Vaccine Protocols and Schedule

Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital
Recommended Vaccinations for Canines

Rabies Vaccine Schedule

Rabies is a dangerous, untreatable, fatal viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It can infect all warm-blooded animals, including people. Vaccination against Rabies is required for dog licensing.

Rabies vaccination is performed at 12-16 weeks of age in puppies then again 1 year from the first vaccine. Re-vaccination is then every 2 years.

DHP Vaccine Schedule

Distemper Virus is a highly contagious, often fatal, disease that affects the respiratory, digestive, neurologic, and integumentary (skin) systems. It can cause fever, ocular and nasal discharge, loss of appetite, blindness, neurologic disorders, and death.Hepatitis (Adenovirus Type 1) is a viral disease that causes severe liver damage, seizures, coma and/or death.

Parvo is a highly contagious virus that attacks the rapidly dividing cells of the dog (intestinal lining, bone marrow, and immune system). It usually affects puppies and adolescent dogs and causes severe vomiting and diarrhea (which leads to life-threatening dehydration), as well as immunosupression (which can result in complicating bacterial and other viral infections).

The DHPP vaccine is started in puppies at 6-8 weeks of age and then given every 2-4 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks or older. The next vaccine is given 1 year later, and then re-vaccination is performed every 3 years.

Bordetella Vaccine Schedule

Bordetella is a bacterial pathogen that is a common cause of “kennel cough”. It is very contagious and causes coughing and upper respiratory disease that can progress to pneumonia.

Parainfluenza Parainfluenza is a viral disease that causes respiratory disease ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection to more severe lower airway disease and pneumonia (especially in puppies and debilitated dogs).

Bordetella and parainfluenza are commonly combined into one intranasal vaccine. The vaccine has a shorter duration of immunity and dogs must be re-vaccinated every 6 months.

Parainfluenza Vaccine Schedule

Parainfluenza is a viral disease that causes respiratory disease ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection to more severe lower airway disease and pneumonia (especially in puppies and debilitated dogs).

Bordetella and parainfluenza are commonly combined into one intranasal vaccine. The vaccine has a shorter duration of immunity and dogs must be re-vaccinated every 6 months.

Lyme Vaccine Schedule

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacterium is transmitted to dogs (and people) through tick bites (usually the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis). It can cause arthritis, kidney disease, and flu-like symptoms, as well as damage to the heart, liver and nervous system.

The initial Lyme vaccine protocol is a series of 2 vaccines 3-4 weeks apart, and re-vaccination is performed every 6-12 months depending on potential for exposure.

Lepto Vaccine Schedule

Leptospirosis is a very serious bacterial disease of mammals, including dogs and people. The disease is transmitted via water sources such as lakes, ponds and puddles that have been contaminated with urine of infected animals. The bacterium can enter other animals and people through the skin (usually abraded areas) and quickly spreads through the bloodstream. Liver and/or kidney failure can ensue. Some animals will die despite treatment.

The initial Lepto vaccine protocol is a series of 2 vaccines 3-4 weeks apart, and re-vaccination is performed every 6-12 months depending on potential for exposure.