the first time, repeated in 3 weeks and repeated once each year. Protection from flu virus begins approximately 2 weeks after the second innoculation.

This life threatening bacterial disease occurs sporadically across the United States. Infected dogs often have a fever and may suffer serious liver and kidney damage. This disease, even when treated, can be fatal. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning that infected dogs can transfer infection to humans. Infected dogs shed bacteria in urine. Human exposure to infected urine is one way people can become infected. Dogs considered at risk for contracting Leptospirosis have exposure to rodents, raccoons, skunks, deer, farm animals. Highest risk seems to be for urban dogs (exposure to rat urine) and dog’s enjoying the outdoors (exposure to wildlife urine). A couple decades ago, Lepto was a core vaccine, but the vaccine had an unusually high risk of side effects and consequently most veterinarians quit vaccinating for this disease. Current Lepto vaccines have no higher risk of side effects than any other vaccine in use and thus, we now offer the vaccine again. Lepto is a complicated disease, and vaccination may not always prevent disease (serovars). The vaccine is given by injection, repeated in 3 weeks and repeated once each year.

Certain ticks, not generally prevalent in Tennessee, carry Borrellia burgdorferii, the bacteria that cause Lyme Disease. Infected ticks spread disease to your dog while attached and feeding from your dog. Although effective tick control remains the cornerstone for preventing a wide variety of diseases caused by tick bites, if your dog is travelling to a geographic region known for Lyme Disease, you may choose to vaccinate for this condition. Vaccine is given by injection, repeated in 3 weeks and repeated once each year.