Whether you’re providing a healthy foundation for your new puppy or maintaining your dog’s health throughout the years, vaccinations are a vital part of your dog’s overall well-being. Regular vaccinations can effectively prevent serious canine diseases such as parvo, distemper, rabies and hepatitis, just to name a few. Vaccination guidelines have been revised over the years by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and immunization schedules should be tailored to fit your dog’s specific needs and risk factors. Risk factors vary by breed, size of the dog, area of the country, and level of interaction with other animals. Below we discuss some dog vaccinations basics and recent revisions.
Latest Updates:
Most veterinarians now recommend a series of 4 vaccinations, the last of which should be around 16 weeks of age. Some have even gone so far as to say if every puppy was vaccinated at 4 weeks of age, for parvo only, we could probably eradicate the disease altogether.
Most vaccines for dogs combine protection for multiple illnesses. For years, the most common of these have been the 5-way and 7-way shots. Below, we will explore the differences between the core vaccines (5-way) and the rest.
5-Way Vaccines (Basic Protection or Core Vaccines)
These are considered core vaccines that we most recommend for puppies and older dogs that have never been vaccinated, and are often referred to as 5-way vaccines.
- Distemper (severe multisystemic viral disease)
- Adenovirus (cross protects against hepatitis–type 1 can cause severe, even fatal, liver disease)
- Adenovirus (respiratory disease–type 2 can lead to pneumonia and death)
- Parainfluenza (part of the kennel cough complex)
- Parvovirus (highly contagious and most often fatal viral disease)
6-Way Vaccines
A six-way vaccine provides protection against all of the above 5 “core” vaccines, plus coronavirus (an intestinal infection). Corona is not considered a core vaccine but may be recommended when the animal is in a high-risk situation. Corona is especially important for show dogs and dogs living or boarding in kennels or where there have been known incidents in the immediate area, but check with your veterinarian to see if he recommends it.
7-Way/9-Way Vaccines
Recent developments and changes in the veterinary vaccine world include adding 2 more strains of “Lepto” to the 7-way making it a 9-way vaccine now. A 9-way vaccine provides protection against the 5 “core” vaccines, plus the 4 varieties of leptospirosis (lepto) common to dogs. Again, this is not usually considered a core vaccine but recommended when the animal is in a high-risk situation. Lepto is especially important for hunting dogs and dogs that live in an area where there are a lot of wild animals. In addition, dogs that live in large cities are at a higher risk because of the rat population. (This disease is spread via the urine of infected animals such as rats, raccoons, foxes, etc.)
8-Way/10-Way Vaccines
The same recent changes to the 7-way vaccines have made the 8-way vaccine a 10-way. A 10-way vaccine is all of the above-mentioned vaccines (in the 9-way) plus Coronavirus.
Parvo
Puppies receive immune factors from their mother in the initial milk, which contains colostrum. Most veterinarians agree that the first 36-48 hours of milk flow following birth containing the colostrum, is a highly concentrated mixture of large protein antibody molecules, vitamins, electrolytes, and nutrients. The antibody protection is only present in the first 36 to 48 hours of milk flow. Puppies can only gain immunity from colostrum if they nurse during this time, and they are less than 2 days old. After that, no matter how much or how little they nurse, they will not receive any more antibodies.
Puppies cannot absorb antibodies after their digestive tracts lose the ability to absorb large protein molecules, which occurs after the 2nd day of life. After that, we can only increase this by vaccination. Many veterinarians are recommending that breeders give their puppies a parvo only vaccine at 4 weeks of age. The reason for this is because we have no way of knowing which puppies in the litter were “piggies” and received more of the colostrum and which did not. Those pups that did not receive as much colostrum will have an immune system that is getting weaker every day and will truly benefit from the vaccine, while the puppies that received more of the colostrum don’t really need the vaccine, but it won’t hurt them.
Even a puppy that has received all recommended shots and is fully vaccinated is still developing their immune system.
Kennel Cough
We also have intranasal vaccines for kennel cough which includes the Bordetella Bronchiseptica vaccine. Kennel Cough vaccines are recommended if the dog leaves the house (i.e. training classes, dog parks, PetSmart, or anywhere). It’s not only for boarded and show dogs anymore. Intranasal vaccines are administered via a syringe or bulb to expel the vaccine into each nostril.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other warm-blooded animals. Rabies vaccines should be administered at 3 months of age. A number of states do not allow the shipment of rabies vaccines, and some state and local (county) laws require Rabies vaccines to be administered by a veterinarian and make it illegal for you to vaccinate your own animal or refuse to recognize the vaccination. Check here for your state’s laws.
Dog Vaccinations Summary
Your pet’s veterinarian can help you determine what protection is needed based on risk factors including breed, lifestyle and location.
For a quick reference, here is what each of the common types of multi-protection vaccinations cover in a nutshell:
5-way shot (sometimes called the puppy shot) includes:
- Distemper
- Adenovirus (with cross-protection for hepatitis)
- Parainfluenza
- Parvovirus
6-way shot includes:
- Distemper
- Adenovirus (with cross-protection for hepatitis)
- Parainfluenza
- Parvovirus
- Coronavirus
9-way shot includes:
- Distemper
- Adenovirus (with cross-protection for hepatitis)
- Parainfluenza
- Parvovirus
- Leptospirosis (all four strains)
10-way shot includes:
- Distemper
- Adenovirus (with cross-protection for hepatitis)
- Parainfluenza
- Parvovirus
- Leptospirosis (all four strains)
- Coronavirus
Jeffers does not employ any veterinarians or medical professionals. We have a love for animals and try to provide helpful information in non-emergent cases based on years of experience from our specialists and the information provided us by manufacturers. Information given here is meant to be helpful and/or educational. It is, in no way, intended to supersede, challenge or supplant the diagnosis, treatment or advice of a licensed veterinarian.
Last Updated on October 2, 2020 by Rachel Champion
Ashley Reed says
August 27, 2015 at 7:37 amMy puppy has to get vaccinated again soon, and I want to learn more about it this time. When we took her in for her initial shots, we just accepted that she’d get what she needed. Now I want to make sure she gets everything she needs, and nothing that she doesn’t. Thanks for all the information on the different kinds of vaccinations!
Daniela Adams says
August 28, 2015 at 4:55 pmMy friend’s dog just gave birth to 4 puppies, and I am going to take one, once it’s old enough! She is not sure about vaccination, I will share this article with her. It seems to me that a 10-way vaccination is the best way to protect your puppy, but I wonder how necessary it is?
Renee says
August 31, 2015 at 7:25 amHi Daniela,
We don’t recommend 10 way vaccinations as the first or second vaccine for a puppy. If you feel that your puppy is going to be coming in contact with the urine of an infected animal, then when it is time for the 3rd & 4th vaccination you might want to consider the 10-way. Cattle, pigs, rats, skunks & opossums are some of the animals that can carry the bacteria that causes Leptospirosis. If they urinate into a water source or puddle that your puppy either drinks from (or if they have a cut on their foot) walks through, the potential is there for your pup to contract Lepto. If you have further questions or would like to discuss further, please call me at 1-800-533-3377 x 381 or email rsjones@jefferspet.com Thanks! Renee