Canine Vaccines
Puppy with parvovirus. Image courtesy of Animal Pet Doctor
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is fatal in nearly all cases. In Washington state the primary carrier of rabies are bats, although raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and foxes can also be carriers. The Washington State Department of Health estimates that 5-10% of bats submitted for testing are positive for rabies. The last reported case of rabies was in 2015 when a cat developed rabies after biting a rabid bat. The state of Washington requires rabies vaccines for all dogs, cats, and ferrets. When a pet is under a year old, their rabies vaccination is effective for one year. After that point, rabies vaccinations are given every three years.
DHLPP is a five-way vaccine that includes viral diseases canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and bacterial infection leptospirosis. Distemper is an airborne virus that is also transmitted through bodily fluids and attacks the intestinal and respiratory tracts, as well as the central nervous system. Hepatitis is caused by the adenovirus and is transmitted through bodily fluids, it is often fatal when it attacks the liver. Parvovirus used to be a common cause of death among puppies before the development of the parvo vaccine. Parvo attacks the gastrointestinal tract and is often deadly in puppies and immunocompromised pets. Parainfluenza causes a dry cough and breathing problems. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria within Leptospira spp. and is extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. If it progresses undiagnosed, it attacks the kidneys and liver and causes failure of both organs. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans. DHLPP boosters are given every two years.
Coronavirus is a highly contagious virus that attacks the intestinal tract and causes severe enteritis and can be fatal. Puppies are especially susceptible to coronavirus. According to the CDC, six strains of coronavirus are able to infect humans and one strain (SARS-CoV) can infect both humans and dogs. Corona vaccines are given every two years.
Bordetella is the vaccine against the highly contagious canine infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly called kennel cough. This euphemism is actually misleading because this bacterial infection can be transmitted through interactions as slight as two dogs sniffing each other through a fence or passing on a walk. The infection causes severe inflammation and narrowing of the bronchioles within the lungs, resulting in an agonizing cough. Bordetella vaccines are given annually.
DHLPP is a five-way vaccine that includes viral diseases canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and bacterial infection leptospirosis. Distemper is an airborne virus that is also transmitted through bodily fluids and attacks the intestinal and respiratory tracts, as well as the central nervous system. Hepatitis is caused by the adenovirus and is transmitted through bodily fluids, it is often fatal when it attacks the liver. Parvovirus used to be a common cause of death among puppies before the development of the parvo vaccine. Parvo attacks the gastrointestinal tract and is often deadly in puppies and immunocompromised pets. Parainfluenza causes a dry cough and breathing problems. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria within Leptospira spp. and is extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. If it progresses undiagnosed, it attacks the kidneys and liver and causes failure of both organs. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans. DHLPP boosters are given every two years.
Coronavirus is a highly contagious virus that attacks the intestinal tract and causes severe enteritis and can be fatal. Puppies are especially susceptible to coronavirus. According to the CDC, six strains of coronavirus are able to infect humans and one strain (SARS-CoV) can infect both humans and dogs. Corona vaccines are given every two years.
Bordetella is the vaccine against the highly contagious canine infectious tracheobronchitis, commonly called kennel cough. This euphemism is actually misleading because this bacterial infection can be transmitted through interactions as slight as two dogs sniffing each other through a fence or passing on a walk. The infection causes severe inflammation and narrowing of the bronchioles within the lungs, resulting in an agonizing cough. Bordetella vaccines are given annually.
Bronchial wall of patient infected with tracheobronchitis.
Image courtesy of Merck Vet
