Vaccinations are essential measures to prevent infectious diseases and outbreaks. As pet owners travel with their dogs more and more often, the importance of preventive care increases. Thus not only the own animal is protected. Vaccinations can also reduce and contain the spread of pathogens.

How Does It Work?

The body, whether of dog or human, reacts to foreign bodies in the environment by producing specific antibodies. In this way, the organism forms a basic immunity. Through this “natural active immunization”, the body is later already protected from the pathogens in the event of a new infection.

“Artificial active immunization” happens by means of vaccination. Specific and non-specific immune defense follows in response to the vaccine. As a result, specific immunity is formed, just like after a natural infection. Vaccines can be administered into the muscles, under the skin or onto mucosal surfaces.

How long a vaccination remains valid or when it needs to be refreshed depends on both the vaccine and the dog itself. Basic immunization in puppyhood is recommended first.

How Often Should You Vaccinate Your Dog?

In the past, it was often advised to vaccinate your dog annually. But be careful! Whether the vaccination protection is still effective or should be refreshed, can be determined as in humans by a titer determination. The amount of antibodies in the blood is measured. If the value is okay, it is not necessary and should not be re-vaccinated.
New vaccines can also have a lasting effect for several years.
It is best to stick to the guideline “as often as necessary, as little as possible”. This has been the advice of the Standing Commission on Vaccination in Veterinary Medicine (StIKo Vet.) since 2016, after it issued the “Guidelines for Vaccination of Small Animals”.

In the first weeks after birth, the puppy is still protected by its mother’s antibodies (passive immunity). In order to give the puppies the best possible protection, it is important to vaccinate the bitch before she becomes pregnant. This way it poses the least risk to the expectant mother. At the same time the puppies get as many antibodies as possible on their way. If you miss the moment, you can also vaccinate them during pregnancy.

After birth, the number of antibodies in the puppies decreases. However, vaccination is possible only after about 2 months. Before that, the infectious substances would be directly neutralized by the mother’s antibodies contained in the puppy’s blood.

What Should The Dog Be Vaccinated Against?

The basic immunization is already possible in the puppy age and absolutely recommendable. So that your little protégé remains healthy later, the first vaccination is administered from the age of 8 weeks. The combination vaccination against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirosis and leptospirosis (SHPL) is suitable for this. After further boosters, the first vaccinations are completed after 12 to 16 weeks at the latest. From the age of 15 months there is the last vaccination of the basic immunization. Now your dog is protected against most common dog diseases.

Even though Germany is already considered free of rabies, it should finally stay that way. The vaccination against rabies makes sense. If you like to travel with your dog to other countries, rabies vaccination is often mandatory for entry. Inform yourself here about entry regulations and requirements of the respective country (read: Vacation with your dog). The rabies vaccination is recommended at the age of about 6 months or after the change of teeth. It can also be combined with the vaccination against SHPL and administered from the 12th week. After that, a booster is necessary every 3 years.

What Types Of Vaccines Are Available?

The great advantage of live vaccines is that they produce a real disease without symptoms. This allows the body to develop antibodies against the disease without suffering its effects. Attenuated pathogens enter the body but cannot cause disease. They achieve long-lasting immunity and work very efficiently. In animals with pre-existing immunodeficiencies, side effects and symptoms of disease may occur (rare).

Inactivated vaccines (dead vaccines) contain either only fragments of the pathogen or already killed ones. They have a lower immunogenic effect. Carrier substances then ensure a sufficient immune response.

Combination agents contain antigens of several pathogens. The absolute advantage of these agents is, of course, that the animal only has to be taken to the doctor once and receive only one injection. The disadvantage is that they often cannot be refreshed individually. For example, parvovirus and distemper only need to be refreshed every three years, whereas leptospirosis needs to be refreshed annually.

What Risks & Side Effects Can Occur?

As protection against infectious diseases, vaccination is the safest means. It spares the dog in case of infection the possibly agonizing disease. Nevertheless, certain risks can never be excluded. A completely risk-free vaccine does not exist. Nevertheless, the benefit of a vaccination is many times greater than the associated risk. It is important that your animal is healthy before the vaccination. This way complications can be avoided. Also, the vaccination should always be done by a trained veterinarian. If not done correctly, inflammatory reactions can form at the vaccination site.

What Are The Canine Diseases?

Hepatitis can be contracted by both humans and animals. The contagious liver inflammation is transmitted by adenoviruses. The disease is often initially manifested by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding in the lungs and sometimes neurological disorders. Vaccination protection after basic immunization can last up to 9 years.

Canine distemper is a viral infection. It is often accompanied by nasal and eye discharge and pneumonia. Sometimes accompanied by diarrhea. Fortunately, the vaccination against distemper lasts long. The disease can be compared with the measles virus in humans. After two basic immunization, people are protected for life.

Also known as canine distemper is parvovirosis and is very similar to the feline distemper virus. A fairly common disease that can be dangerous, especially for puppies. Diarrhea and vomiting are the main symptoms. Parvovirosis is transmitted quickly and easily, e.g. via feces. The protection of the vaccination usually lasts for several years.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can be fatal. It can also be transmitted from animal to human. It is usually passed between animals through urine from infected rodents. When an infected animal does its business, the pathogen mixes with the environment. If your dog now drinks from a puddle, a stream or sleeps on the contaminated soil site, it can become infected even without direct contact with the animal. Severe kidney damage and bleeding in the lungs are the result.

Both viral and bacterial infections can cause kennel cough. The viral pathogen is eliminated by the vaccine against hepatitis. Against the bacterial pathogen, the combination vaccinations are mostly effective in the basic immunization. Particularly at risk are dogs that live close together (such as in animal shelters) or where adequate hygiene is not ensured.

For pregnant bitches who do not have any antibodies, vaccination against herpes viruses is recommended. In the worst case these can cause puppy deaths, miscarriages or stillbirths. For all other dogs this vaccination is not necessary.

Almost all warm-blooded creatures can be affected by rabies. Especially the disease spreads by direct bites with saliva. The disease, which is always fatal, is caused by a viral infection with the Lyssa virus. To protect Europe against rabies, rabies vaccination is mandatory in dogs in many European countries. The rabies regulation also stipulates that unvaccinated animals that come into contact with a rabid animal (e.g. a sick red fox) are killed without exception. The risk of spreading rabies is simply too high.

Summary Vaccination Scheme:

• 6. – 8th week of life: distemper, HCC, parvovirosis, leptospirosis (SHPL, mostly as 4-fold vaccination)
• 10. – 12. week of life: SHPL + rabies
• 16. Week of life: SHP
• 15. Month of life: SHPL + rabies

Boosters depending on the vaccine:

• After 1. year: Leptospirosis and if necessary kennel cough
• After 2nd year: leptospirosis and kennel cough
• After 3. year: STHPL + rabies