Good Friends Animal Hospital
908 E. Main St. Urbana, IL
217-344-1017
Vaccination Instructions-Canine
After your pet’s vaccinations today, you may notice lethargy, decreased appetite, mild pain or swelling at
the injection sites, and/or slight fever for about 24 hours, which is considered a normal reaction. However,
if your pet displays any of these symptoms for more than 24 hours please contact our office as soon as
possible. Additionally, in rare cases, animals will have an allergic reaction to a vaccine and could
develop hives, facial swelling, excessive vomiting and/or diarrhea. In these cases, treatment is usually
needed. Should you notice any of these clinical signs, please contact our office at 217-344-1017 or the
Animal Emergency Clinic of Champaign County at 217-359-1977 if after hours for further instructions.
Finally, you may notice a small lump where the vaccination was administered. This should gradually
decrease over the next 6-8 weeks, but if it does not, please let us know.
Not all pets should be vaccinated with all available vaccines. Vaccinations are divided into core and
non-core based on an individual risk assessment. “Core” vaccines are recommended for MOST pets in a
particular area because they protect from diseases most common IN that area. “NON-CORE” vaccines
are reserved for individual pets with unique needs. All dogs should receive vaccinations for rabies,
distemper, adenovirus, and parvo (given as a combination DA2P). The non-core vaccinations include
Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Canine Influenza and Lyme disease, and are administered to those dogs that are
considered to be at risk based on their lifestyle. Factors that increase your pet’s exposure risk are travel to
other geographic locations, contact with other animals such as exposure at boarding kennels, obedience
classes, shows and dog parks as well as frequent swimming in local lakes and ponds and/or frequently
picking up ticks from the environment. If your pet did not receive one or more of the non-core
vaccinations and you would like further information about those pathogens, we would be happy to provide
you with that information, or if your pet's lifestyle changes resulting in a change in risk of exposure and
you feel that he or she needs one of the non-core vaccines, please contact us and we would be happy to
schedule him/her an appointment.
.
Over the past few years, there has been a growing professional and public awareness that vaccine products
are not as benign as first believed, and controversy exists as to the duration of immunity and frequency of
administration. The Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Vaccine Task Force provides
guidelines to veterinarians that are used as a foundation upon which to make specific recommendations for
individual patients. For puppies, vaccinations are generally administered at 8, 12 and 16 weeks and then
annually. For adult dogs who have previously not been vaccinated, a booster may be necessary 3-4
weeks following the initial vaccination. All other dogs receiving an annual or triennial vaccination will
need to return on a yearly basis for necessary boosters and, more importantly, an annual wellness exam.
The vaccination needs of dogs should be assessed at least yearly and, if appropriate, vaccination schedules
should be modified on the basis of changes in the patient’s age, health status, home and travel environment
and lifestyle. Vaccinations should be considered just ONE component of an individualized
comprehensive preventative health-care plan based on the age, breed, health status, environment (potential
exposure to harmful agents), lifestyle (contact with other animals) and travel habits. A reminder card will
be sent notifying you when vaccinations and wellness exams are due.
Many factors are taken into consideration when establishing a pet’s vaccination plan. Doctor Norrell and
the staff at Good Friends Animal Hospital will tailor a program of vaccinations and patient health care that
will help your pet maintain a lifetime of infectious disease protection.
Should you have questions or concerns at any time regarding the health of your pet, please do not
Kandi
Norrell,
DVM,at
Primary
Care Veterinarian
hesitate to contact Good Friends
Animal
Hospital
217-344-1017.
illinoisvetmed.com
217.333.5300
Kandice Norrell, DVM