Deer Run Animal Hospital
CANINE VACCINATIONS
Deer Run Animal Hospital utilizes the Canine Vaccine Guidelines developed by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to
develop vaccination recommendations for our patients. AAHA has worked with some of the best veterinary infectious disease and
immunology experts in the world to develop these guidelines. The latest guidelines were updated in 2011.
THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES IN VACCINATION RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AAHA GUIDELINES ARE
THAT VACCINATION PROTOCOLS SHOULD BE INDIVIDUALIZED TO THE PATIENT AND NOT ALL VACCINES
NEED TO BE GIVEN TO ADULT DOGS EVERY YEAR!
This means one size does not fit all! We will work with you to determine which vaccines are important for your dog and how frequently
they should be given. The annual exam visit is an important time to discuss your pet’s vaccination needs.
The AAHA Guidelines outline which vaccines are “core” vaccines that needed by all dogs (Rabies and Distemper vaccines are core
vaccines). The guidelines also outline which vaccines should be considered in special need circumstances, and which vaccines are not
recommended for routine use.
ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS REMAIN IMPORTANT! To provide you with the best quality health care
possible, dogs should always return for annual physical examinations even if re-vaccination is not due. Yearly
physical exams, annual heartworm and wellness blood testing, and fecal intestinal parasite exams remain important.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TIMES FOR VACCINATIONS IS IN YOUNG PUPPYHOOD. We cannot stress enough
how lives can be saved with proper vaccination. Puppies need a series of vaccines given against several serious and potentially fatal,
diseases including Distemper Virus and Parvo Virus.
The "DISTEMPER" VACCINATION, which is often abbreviated as DHPP.
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D – Distemper
H - Hepatitis
P - Parvo
P - Parainfluenza
This vaccine provides protection against multiple viruses. Distemper and Parvo can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and death.
Distemper virus can also cause neurological symptoms. The DHPP vaccine also includes vaccination against Infectious Hepatitis, a
viral disease of the liver, which is caused by an adenovirus. Adenovirus can also be involved in Kennel Cough. Parainfluenzna virus is
one of the many infectious agents that is also involved in the Kennel Cough Syndrome.
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The Distemper (DHPP) vaccine should be started at 6-8 weeks of age and repeated every 3-4 weeks until
at least 16 weeks of age. A booster vaccine should be given one year later. This frequency is important to
prevent potentially fatal disease in young puppies.
If a puppy over 16 weeks of age, or an adult dog, is presented without prior vaccination history, it should
receive at least one DHPP vaccination and be boostered again one year later.
After these initial Distemper (DHPP) vaccinations, revaccination is not needed for at least 3 years. (However some
boarding, grooming, or training facilities may still require annual vaccination).
The actual duration of immunity beyond 3 years for the DHPP vaccine in adult dogs remains controversial.
What are the options for re-vaccination for the Distemper (DHPP) Vaccine?
 Antibody Titer Blood Tests can be run to determine if high levels of protective antibodies against Distemper and
Parvo Virus are still present after 3 years. If high, revaccination is not yet needed. The downside of this option is
that these tests are costly. Interpretation can also be difficult because protective immunity may still be present
even if antibody titers are low
 Continue to vaccinate for DHPP every 3-5 years.
Most vaccine manufactures are now supporting 3 year recommendations. However most Distemper vaccines have not yet received a
3-yr license by the USDA and when used at 3 year or greater intervals, this protocol is considered "off-label" use.
RABIES VACCINATION is critical to protect both pet and human health. Rabies vaccination must comply with Indiana State Law
which requires vaccination of all cats and dogs 12 wks of age and older. By Indiana law, the first rabies vaccine a pet
receives must be a 1 year USDA licensed product. Thereafter a 1-year or 3-year licensed product may be chosen.
Off-label use is not allowed.
The purpose of this law is to protect the human population from this deadly disease. These vaccines are produced under different
labels and have received different USDA licenses. The safety and efficacy of the vaccines of the vaccines are very similar despite the
licensing differences. In order to comply with state law, a 3 year licensed product must be used if opting for a 3 year protocol.
At Deer Run we typically recommend a 1 year rabies vaccine for the first two years. This will allow us to eventually get your dog on an
alternating 3 yr booster pattern with both the Rabies and DHPP Distemper vaccines so that both vaccines are not due in the same
year. Our goal is to minimize the number of vaccines given at one time to minimize the risk of vaccine reactions.
LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINATION is a strong recommendation for our canine patients living in Northwest Indiana. This is
considered a non-core vaccine by the AAHA Guidelines. However its use is recommended in areas where Leptospirosis is endemic.
Unfortunately Northwest Indiana is a high risk Leptospirosis area. We recommend this vaccine be given, at least initially, apart
from other vaccines to minimize reaction risk. We typically do not start this until puppies are over 16 wks of age. Tiny toy breeds,
Dachshunds, and dogs with a history of allergic reactions to other vaccinations may have increased risk of vaccination reaction;
however they still remain at risk for this serious disease. For more information on how this disease is transmitted, and how it can affect
both canine and human health, please read our Leptospirosis Handout and visit our Leptospirosis web page at our website.
NON-CORE (Optional) VACCINATIONS
BORDETELLA INTRANASAL (IN) VACCINE This vaccine helps prevent against Kennel Cough, or Infectious tracheobronchitis.
Kennel Cough is actually a syndrome that can involve several respiratory pathogens. Bordetella is a bacterial component that is
frequently involved in the syndrome along with viruses such as Parainfluenza and Adenovirus. It is very contagious between dogs.
The vaccine is recommended for dogs that visit facilities for bathing, grooming, boarding, or training. Also for dogs that go
to dog parks, or if planning hospitalization for surgery. This vaccine is administered via a nasal spray to provide local immunity in
the nasal cavity. Local immunity will develop quickly but usually requires several days so ideally the vaccine should be given prior to
boarding and grooming events. Vaccination does not always completely prevent the infection. However if exposed, a vaccinated
animal will likely have a milder course of respiratory symptoms and coughing. This vaccine must be boostered yearly.
CANINE INFLUENZA OR H3 N8 is another respiratory virus that can become involved in the Kennel Cough Syndrome and the
symptoms are identical to other respiratory infections. It can be a more severe infection and the other vaccinations for Kennel Cough
pathogens (Bordetella, Parainfluenza, Adenovirus) have no protection against this virus. Outbreaks have been seen in the Northeast,
Florida, and Colorado. At this time we are not seeing this viral infection in the NW Indiana area, however with the ability to travel with
pets, it could appear in our area in the future. Deer Run Animal Hospital is not currently carrying this vaccine but we remain diligent in
watching for it to reach our area. If you travel with your pet to endemic areas such as Florida, and plan to board you animal in that
area, you may want to ask a Veterinarian there to vaccinate your dog for Canine Influenza.
LYME DISEASE is occasionally seen in our area. Lyme Disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. This bacteria is
transmitted by ticks, usually a very tiny tick called the Deer Tick. It is important to realize that this tick, as well as the more common
ticks, can carry many other tick borne diseases such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Tick Paralysis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesia,
as well as others. The most important thing we can do to prevent Lyme Disease, as well as all of these other tick diseases, is to use a
topical tick control product such as Frontline Plus, K9 Advantix, or Vectra 3D. At this time we are not routinely vaccinating for Lyme
Disease but strongly recommend our clients prevent ticks with these topical preventatives.
CORONA VIRUS VACCINE is not currently recommended by the 2011 AAHA Guidelines. This virus does not produce significant
canine intestinal disease to warrant vaccination.