Dog Vaccinations

Protection your dog from infectious diseases by keeping vaccinations stimulate your dog's system to develop immunity.  Because they prevent disease but do not cure disease, they must be administered BEFORE your dog is exposed and infected.  Your dog's vaccination schedule depends on several factors: the age and health of your dog, and conditions in your dog's environment.  We would be happy to help you plan a vaccination schedule so that your dog's vaccinations are up to date.

Puppies Should receive their first vaccinations between six and ten weeks of age.  They also need to have additional vaccinations about three weeks after the first set.  Puppy shots are not effective for life, so it is important to keep up with vaccinations throughout your dogs life.

Adult Canines need to receive booster vaccinations every year.

Some vaccinations are mixed so your dog does not have to receive separate shots for each disease.  Examples of such mixtures are DHLP-P which refers to a mixture to protect against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvo.

RABIES is caused by a virus that attacks the brain. It is prevalent in wildlife such as raccoon's  skunks, foxes, and bats.  Rabies is readily transmissible to humans and pets by the bites of and infected animal.  Puppies will receive one Rabies vaccination after 4 months of age.  This vaccine is good for one year, after which is is boostered every 3 years.
OUR DISTEMPER COMBO VACCINATION COVERS DISTEMPER, CORONA VIRUS,  Adenovirus Type 2,  LEPTOSPIROSIS, PARAINFLUENZA AND PARVO.  Puppies should receive three distemper combo vaccines 3-4 weeks apart.  This vaccine is then boostered yearly.

DISTEMPER is a highly contagious, often fatal disease.  It is especially dangerous to puppies.  Distemper is not transmissible to humans or kittens.

CORONA VIRUS is a very contagious disease of the intestinal tract.  Corona is not transmissible to humans or kittens.

LEPTOSPIROSIS is a bacterial infection that causes kidney disease.  It is transmitted by rodents. Canine leptospirosis may be transmittable to humans.  Puppies will receive two vaccines 3-4 weeks apart, then yearly boosters.

PARAINFLUENZA is an upper respiratory infection that causes kennel caugh.  Healthy adult dogs usually recover from it.  Puppies and older dogs are at great risk of serious complications.  Parainfluenza is not transmissible to humans or kittens.

PARVO is an often fatal viral disease of the intestinal tract.  Parvo is not transmissible to humans or kittens.
LYME DISEASE is a complex disease that is transmitted by ticks.  Lyme disease affects wild and domestic animals as well as humans.  Puppies should receive two vaccinations 3-4 weeks apart.  Adult dogs are boostered yearly. The vaccination is not 100% effective, so it is important to keep your dog on a monthly flea and tick preventative, such as Vectra 3D, and to remove any ticks found on your dog.  Signs of lyme disease in dogs includes, lameness, fever, and lethargy.  Severe infections can lead to kidney failure and death. 
BORDETELLA (Kennel cough) is an airborne bacterial infection that is spread from dog to dog.  It is highly contagious, but usually easily treated with antibiotics.  Puppies should receive two bordetella vaccines 3-4 weeks apart.  Adult dogs are boostered every 6-12 months depending on the dog's lifestyle.    
HEARTWORM is prevented with medication.  Before receiving the medication you dog MUST be tested and found free of the diesase.

Canine Influenza​

The Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) has been keeping keeping us informed about the Canine Influenza virus.This virus has affected at least 1,000 dogs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. H3N2 is a new strain of the virus then recently tested in 2004, which is the H3N8. It causes persistent cough, runny nose, and fever. It has also caused infection and respiratory illness in cats. 

WVMA recommends:
  • Getting your dog vaccinated. (There is no feline vaccine at this time)
  • Avoid letting your dog come into close contact with other dogs.
  • Wash your hands and change your clothes if you work with or are exposed to sick dogs before handling your own pets. Soap and water is an effective distinctive.
  • Please call your veterinarian with any questions or if your dog or cat is showing persistent signs of cough, runny nose, and fever.

Incubation period is expected to be 2-3 days, with clinical signs lasting 5-7 days and viral shedding extending to 10-14 days following the onset of clinical disease. Although it is unknown if vaccines will be effective against the H3N2 strain, the will reduce the incidence and severity of the disease in dogs infected with he H3N8 strain, which is still in circulation.