Just like humans, dogs need vaccines to be protected from dangerous diseases. This begs the question, what vaccines do dogs need, exactly?

There are vaccines that all dogs require with no exceptions, while there are other vaccines that may be recommended by your vet depending on your dog’s lifestyle.

Read on to find out more about which vaccines your dog needs.

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Giving your dog the required vaccinations is an essential part of sheltering him from dangerous, and at times, life-threatening illnesses. 

Such illnesses include rabies, parvovirus, and bordetella (kennel cough).

Vaccines do their job by inserting a minuscule quantity of the pathogen in question into your dog’s body. The bacteria or virus injected into your dog is a deactivated or ‘dead’ version that does your pup no harm.

The reason this is done is to expose your dog’s immune system to the ‘fake’ microbe so that if and when the real deal enters their body, they’re able to fend it off. 

Vaccinating dogs when they’re still pups is widely considered to be more effective in protecting your dog, and all the dogs he interacts with from the risk of getting infected.

Why Do Dogs Need Vaccinations?

There are several vaccinations that your furry friend needs to be protected from a variety of diseases. These vaccines can be categorized as essential or non-essential.

These are the vaccines that you must give your dog.

Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus (DHPP)

Although this vaccine is most commonly referred to as the distemper shot, it’s actually one that fortifies your dog against hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza as well. 

For puppies, this vaccine is required in a minimum of three doses, administered within 6 to 16 weeks of birth. If you’re vaccinating your dog as an adult, then he should be given two doses that are 3 or 4 weeks apart.

Booster shots are needed after a year has passed since a puppy’s initial vaccination, and all dogs require booster shots at least once every three years.

Rabies is arguably the most notoriously known dog disease, it can affect all mammals, humans included. In most states, vaccinating your dog against rabies is actually a legal obligation.

Rabies shots are typically given when a dog is 12 or 16 weeks of age, the exact time depends on what the law states in your location. 

After a maximum of one year from the first injection, a booster shot is required to ensure that the vaccine remains active and effective.

These vaccines may be recommended by your vet depending on your dog’s lifestyle and the area you live in.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is most likely contracted by a dog in regions with humid climates, standing water, and a high likelihood of exposure to rodents. It’s also a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Your vet is likely to recommend this vaccination as part of the aforementioned distemper shot if you’re located in an area where your dog is at high risk of getting infected.

This vaccine is taken in two doses which should be administered no more than a month apart. For puppies, the first dose should be at 8 weeks of age. Also, booster shots are required once a year or more for dogs in areas with a high risk of infection.

This pathogen brings about a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs. Although it can spread rapidly, it’s usually not a serious disease. However, it can cause severe complications in young puppies.

Your vet is likely to recommend this vaccine if you intend on taking your dog to places with many other pups, such as the dog park, dog show, daycare, or boarding kennel.

This vaccine can be administered as an injection, or orally/intranasally. The timing of the vaccine for puppies depends on the type to be taken, but generally speaking, a single dose is required.

For adults, two doses should be taken if the vaccine is to be injected. On the other hand, only one dose is required if it’s to be taken orally or intranasally.

Semi-annual or annual booster shots may be recommended by your vet depending on your dog’s lifestyle and the level of risk he’s in.

The relevance of Lyme disease to you and your dog depends on where you live. If you’re in an area of the country where ticks thrive, like in coastal states and the vicinity of the Great Lakes, then Lyme disease is something you should be wary of.

This vaccine is also taken in two doses that should be no more than a month apart. The first dose for puppies should be at 9 weeks of age. Booster shots will be necessary on a yearly basis, preferably before the beginning of tick season.

This viral infection has a highly similar effect on your dog as kennel cough. The criteria for the necessity of the canine influenza vaccine are also lifestyle-related. Your dog’s likely to require this vaccine if his lifestyle involves being around a lot of other dogs regularly.

There are a couple of variants of this virus, and there’s also a vaccine that offers your dog protection against both of them in one shot. 

So, if your dog is at high risk of canine influenza and you intend to vaccinate him against it, consult your vet about this option.

What Vaccines Do Dogs Need?

Vaccines offer your dog valuable protection from many diseases and help keep them healthy and safe. However, they do have some potential side effects that you should take note of, like:

You should closely monitor your dog for a couple of days after he’s been vaccinated, and if any of these symptoms persist for more than a day, we recommend you get in touch with your vet.

That being said, these side effects are few and far in between. The risk of them is very low compared to the risks associated with the diseases that vaccines protect your dog from.

Side Effects of Dog Vaccines

In summary, there are some vaccines that all dogs need, like distemper and rabies shots. There are also others that your dog may or may not need depending on where you live, and your dog’s lifestyle. 

Your best course of action if you’re not sure which vaccines your pooch needs is to consult your vet and follow their recommendations.

What Vaccines Do Dogs Need?

What Vaccines Do Dogs Need?

Why Do Dogs Need Vaccinations?

What Vaccines Do Dogs Need?

Side Effects of Dog Vaccines

Conclusion

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