Vaccines for Puppies & Dogs

Vaccines help animals fight disease before it takes hold. They help keep pet populations as a whole safe from infection. To see exactly why vaccines are so important and how best to ensure your pet's safety, it's critical to understand how they work. Want to learn more? Feel free to get in touch with us at 403-342-5200!

Will my pet be 100% immune?

This is a tricky question. Some animals that receive vaccines develop total immunity. Others only develop partial immunity. However there are others, where if they don't receive booster shots regularly, may lose part or all of their previous immunity. That's why the concept of "herd immunity" is so important. When the entire population susceptible to a particular disease is vaccinated, the disease can't find a foothold. Therefore, even if an animal didn't have 100% immunity, it wouldn't matter, because other animals couldn't get infected and pass it on. This is why we recommend regular boosters all throughout a pet's life for the highest level of protection.

Which vaccines will my dog need?

Just like humans, dogs also have core versus non-core vaccines (which are dependent on the risk factor of your pet to that specific virus or bacteria)

Core vaccines include:

• Distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus (DHPP)
• Rabies

Non-core vaccines include:

• Bordetella (kennel cough)
• Leptospirosis
• Lyme

Will my dog react to the vaccines?

With any pet vaccine, there is a risk of an adverse or allergic reaction. However, vaccines today are produced to extremely high standards and are safer than ever. Most dogs generally do not develop any reactions, though some others may develop mild sneezing and cold-like symptoms. Mild discomfort and lethargy are normal as well.