Dog Vaccination

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.

Up-to-date Vaccine Protocols

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. As well, we have Titre Testing available, which may be an alternative to some vaccines. We don’t have one blanket protocol that fits all our patients.

Here’s the Procedure:

We see your dog annually for a thorough physical examination and discussion of 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, Core, Strongly 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.

Rabies
Distemper
Parvovirus
Adenovirus
Parainfluenza

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.

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

Note that City by-laws require that all pets be vaccinated for rabies.

Vaccine Titre Testing

Up-to-date Vaccine Protocols

Here’s the Procedure:

The Doghouse