Canine Vaccines

We tailor your pet’s vaccinations to the needs of your dog

Vaccinating your pet is an important of wellness care. They keep your dog healthy by preventing serious diseases. Pets have different lifestyles and deserve to be given individual attention and consideration at vaccination time. At Pet Wellness Animal Hospital, vaccine programs are tailored individually for each pet. You are invited to take an active part in creating the vaccination plan for your pet.

In creating your pet’s vaccination plan, we will take into consideration your pet’s lifestyle such as exposure to the outdoors, travel plans, boarding plans, breed, health status and immune competence. These factors may change over time, so it is best to review your dog’s vaccination plan at each wellness exam. Discussions of what you have planned for your dog’s life in the months ahead and what has happened in the past are important. Information about vaccination reactions in the past is of critical for your pet’s safety during future vaccinations, so be sure to discuss your dog’s vaccination history with us. 

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines are recommended for all puppies and dogs for diseases that have significant risk to canines and are widely distributed.  Vaccination results in good protection from disease.  These vaccines include:

Rabies vaccine.
Rabies is transmitted through by bites from wild animals, particularly skunks, raccoons, possums, bats, and foxes.  This disease can be transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected pet/animal.  Puppies will first receive this vaccination at 16 weeks of age; then will be revaccinated either annually or every 3 years. This vaccine is required by law through the individual counties in Illinois. 

DHPP vaccine. 
This is a “4-way” canine vaccine that vaccinates against canine viruses – distemper parvovirus, parainfluenza, and hepatitis. Distemper and parvovirus are often fatal, especially in puppies, which is why boosters are needed.  Puppies can be vaccinated as early as 6 weeks and are boostered every 3 weeks until 16 weeks of age.  Adult dogs are then revaccinated every 1-3 years.

Non-Core Vaccines

In addition to the core vaccines, there are other vaccines to protect your dog from serious disease depending upon his or her lifestyle.  We will discuss those with you during your puppy or dog’s wellness visit. They include:

Leptospirosis vaccine.
Leptospirosis is caused by a bacteria spread through soil, water (puddles, rivers, lakes, or streams) exposure to wild animal or farm animals, contact with rodents and other dogs and the urine of infected animals.  If not caught early, it can be deadly.  Talk to us to see if your dog is a candidate for the leptospirosis vaccine.

Lyme Vaccine. 
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted by tick bites. The vaccine is recommended for dogs and puppies that are considered likely to be exposed to ticks because they spend time outdoors in wooded or grassy areas, such as dog parks, campgrounds, hunting fields/meadows/ponds, and/or dogs that visit the Lyme-endemic areas of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic or upper Midwest. 

Bordetella/Parainfluenza vaccine.  
Also known as “kennel cough” vaccine, it protects from airborne microbes that are frequently transmitted in dog parks, day care and boarding facilities.  We recommend the initial dose at 12 weeks and then annual boosters. The vaccine is available as an injection or as an intranasal vaccine.