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Dog Vaccinations

Adult Dog Vaccinations

Dogs playing outdoors on grass with a ball

Why You Should Vaccinate Your Dog

There is no doubt that vaccinations have made a huge difference in the spread of infectious disease for both people and pets. For dogs, Distemper was a major killer. Like Polio in children before Dr. Salk, no dog was safe. In the third world, Rabies is still a constant, fatal threat to people and animals because vaccines are not available.

Increasing concerns about vaccinations have caused people to question whether vaccines are safe for their dog, or even needed at all. We believe that they are safe, and that they are necessary to prevent outbreaks of life-threatening diseases such as Parvo. As well, vaccines are needed to prevent diseases which can be transmitted to humans, such as Rabies.

It has always been the goal of Blue Cross Animal Hospital to recommend only vaccines that are needed for individual dogs, rather than having a one-size-fits-all protocol.

When To Vaccinate Your Dog: Our Up-to-date Vaccine Schedule

As much as they are life savers, vastly improved vaccines and on-going research have caused us to re-visit our vaccine protocols over the years.

We used to vaccinate annually for the “Core Vaccines”. Several years ago we changed to every other year.

Now we have changed again to a need-based protocol based on the latest recommendations from The American Animal Hospital Association and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. These bodies follow research and disease trends to determine which vaccines should be considered Core and which should be given only for pets at risk.

We also follow disease trends in the Toronto area to designate vaccines which we consider “Strongly Recommended” based on the disease risks to your dog of living in downtown Toronto.

It has always been the goal of Blue Cross Animal Hospital to recommend only vaccines that are needed for individual dogs, rather than having a one-size-fits-all protocol. For instance, we don’t use Corona virus vaccine in dogs because the disease is so mild. We recommend Lyme protection only to dogs who’s lifestyle puts them at risk of contacting the disease. We don’t have one blanket protocol that fits all our patients.

In simpler terms: we recommend your dog get the vaccines he or she needs when they are needed.

We strongly recommend that your dog have an annual health exam. Some vaccines may be given on alternate years, and the annual exam is a thorough exam of many aspects of your dog’s health, not just vaccination.

What Vaccines Does My Dog Need?

When we see your dog for the annual visit we do a thorough physical examination and discuss their health and activities. We then recommend the Core vaccines that are needed that year based on your individual dog’s needs and set or re-set the schedule for the coming years.

In determining which vaccines should be given to a particular pet, we break vaccines into three categories, CoreStrongly Recommended, and Lifestyle Risk.

  • Vaccines classed as Core are the ones that all dogs should get as they are at risk no matter their lifestyle, for example Parvovirus and Rabies.

  • Strongly Recommended vaccines are ones that should be added as your dog’s urban lifestyle is likely to expose them to the diseases, such as Bordetella and Leptospirosis.

  • Lifestyle Risk vaccines would include Lyme Disease, and other less common vaccines.

Core Vaccines

  • Rabies

  • Distemper

  • Parvovirus

  • Adenovirus

  • Parainfluenza

Strongly Recommended Vaccines

  • Bordetella (Part of the Kennel Cough infection): Bordetella is extremely contagious and almost all urban dogs are in frequent contact with other dogs, putting them at high risk of infection. Note that this is a core vaccine for puppies.

  • Leptospirosis: This disease is spread in racoon and skunk urine, and water contaminated with either. Because of the high numbers of racoons in Toronto, your dog is at high risk.

Lifestyle Risk Vaccines

  • Lyme Disease: For dogs that may be at risk due to travel or lifestyle.

Puppy Vaccinations

Laila shows Dr. Eaglesome some puppy love

Congratulations on your new puppy! We can’t wait to meet your adorable new friend and help you put them on the road to a lifetime of healthy, happy companionship.

Over the first few months of his or her life, we hope your puppy will visit Blue Cross Animal Hospital regularly, establishing both a strong foundation for their future health, and a great relationship for you and your puppy with our wonderful, caring team.

Each visit includes a thorough physical exam as detailed below, appropriate vaccinations, parasite control, and nutritional, weight and behavioral counseling. You may request your choice of veterinarian for each visit.

These visits are your chance to ask your veterinarian one-on-one for any advice or help you may require with your puppy. You may want to know about puppy life stages, future procedures, food or toys. Of course, if you have any questions outside of your appointments, you can contact us at (416) 469-1121, or [email protected], and we’ll be happy to help.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR PUP OUT OF THE PARKS UNTIL AFTER THE 16 WEEK VACCINATION. UNTIL THEN THEY ARE AT HIGH RISK FROM PARVO VIRUS.

Puppy Visit & Vaccination Schedule

Puppies need to have a series of vaccinations in the first four and a half months of life. These will be administered as required at each of the four Puppy Health visits.

8 Weeks

Physical Exam

A nose-to-tail check-up of your puppy.

Vaccination

DHPP Initial Vaccine: Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Adenovirus, Para Influenza, Parvovirus

Parasites: Fecal Exam

Please bring a fresh stool sample in a clean baggie to your first visit, for parasite testing.

12 Weeks

Physical Exam

A nose-to-tail check-up of your puppy, to confirm that your puppy is developing properly and healthy for vaccination.

Vaccination

DHPP (Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Adenovirus, Para Influenza, Parvovirus) Booster Vaccine

16 Weeks

Physical Exam

A nose-to-tail check-up of your puppy, to confirm that your puppy is developing properly and healthy for vaccination.

Vaccination

DHPP (Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Adenovirus, Para Influenza, Parvovirus) Booster Vaccine

PLEASE KEEP YOUR PUP OUT OF THE PARKS UNTIL AFTER THE 16 WEEK VACCINATION. UNTIL THEN THEY ARE AT RISK FROM PARVO VIRUS.

18 Weeks

Physical Exam

A nose-to-tail check-up of your puppy, to confirm that your puppy is developing properly and healthy for vaccination.

Vaccination

Rabies Vaccine: The Rabies vaccination includes a Certificate of Vaccination and a collar tag for your puppy.

Canine Cough/Kennel Cough Vaccine: Recommended for city dogs.