What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines and Vaccine Programs
Presented by Dr Ron Schultz
March 5, 2005
Notes taken by Gayle Watkins
The three most important things you can give your puppy are:
Training
Love
Vaccines
Dr Schultz is not recommending we stop vaccinating puppies. In fact, he says there is no
doubt about the importance of vaccines to the health of puppies, kittens and children.
This seminar will talk about:
(1) Which vaccines should be in a canine vaccination program and
(2) How often should they be used?
Dr S. began to wonder in the ‘70s why we were vaccinating so much. He saw that we
were vaccinating people with only one series of say Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine
and we never gave another. He also knew distemper (the disease not the vaccine)
conferred life-long community so a good vaccine could/should also give life-long
immunity.
Yet, some diseases provide only short-term immunity, such as cholera. So, we need to
know those diseases for which infected animals will be immune for life and those for
which animals can be reinfected. The former become the foundation for an effective
vaccine program.
Vaccines have not changed in over 30 years. Thirty years ago, dogs were vaccinated
once in their lives or for the first few years and that was it. Then parvo hit in the late 70s
and vets’ views were changed. In response to the epidemic, they went overboard on
vaccines. Some even went to weekly vaccines or vaccinated puppies too young. We
need to find a balance.
So, which diseases confer life-long immunity on dogs that are infected by them? Dogs
that get one of these diseases will be immune for the rest of their lives.
 Distemper
 Parvo
 Rabies
 Adeno
Immunity Primer
Innate/Non-specific Immunity
Acquired/Adaptive/Specific Immunity
(90% of protection)
-



present from birth
operates against any substance
not enhanced by prior exposure
affected by nutrition and age
major mechanisms: skin, pH of gut,
movement of gut, cilia in
respiratory system, mouth
secretions, bacteria in gut and on
skin
probiotics can help with innate
immunity
(10% or protection)
-
defense mechanisms tailored to
individual pathogens
enhanced by prior exposure and
vaccines
major mechanisms: thymus, bone
marrow (primary lymphoid factors)
cells move into spleen, lymph
nodes, tonsils
vaccines can help with acquired
immunity
Vaccines rarely enhance innate immunity. They are designed to enhance acquired
immunity.
Women have a stronger immune systems than men. Because of this, they have
more autoimmune problems. So, autoimmune problems does not necessarily
indicate a weak immune system, it may indicate one that is too strong.
Supplements work on the innate system. Stress absolutely diminishes this system,
too. Immune-boosting supplements – regulin, dipetptide. Available through vets.
Infection is not equal to Disease
Many dogs may be infected by a pathogen but few develop clinical disease because their
immune systems function well and effectively overcome/kill the pathogen. Thus,
infection is much more common than disease.
 Sterile immunity – animal cannot be infected
 Other immunity – infection occurs but limited or no disease
Neuro-endocrine interaction with the immune system
The immune system is not isolated from the rest of the body; all systems work together
and effect each other.
 creating “the best” (i.e., most effective) vaccine causes the strongest reaction in
the immune system but it will also trigger the strongest reaction in closely linked
physiologic systems
 endocrine and neurologic are the systems most closely tied to immune system
 the cells of the immune system are the same as cells in the neurologic and the
endocrine system.
cytokines = neuropeptides = hormones
all of these are the same cells but they effect these three different systems

It’s all about balance – every time we stimulate the immune system, we affect
something else.

Therefore, there can be non-immune changes that arise from vaccines: behavior
changes, coat change, hair color, other neurological changes
Negative Genetic Responses to Vaccines
Ideally vaccines are given to healthy dogs but dogs with minor illnesses can safely be
vaccinated. Dogs with immune suppression are a greater problem and such dogs should
be vaccinated with caution. There can be negative reactions to vaccines from apparently
health dogs.
1. Responders and non-responders.
a. The vast majority of dogs are responders—their immune systems can
“see” and properly respond to antigens of major diseases.
b. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to not respond to vaccines. Nonresponders do not respond to only one agent. Non-responders might not
respond to parvo but they will respond to distemper, rabies, etc.
c. There immune system doesn’t “see” the antigen.
d. Every breed has a small number of non- or low-responders.
e. Dobes and Rotties were high in non-responders when parvo hit in 1978.
Now there is not a problem in these breeds because the non-responders
died.
f. Now Labs have more non-responders than other breeds.
g. If you have a puppy that does not develop an immune response to two
vaccines after 12 weeks of age, he is likely a non-responder.
h. Non-responders should not be bred! This is a heritable trait. Only if
breeders titer or if there is an outbreak of disease will we know which
dogs are non-responders.
2. Adverse reactions, rare but serious.
a. Dogs do get injection-site sarcomas but 10 times less than cats. Ferret
rates are about the equivalent of cats.
b. Seizures 3 days after 1st annual puppy shot is triggered by vaccine. Dogs
that seize following vaccines are predisposed but it doesn’t have to be
genetic.
c. Dr S has no information that any vaccines predispose to mast cell tumors.
d. However, strong, inflammatory responses in animals predisposed to
cancer can cause neoplasia. Excessive inflammation can trigger cancers,
especially in those predisposed.
e. We have to keep in mind that the predisposed animal is genetically
weak/flawed.
f. Weimeraners – breed with the most adverse reactions
3. Auto-immune Problems
a. Vaccines can trigger autoimmune disease in all species. This is well
known and well established.
b. Dr Bob Lewis studied systemic lupus by breeding dogs with SLE. The
offspring did not have SLE but they had every other autoimmune disease.
The genetic predisposition is for autoimmunity in general not a specific
autoimmune disease. He thinks the mode of inheritance for this is
polygenic.
Vaccine Primer
General
 Risk-Benefit— There is nothing in life that is risk-free. There is risk from
vaccines but there is more risk from not vaccinating for these diseases. We must
constantly balance the risk and benefit of vaccinating or not vaccinating our dogs.
 To do so, we must know and weigh:
o Risk of dog getting infected
o Risk of dog getting disease
o Risk of adverse reaction to vaccine
o Benefit from vaccine in preventing or decreasing the severity of disease
 Only use vaccines from major manufacturers – only use vaccines w/one of these
labels. Greatest problems from owner vaccinated dogs.
o Intervet
o Merial Ltd
o Pfizer Animal Hospital
o Schering-Plough Animal Health
o Ft Dodge
 His colleagues have said they believe over-vaccination is causing immunemediated disease. Vaccines have a higher impact or chance of impact on immune
problems than other drugs.
 Should vaccines be given IM or SubQ? We’ve moved away from IM because it
is more painful for dogs even though it is better for the immune system. Don’t
switch from sub Q to IM since IM can cause nerve damage and pain.
 The most dangerous vaccines are bacterial. They act like an adjuvant, driving the
immune response in a way that we don’t want to. They are more likely to trigger
a generalized immune response. They are:
o Bordatella
o Lepto
o Lyme
 With puppies, we are balancing a good, robust response that imprints the dog’s
immune system with an appropriate response against the threat of disease. Once
the immune systems is imprinted, that is how it will respond over the animal’s
lifetime. If you screw it up, drive it the wrong way in a naïve animal, you can
mess it up for life. Therefore, the most important decisions we make are how we
vaccinate our puppies (and children).
 Combo viruses are fine but not with bacterial product included.
 Amount of vaccine is not related to size of animal. If you are worried about
giving too much vaccine to a small dog, just reconstitute with less solution but use
all of the vaccine. Do not split the vaccine between animals.
 Do not vaccinate pregnant bitches. Ever.


Mercury – preservative in human vaccines but not in dogs
Vitamin E and selenium deficiency will cause a poor vaccine response. A straight
meat diet causes vitamin E/selenium deficiency. The second generation was
even easier to put into an E/selenium deficiency so this nutritional effect was
passed on genetically.
Canine Vaccines
Combination vaccines
 DHLPP – distemper, parvo, parainfluenza, hepatitis/canine adenovirus-1 (CAV1), lepto
 DHPP (5-way) – no lepto, only the viruses
 7-way – 2 lepto serovars plus viruses
 9-way – 4 lepto serovars plus viruses
 Dr S is in favor of combo vaccines:
o must be the right combo
o w/o bad agents (thus must be viral not bacterial vaccines)
o he likes DHPP (distemper-hepatitis-parvo-parainfluenza)
Rabies vaccine
 All non-infectious, killed
 All adjuvented products, thus has a high risk of adverse reactions
 Only the rabies vaccine is licensed for a specific period of time. All others are
licensed but for no set period of time. So there is no “law” that requires
revaccination of any vaccine other than rabies.
Lepto vaccines
 2-way includes L. canicola* and L. icterohaemorrhagic
 4-way includes those two and L. grippotyphosa and L. Pomona
 * is the most important serovar for dogs.
 All four can kill dogs and infect humans
Bordatella
 Kennel cough is not a vaccine-preventable disease
 It is offered alone or with canine parainfluenze (CPI) and CAV-2
 Intranasal – always live and in combo w/ parainfluenza and adeno
 SubQ – no infectious killed
 Paraenteral
 Dr S prefers the intranasal. It does not need to be combined with adeno to be
effective. If you need an immediate response, the internasal is better. Protects
against other viruses. Fewer negative reactions.
 Dogs will sheds the Bordatella vaccine thru nasal secretions.
 It is a short-lived vaccine– you’ll be lucky to get 6-9 months of immunity out of it
Lyme Vaccine
 Whole cell, non-infectious killed
 *OSP-A (recombinant) non-infectious killed
 Dr Schultz does not recommend using the Lyme disease but, if you do, use the *
Giardia
 Non-infectious, killed
 Does not recommend
 Causes a large granuloma
Modified Live Vaccine (MLV) or Live Attenuated Vaccine
 Distemper, parvo, adeno
 MLVs are the most effective, most efficacious vaccines
 Because they are more like actual disease than killed vaccines
 But they are less safe than killed vaccine
o So we have to be sensible such as not giving smallpox or MMR to Aids
patient
o We must be cautious giving MLV to immune suppressed dogs
 For years, vaccine companies attenuated the agent thus creating the vaccine
without understanding how the creation process worked. However, recombinant
technology now enables us to understand why the agent is changed and why the
change is stable.
 We are not rid of the diseases covered by MLVs so puppy vaccines are critical. A
dog vaccinated as a puppy as lifetime immunity.
 Combo vaccine – body responds individually but there is some competition for
certain cells and it may trigger the release of too much waste.
o Bordatella is a hog. It takes over the immune sytem.
o Keep bacteria out of viral vaccines.
o Multiple virus vaccines have a much calmer response but distemper-parvo
alone gives a cleaner response. Might even be better to have them together
than individually.
 Due to maternal immune interference, we must vaccinate once after 12 weeks
unless you have titered the puppy to ensure he has had an individual immune
response rather than maternal. Titer will tell when individual rather than maternal
immunity is present.
o At 6 weeks, 50% of puppies will become immune from puppy vaccine
o At 9 weeks, 75% will become immune
o At 12 weeks, 99% will become immune
 Sterile immunity to parvo and distemper is 100% effective if the dog responded.
You can’t even get them infected.
 Puppies that react adversely to an MLV vaccine are genetically flawed. They
should not be bred.
 Do recombinant vaccines give long-term immunity? His studies show three-year
duration for recombinant. If you have 3-year recombinant vaccine in your dog

then he has life-time immunity for the following diseases: distemper, parvo and
adeno.
Backpassage—return to the actual virus. Distemper vaccine – back passage to the
distemper virus in 7 passages but does not shed or return to virulence. Parvo does
not back passage.
Distemper
 Distemper vaccine is effective immediately so it can be given at or after exposure
and still be effective.
 Distemper-measles—can be given to puppies as young as 4 weeks if there is an
outbreak. Measles is effective against distemper.
 Can have local and generalized adverse response.
 Distemper immunity is not age related so dogs MUST be vaccinated. Older dogs
are not inherently more immune than puppies.
 Will a dog get distemper from distemper vaccine?
o If you make a puppy immuno-suppressed in the lab, the MLV distemper
vaccine will cause distemper
o It will cause distemper in the fox, ferret and black-footed ferret without
immune suppression
o Rockborn strain 1:10,000 puppies will get encephalitis
o ______ strain 1:50,000 puppies will get encephalitis (sorry, I didn’t get
this word)
o But none from either strain will get full blown distemper
 Puppies vaccinated within the first two weeks of life will get distemper because
puppies have no thermoregulatory ability and thus the immune system does not
function. You can safely vaccinate the dam because she will not shed the disease
from the vaccine.
 However, distemper is shed in the wild everywhere. Raccoons are “distemper
factories.” Unvaccinated dogs with distemper titers got it from wildlife.
 Merrial has a recombinant distemper vector based on canary pox vector, which
causes no disease in the dog so it is the safest vector for canine distemper that
leads to an immune response. Recombitech – recombinant distemper
 Dr S’s made an experimental vaccine made of nucleic acid vaccine for distemper
and parvo. Programs animal to produce antigens. The dogs cannot develop
hypersensitivity from this vaccine.
 In a study looking at age-related immunity, nine of the ten vaccinated dogs were
fully protected. One was not protected so he developed the disease but he lived.
100% of the unvaccinated adult controls developed the disease with 50%
mortality. 100% of the unvaccinated puppy controls developed the disease with
80% mortality. Dogs are at risk for distemper throughout their lives.
Parvo
 1978 arrival in dogs, swept around the world in 6 months.
 The virus is very stable and can survive on year in clay and sandy soil. Stable
under UV, temp and humidity. Viruses love freezing temps.







Don’t use killed parvo! It is coming off the market unless you buy an off-brand,
which may continue to be sold. (Do not EVER by off-brand vaccines. Buy only
those labeled by the original manufacturer.) All major manufacturers are
removing it from the market.
Oral vaccines won’t work with parvo.
Dogs have strong age-related immunity to parvo. Unvaccinated pups or adult
dogs—if a dog makes it to 6 months, parvo is unlikely to kill it since parvo
immunity is strongly age related.
In a study looking at the age-related immunity, none of the vaccinated dogs were
infected. Two of the unvaccinated adult controls developed mild disease and
some fecal shedding. All 57 of the unvaccinated puppy controls died. The risk of
parvo is primarily during puppyhood.
Parvo is shed 3-7 days post vaccination through fecal material, air and oral. Parvo
is shed always so be very careful vaccinating dogs in kennel/house if you also
have pups less than 2 weeks of age. Parvo causes cardiomyopathy, enteritis and
kills young puppies.
The benefit of this is that recently vaccinated puppies will shed parvo and
revaccinate the adults in household. This happens constantly from wild and
vaccine.
Cardiomyopathy from parvo. It can happen:
o only if you vaccinate an immunologically immune bitch 2 weeks from
whelping up to 2 weeks after birth.
o shed vaccine in under 2-week old puppies from a naïve dam
Adeno
 defends against hepatits and canine adenovirus 1 and 2
Rabies
 Rabies vaccine can cause permanent dog-dog (or cat-cat) aggression so don’t do
rabies during adolescence.
 Genetically-engineered MLV rabies is on its way.
 Does it harm dogs getting rabies every 3 years? Only in the rare dog who dies but
for healthy dogs, 3-year rabies do no harm.
 USDA tests only rabies for minimal duration. Only the product is licensed, not
the duration.
 If you have a dog with an immune disease, rabies can cause insult to its system.
If the animal doesn’t need it, don’t give it.
Killed or Inactivated Vaccine
 Lyme, lepto, bordatella, parvo, corona and rabies
 Jean Dodds—says to use killed but that is far more likely to cause autoimmune
reaction/disease.
Lyme
 In dogs, Lyme disease goes to the joints and kidneys. Lyme is an
immunopathologic disease. If dogs are diseased, it is the way their body responds
to the disease. Lyme is an immune-mediated disease.
 DOI OSPA 1 year
 Low efficacy
 High adverse reactions
 UWI Vet school does not use Lyme vaccine. Dr S’s recommendation is to treat
the dog not the test
 He recommends C6 reaction test—active infection not vaccinated but 10% of
vaccinated dogs will be false negative. Can now do an assay that confirms. IDEX
will do a quantitative assay.
 This vaccine does not provide sterile immunity, it does not defend against
infection but may protect against the disease. He doesn’t think he can support the
vaccine in the field. Experimental challenge does show some benefit with a oneyear DOI.
 Two types of Lyme vaccine:
1. The whole cell Lyme vaccine adds other proteins into the body that can
cause autoimmune reactions. Lyme is an immune-mediated disease.
Whole cell vaccine may trigger generalized immune reaction that may
cause kidney disease and other immune-mediated problems.
2. OSP-A neutralizes the Lyme bacteria in the tick so use this one if you
vaccinate.
 Did not find that Lyme crosses the placenta.
 Frontline and K9 Advantix are probably better defense against Lyme than the
vaccine.
 Western Blot is a good test. Used to validate in office test
 PCR—polymerase chain reaction
Lepto
 Infection is common but disease is rare. Most infections are sub-clinical. Only
1:3,000 infected dogs become diseased.
 His vaccine recommendation depends upon geographic area because the lepto
vaccine is the most reactogenic vaccine (the one with the highest rate of adverse
reactions)
 2 puppy shots and annual booster results in no long-term immunity.
 There is little cross-reactivity between serovars. No one can determine serovar
based on serology. Serologic results tell you if dog has lepto but not the infecting
serovar.
 Transmission
Direct
 infected urine
 venereal
 crowding
 bite wounds
Indirect
 contaminated water, soil, food, bedding










Freezing and thawing kills bacteria and reduces the disease
All mammal species are susceptible to infection with one or more Lepto serovars
Primary reservoir bacteria is animals—rats, cattle, beaver
Dr. S. can tell the difference between vaccine and infection
o Highly endemic 1/100-500
o Endemic 1/1,000-5,000
o Southwest 1/10,000-100,000
DOI from the vaccine is less than 3 months
No lepto vaccines should be given before 12 weeks, must have two doses to be
effective
Give 2-4 weeks apart until15 weeks
Boost at 6 months, 1 year and every 6-9 months after
Even with that program, efficacy is very bad
Cornell’s study (Barr & McDonough) is about to be published that many dogs
have no titer after 6 months
Corona
 a vaccine in search of a disease.
 This vaccine does not show any ability or benefit in the prevention of disease.
Giardia
 This vaccine does not show any ability or benefit in the prevention of disease.
Vaccine Protocols
New Vaccine Guidelines approved by the American Animal Hospital Association
1. Core – distemper (CDV), parvo (CPV), hepatitis (CAV-2), rabies All dogs
should have these four vaccines
2. Optional/non-core – lepto, Lyme, CPI, bordatella, parainfluenza
3. Not recommended – giardia, corona. Not recommended because limited or no
disease or mild, self-limiting, easily treated, vaccine has not shown any
effectiveness
Core Vaccines (CDV, CPV, CAV-2)
 These diseases are still present in the wild canid population so even if they are
reduced in pets, all dogs still need them.
 AAHA Guidelines
o Administer initial puppy series ending at not less than 12 weeks of
age.
o Boost again 1 year after the puppy vaccine.
o Adult revaccination not more than frequently than every three years.
 Why vaccinate less with core vaccines than we have in the past?
o Because the minimum duration of immunity (DOI) for CDV, CPV and
CAV-2 is 7-10 years
o Because vaccinating more often than every three years adds NO
benefit.
o Because the risk of adverse reactions, no matter how low, from the
administration of a medical product that is not required is an
unacceptable medical practice.
Vulnerable Period
 The period during which maternal immunity is down but is still high enough to
inhibit immunity from vaccination.
 Period of vulnerability
o 2 weeks with parvo
o none with recombinant distemper
o < 1 week with regular distemper
Dr Schultz’s personal vaccination schedule
 Vaccinate once and titer. Vaccinate at 8 weeks and titer at 10 weeks
 His litters – distemper at 6 weeks; parvo at 9 weeks
 Nothing but Distemper/Parvo for the 1st vaccine then use 5-way combo later at 12
weeks
 Distemper/Parvo most important and he wants them vaccinated as early as
possible while still properly priming their immune systems
 Rabies – earliest at 12-16 weeks, holding off till 6 months is fine. Optionally,
boost 1 year from the vaccine date then every 3 years.
o Small percent of dogs do not develop immunity from the first one.
o If you don’t have to do the 1 year, then titer instead to ensure the vaccine
“took.”
o When vaccine is tested during research studies, dogs are not boosted at a
year.
o Safest protocol may be priming with one vaccine and then 3-4 weeks later
doing a second rabies vaccine.
 Recommendation
1. 6-8 weeks
2. 9-11 weeks
3. 12-14 weeks
4. titer 2 weeks later to verify immunity
 Do not vaccinate before 6 weeks. In an outbreak, you can go to 5 weeks for
parvo. Titer instead. In a real crisis, you can use recombinant distemper at 2
weeks.
 Nomograph can tell when exactly to vaccinate.
Nomographs
 Nomographs – tells when the puppies should be vaccinated, when maternal
antibodies fall low enough for vaccines to work. Cornell used to do but Schultz
can do. Cost is $70.



Puppies that have not been vaccinated are immunologically naïve. The only
specific immunity is from the dam.
o 5% comes across the placenta
o 95% comes from the three days of colostrums. During this 72 hours
the immunity from the colostrum becomes systemic in the puppy.
However, it is the dam’s immunity.
Puppy must start making its own immunity. Passive immunity disappears. ½ of
maternal antibodies disappears every 12 days.
Nomographs look at the decay of distemper/parvo immunity in the puppy. Take
serum 2 weeks before whelping and post-whelping. Bitch concentrates IgAA in
milk at 9 days before whelping so draw serum before then.
Bitch distemper/parvo titer
640
320
160
80
40
20
10
5

Birth
12 days
24 days
36 days
48 days
60 days
72 days
84 days
Titer has to be below 8-10 to immunize. Little variance among puppies in a litter
if they all got colostrum although size has some impact. Smaller pups catabolize
faster than larger pups.
Serological Testing or Antibody Titers
Disease
CDV
CPV
CAV
Lepto
Rabies
Parainfluenza
Giardia
Lyme



Virus neutralization at titer level
(sterile immunity)
≥ 80
≥ 80
≥ 50
≥ 100
≥ 50
No titer correlation although the presence
of antibody shows animal has some
immune memory
Even if titer is low, as long as it is positive, do not give a booster shot. The
animal has immunological memory even if it does not have sterile immunity.
Before drawing titers, the animal does not need to be fasted.
Titer two weeks after vaccine.


Boosting a bitch that has a titer, doesn’t work (i.e., it will not increase the
immunity she passes on to her pups) unless you are using a recombinant vaccine.
If she doesn’t have a titer, boost. If you have sterile immunity, the vaccine can’t
replicate so it won’t have any effect. Recombinants can boost.
o Parvo will not boost unless titer is < 100.
Distemper, only use recombinant.
Duration of Immunity Studies
Methods Used to Determine DOI for Core Vaccines
1. Challenge—directly challenge the dog with the virulent agent
2. Serology—
a. titering shows an excellent relationship between antibodies and protection
for the core vaccines.
b. This is not the case for all vaccines. For some diseases, titers do not
correlate with protective immunity.
c. As long as you have any titer, you have immunologic memory. Titers are
valid as show by the fact that it is one of the primary methods that vaccine
companies use to validate their vaccines.
Experimental DOI Studies
Study #1
Number of dogs: 19
Breeds/sex: Multiple breeds and sexes
Longest period: 11 years from puppy series and 1 year booster
Method used to demonstrate protection: serology and challenge
Product: A
Route of Vaccination: IM
Outcomes: 100% survival. All animals were completely protected for
life. Vaccine created sterile immunity
Study #2
Number of dogs: 82
Breeds/sex: beagles, males
Longest period: 9.5 years from puppy series only
Method used to demonstrate protection: serology and challenge
Route of Vaccination: SubQ
Outcomes: 100% survival. None of the dogs were antibody negative.
Eight dogs were below the cut-off for sterile immunity but all survived.
Study #3
Number of dogs: 37
Breeds/sex: hounds, males and females
Longest period: 5 years from puppy series only
Method used to demonstrate protection: serology
Route of Vaccination: SubQ
Outcomes: 100% survival.
Study #4
Number of dogs: 7
Breeds/sex: mutiple, males and females
Longest period: 14 years from puppy shot at 12 weeks
Method used to demonstrate protection: serology
Product: D
Route of Vaccination: SubQ
Outcomes: All dogs have sterile immunity.
Study #5
Number of dogs: 79
Breeds/sex: beagles, males
Longest period: 9 years from puppy shot
Method used to demonstrate protection: serology and challenge
Product: B & E
Route of Vaccination: SubQ
Outcomes: Seven had less than sterile immunity but all were protected.
Study #6
½ dogs vaccinated annually and ½ were given only puppy vaccines and a
booster 5 years later. There was no difference with titer or challenge.
Manufacturer’s Studies
 In 2004, manufacturers’ came out w/studies showing 3-4 years duration of
immunity (DOI). This confirms Schultz’s results and supports 7-9 years DOI
 Pfizer – used serological evidence to support DOI (NOTE: i.e., the manufacturers
use titers to test their product so we can assume that titers are a good measure of
effectiveness.)
 Schering-Plough – gave guarantee of 3 years
Final conclusion: these studies demonstrated that if a dog has four years of immunity,
then he has lifetime immunity.
Seniors – no need to immunize for Distemper/Parvo since they maintain lifetime
immunity from puppy series.
Summary

Every puppy/dog needs:
o At least one dose after 12 weeks of CPV, CDV, CAV
o Rabies after 12 weeks

Optimal protocol– after 12 weeks for most robust response BUT if they are at risk
and susceptible then vaccinate.
Designing a Safe and Effective Vaccination Program for your Dog
Given by Dr Ronald Schultz
August 12, 2001
Notes taken by Gayle Watkins
Dr Schultz’s background was in infectious diseases. He was at Cornell but now at U of
WI.
The Immune System
1) Innate (non-specific) immunity – passive things that help protect dog
a) Defenses that include
i) Barriers
ii) Secretions
iii) Chemicals
iv) Motility
v) Bacterial Competition
b) Innate defenses include
i) skin—pH, desiccation
ii) acid in gut
iii) microbial flora
iv) GI track (peristalsis, vomiting)
v) alveolar macrophages, lung cells
vi) lysozyme in secretions in mouth
vii) spermine in sperm (bactericidal)
viii) cilia (lining of trachea)
ix) cough reflex
c) All are non-specific
d) They keep things out of the body
e) Innate immunity protects against 90% of potential hazards
f) Hygiene, good health, good nutrition, reduced stress all contribute to innate
immunity
g) Antibiotic treatments are an assault on this system
i) Lactobacillus/probiotics might help restore the flora, does help some and
doesn’t really hurt
2) Specific Immunity (Adaptive) – present primarily in mammals
a) The higher an animal is in the food chain, the more sophisticated its immune
system is.
b) There is an intimate relationship between the body’s systems
i) Immune = endocrine = neurologic systems
ii) Vaccines are drugs (biologics not pharmacologic) and they can affect more
systems than any other drug!
c) Different set of organs/cells than the non-specific immune system
i) Tonsils
ii) Maxillary lymph nodes
iii) Spleen
iv) Thymus (key)
v) Bone marrow
vi) Mesenteric lymph nodes
vii) Bronchial lymph nodes
d) Thymus (cell-mediated immunity) and bone marrow (stem cells give rise to
antibodies)
e) Peripheral lymphoid organs – lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen
f) Stem cells  fetal liver  thymus  T cells (internal)  antigens/macrophages

bone marrow  B cells (external)  humeral immunity
antibodies
g) Antibodies prevent infection. All other cells combat an infection.
h) Memory cells – key to long-term protection. They are the key to the duration of
immunity (DOI).
i) The immune system can also cause disease rather than prevent. Immune
mechanisms go out of control. Autoimmune—lack of regulation of cell immune
reaction.
j) Immune problems are pervasive: 50% of human population has hay fever. The
same percent of dogs have skin reactions/allergies.
3) Age-related Resistance to Disease
a) Innate immunity strengthens with age
i) Birth to 6 weeks – changes. For the 1st couple of weeks, puppies are very
susceptible because of lack of thermal regulation (39 degrees Centigrade).
The immune system is present but it must have an optimal temperature to
work.
ii) Maternal antibodies are passively acquired through colostrum. Only 5% of a
puppy’s immunity comes from the placenta. Colostrum is absorbed in the
first 72 hours of life across the gut wall.
(1) So with orphans, you have three days to get colostrum into them.
(2) It’s better not to tube feed them.
(3) Make colostrum out of 1 part milk replacer and 1 part serum (or plasma)
from the dam or adults in the same household or as close to home as
possible (to give them antibodies against local threats)
(4) Feed this for 3 days! At least one of three daily feedings.
(5) Beyond three days, use plasma instead of serum and inoculate subQ,
interperitoneally or intravenously. The puppy’s gut has stopped absorbing
and now it digests anti-immunoglobulin. The dam also passes cytokine
cells but those can’t really be passed through the gut wall.
(6) If nothing is done, the pup will have increased risk of early death. It will
need a protected environment.
(a) w/artificial colostrum – 10% chance of dead puppy
(b) w/o artificial colostrum – 90% chance of dead puppy
iii) When to vaccinate puppies
(1) Never vaccinate pups < 2 weeks of age. Without passive immunity, the
vaccine will cause disease. Earliest to vaccinate an orphan is 4 weeks w/
only distemper. The safest distemper is recombinant vectored vaccine
(Recombetek by Merriel).
(2) Vaccinating earlier than 4 weeks, you are compromising the puppy’s
immune system.
(3) Ideal – 9 weeks is earliest; 12-15 weeks is ideal
(4) Vaccinating at 6 weeks hits them at their lowest immune point because of
the stress of weaning so do it later.
(5) Peak of the immune system is at 6 months, then it plateaus between 7-9
months and stays steady until 9 years.
(6) All canine diseases except rabies exhibit age-related immune changes.
Older dogs are much more immune than puppies, except for rabies which
hasn’t been studied. Older dogs over 12 and cats over 15 do not need
vaccines.
iv) Diseases differ in the effect that age has on immunity
(1) Canine Parvovirus (CPV) – strong age-related contingent
(a) Puppies infected w/ parvo at 16 weeks have a 50% mortality
(b) Puppies infected w/ parvo at 1 year have a 10% mortality
(2) Feline leukemia – vaccinated at 9-12 weeks and again at 1 year. Never
vaccinate again because age-related responses are stronger than any
vaccine can confer.
Vaccine Thoughts
1) General
a) Every puppy in the world should receive distemper and parvo.
b) There is not a puppy in the world who needs a corona vaccine.
c) Not a dog in the world that needs a Lyme vaccine, even in CT.
d) Natural diet (all meat) can detrimentally affect the immune system.
e) Lepto and rabies—have public health implications because diseases are zoonotic
(can be passed to humans). Lepto vaccine may be beneficial to dog but it is
detrimental to humans because the vaccine does not prevent shedding. Infected
dogs will shed lepto and humans can be infected
f) Individuals who are sensitized by vaccines are genetically predisposed to this
reaction or other autoimmune reaction.
g) Never use killed distemper vaccine.
h) Efficacy and safety are often inversely related.
i) Always buy from a major manufacturer (Pfizer, Scherring-Plough, Intervet,
Merriell, Ft Dodge); never by off-brand (such as Century, Foster and Smith)
j) Non-responder dogs that cannot respond to vaccines should not be bred!
Breeding will continue the problem.
k) Self-antigen—induced autoimmune reaction in response to vaccine. Those who
are genetically prone to autoimmune disease will get sick.
l) Nosode—study for the AVHolistic MA showed no immunizing potential.
2) Killed vaccines – pathogen is inactivated and adjuvant added to vaccine to enhance
reaction.
a) General
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
i) Lepto, bordatella, Lyme are killed
ii) Distemper and adeno should not be killed
Pros
i) No reversion to virulence
ii) Safer for dogs who are immuno-compromised or pregnant
iii) Undetectable contamination at time of manufacturing is rendered nonpathogenic
Cons
i) More frequent adverse reactions
ii) 2 doses are required
iii) Expensive
iv) Adjuvant needed. Adjuvant non-specifically stimulates the immune system.
v) Killed vaccines have higher rates of vaccinosis because of adjuvant, which
stimulates the immune system to self and to antigens.
FeLV (killed) caused adverse events in 50% of cats. To control the disease, test
and isolate from < l year old kittens rather than vaccinate.
Dr S. does not like combo vaccines that include killed vaccinations. 5-in-1
vaccines don’t have a killed component and thus do not have any adjuvant.
Subunit vaccines – antigens are separated from whole organism purified into
vaccine. Requires adjuvant. Bordatella systemic (not intranasal) – very powerful
adjuvant/non-specific. Nasal is less likely to cause adverse reactions.
Dr S has challenge date that shows rabies is good for up to 9 years. He could
make a 7-year rabies vaccine.
Pfizer distemper-measles is the best vaccine in high-risk distemper situations.
Can do as early as 4 weeks in an outbreak.
Lyme is immune-mediated disease so it can be caused by the vaccine. They use
recombinant. Common infection but uncommon disease. The disease is highly
treatable and often mild in the dog. 1-3% react to vaccine. The vaccine does not
protect from infection or reinfection. Do not vaccinate a naïve individual before 6
months of age.
Dr S. likes bordatella/parainfluenza intranasally. System bordatella drives system
to hypersensitivity, especially IGA. Dr. S. recommends not more than one time
per year. Kennel cough is an environmental disease not immune. Deal with
ventilation and stress rather than vaccinate. It is not a vaccine-preventable
disease. Non-core vaccine. He never vaccinates for bordatella but boarding can
cause it because the environment contributes. Find another kennel! When
animals die from KC, something else has caused it.
Killed product (such as lepto) - #1 shot sensitizes the system and the #2 shot
immunizes. This is true except for rabies since only one dose needed.
3) Modified Live Vaccines (MLV) – attenuated.
a) General
i) MLVs do infect the dog; it is the infection that causes immunity.
ii) Reactions are possible and should be recorded and sent to the USDA. AVMA
is improving reporting. Pharmocopeia –online reporting. Owners can report.
b) Pros
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
i) Less frequent adverse reactions
ii) Less cost
iii) Parental or mucosal administration
iv) Interferon release in a few days of vaccination
v) Usually stimulates stronger CMI reaction
vi) Normally does not contain adjuvant
Cons
i) Potential for disease
ii) Vaccinal virus shed
iii) Higher risk for pregnant and immune compromised animals
iv) Short shelf life
v) Easily inactivated by heat, etc.
vi) Undetectable contamination
Size is unrelated to the dose of MLV vaccine. It is individual-specific not size.
Amt must be more than the minimum. Rehydrate with less solution rather than
reducing the dose of the vaccine.
Parvo sheds but distemper does not. Shed parvo does not cause disease.
Distemper vaccine 1:10.000 caused encephalitis.
With MLV, depends upon the host’s immune response. Individuals with immune
compromised may not develop immunity and may develop disease.
Vector vaccine – vaccine created w/i an antivirulant vector.
i) Purevax – cat rabies, MLV-vectored vaccine so no adjuvant and no
firbrosarcoma. Only a 1-year rabies.
For bacterial toxins, such as tetnus, memory cells don’t help provide long-term
immunity.
4) Vaccinating Dogs
a) Vaccinating pups who already have sterile immunity (complete immunity; dogs
with sterile immunity cannot be infected) from earlier vaccination with MLV
vaccines will not cause any problems; the MLV vaccine will be neutralized. BUT
vaccinating dogs with sterile immunity with a killed vaccine can cause severe
problems.
b) Both of these are okay for puppies
i) 2-way for puppies (Distemper-parvo)
ii) 5-way for puppies (Distemper-parvo-adeno-parainfluenza)
c) Basic principles of a vaccination program
i) Vaccinate ≠ immunize
ii) Immunize requires some sort of an immune response
iii) Goals – expand clones of T & B cells, and develop memory cells (remember
antigen for up to the life of the animal)
iv) Titer – tells you if there is still immunologic memory
(1) Parvo – 1:40 has a memory response that protects from disease. 1:100 and
above, do nothing. Less than 100, revaccinate.
(2) Titer 2 weeks after the final puppy vaccine. Never run another unless dog
has become immune compromised.
(3) Cornell is the only lab that he recommends. Every commercial lab uses
other tests that haven’t been studied under challenge. He hasn’t seen the
supporting documents for Jean Dodds’ titers.
v) Never revaccinate a brood bitch, particularly one when she is pregnant or in
season.
vi) The program
(1) 6-8 weeks – Distemper-parvo (2-way)
(2) 9-12 weeks – 5-way (DHPP)
(3) 12-14 weeks – Rabies (now or later) and a 5-way. If you are going to do
non-core start them now at the earliest
(4) 12-15 weeks – for lepto . Don’t give Lyme in October. Feb-April makes
more sense.
vii) What does he do with his own dogs? Vaccinates once and titers
5) Major Issues in Vaccine Program
a) Earliest age, 6-9 weeks, exceptional 3-5 weeks, never < 2 weeks
b) Necessary vaccines and type
c) Efficacy of current vaccines
d) Risks of current vaccines
e) How often to revaccinate
f) Should titers be preformed
g) Future expectations
h) If adult dogs are immunized, puppies in show homes are not at greater risk. He
would not be afraid to take an unvaccinated dog to shows where all dogs are
vaccinated.
6) Core: Distemper, parvo, adeno, rabies
a) Necessary Vaccines
i) Canine Adenovirus (CAV)
ii) Canine Distemper (CDV)
iii) Canine Parvovirus 2 (CPV-2)
iv) Rabies Virus (RV)
b) Series
i) Separate rabies from other vaccines since it is the most reactogenic. If you
separate it, you know it is the rabies that caused the reaction. When there are
no other antigens in competition. Give rabies IM and 5-way sub Q.
ii) If last puppy shot is given 12-14 weeks, there will be no interference w/
maternal antibodies.
iii) Normal 6 weeks – 9 weeks – 12 weeks – 15 weeks
iv) Ideal puppy series 9 weeks – 12 weeks -15 weeks
v) Make sure there are 2-4 weeks between puppy shots. Weekly vaccines cause
hypersensitivity and poor immune response.
vi) Getting an immune response to the first encounter is critical to the proper
development of the pup’s immune sytem.
vii) Lepto. Don’t do lepto before 12 weeks. Normal 15 weeks 2 shots, 2-4 weeks
apart. Ideal 16 weeks works best. Titers are useless w/ lepto. Lepto is zoonotic
so we can get it from dogs shedding w/ no clinical signs.
7) Non-core vaccines (only for high-risk dogs)
a) The non-core vacciensare
i) Parainfluenza (CPI) but if you give this in a 5-way, it isn’t a problem
ii) Lepto – causes many adverse reactions
iii) Lyme
iv) Bordatella
v) Corona (CCV) —he hasn’t met a dog that needs this
vi) Giardia—he hasn’t met a dog that needs this. Same as lepto in that shedding
can continue so do not use it.
b) Pre-administration of benedryl reduces hypersensitivity doesn’t suppress immune
system like steroids will.
8) Efficacy – excellent for core vaccines, good to very good for CPI and bordatella,
poor for lepto
9) Vaccine Interference:
a) Corona interferes with lepto
b) Corona interferes with adeno and parvo
c) Lepto interferes with Lyme
10) Duration of immunity -- Minimum duration of immunity (DOI)
a) CDV min 5 years, max 7 yrs
b) CAV min 7, max 9 yrs
c) CPV min 7
11) Make sure there are 3 days between major stressors. Give the vaccine first so the
body has time to respond before next stressor.
12) Reactions
a) Minor ≤ 1 in 100 doses
b) Major ≤ 1 in 5,000 doses
13) Nutrition
a) Trace minerals and vitamins – immune system is very sensitive to deficiencies
i) Zinc, Vit E, Selenium – don’t overdo selenium. He talked about 400 IU of E.
ii) Bitch’s milk runs out of many nutrients
b) A good diet during pregnancy and weaning is critical immunologically.
c) Vit E deficiency causes increase in homolyzing of erythrocytes
d) Too much antioxidants may trigger autoimmune diseases because it strengthens
the immune response
14) Autoimmune Problems
a) Autoimmune problems trigger between 2 and 6 years in dogs
b) Dogs and humans have the highest rates
i) Diabetes
ii) Lupus
iii) Hemolytic anemia
c) Genetic component is very strong for autoimmune disease
d) Lepto, Lyme and bordatella vaccines can affect reproductive health.