When Should You Vaccinate Your Dog

Vaccinations are an important part of keeping your dog healthy. They’re designed to guard them from a range of harmful diseases that can be caught from other animals and their environment.

Here in Australia, dog parents are advised to start their dog on a vaccination schedule from puppyhood and to maintain their immunity with boosters throughout their life.

Understanding the different classifications of vaccinations available for your dog, and when they’ll need them will help play a vital role in keeping them happy and healthy.

Your dog’s vaccinations can be split into two categories: core vaccines and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are those that are considered essential for all dogs in Australia, to protect them from common and potentially life-threatening diseases.

Non-core vaccines are additional vaccinations offered according to your dog’s risk level, determined by an assessment of your location and lifestyle. For example, if your dog is likely to come into contact with livestock, the Leptospirosis vaccination may be recommended. And though Australia is a rabies-free country, a rabies vaccination may be advised if you’re planning on travelling overseas with your dog.

Speak to your vet to get their advice if you think your pet may require additional non-core vaccinations.

Your puppy’s immune system is still developing, so it’s advised that they have all their routine vaccinations before going to public places where they could come in contact with contagious diseases. This means getting them vaccinated in three sets between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks. They’ll also need regular boosters throughout their adult life to maintain their immunity.

By following the recommended vaccination schedule below, you can build your puppy’s immunity and protect them from potentially severe illness.

6-8 weeks old

Your puppy will have their first set of vaccines at around six to eight weeks old. These are commonly combined into one injection called the C3 vaccine, which contains the three core vaccines.

• Canine distemper virus
• Canine hepatitis virus
• Canine parvovirus

10-12 weeks old

Your puppy’s second set of vaccinations includes a booster of the three core vaccines and two optional non-core vaccines. These may be administered as a single C3 or C5 injection. The Parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines are considered non-core but are recommended for dogs that will encounter other dogs, whether this be at home or on walks. These are also generally required if you plan on boarding your dog when on holidays.

• Canine distemper virus
• Canine hepatitis virus
• Canine parvovirus

Non-core:

• Parainfluenza virus (canine cough)
• Bordetella bronchiseptica (canine cough)

14-16 weeks old

The final set of vaccinations is a booster and may be administered as a C3 or C5 injection.

• Canine distemper virus
• Canine hepatitis virus
• Canine parvovirus

Non-core:

• Parainfluenza virus (canine cough)
• Bordetella bronchiseptica (canine cough)

Once your puppy has had their full course of vaccinations, they’ll need regular booster injections to make sure they remain protected. These will begin approximately a year after your dog finishes their full course of puppy vaccinations and continue for the rest of their life. These will generally be administered on an annual basis, but some newer vaccines last for longer, so your vet will be able to advise a suitable booster schedule.

Your vet will also always carry out a health check on your dog when they come in for their boosters, as only healthy dogs should be vaccinated. This check-up will include weighing them and a thorough medical examination.

Your dog may feel a little bit lethargic, lose their appetite or experience nasal discharge, sneezing and coughing in the 24-48 hours after receiving their vaccinations. This is normal, so keep them comfortable and they will generally rest this off in a day or two.

If these continue for more than 48 hours, or you notice other symptoms, such as incoordination, trouble breathing, a puffy face, fainting, vomiting or diarrhoea, contact your vet immediately.

If you adopt a dog and you’re unsure what vaccinations they have had, your vet will be able to check for you. Titre testing can be done to measure the level of antibodies for certain diseases in their blood, which will indicate whether your dog has been vaccinated for them or not. Re-vaccinating is another good option, as it’s better to assume they have not had their vaccines than to assume they have.

While it’s vital to protect your puppy from contagious disease, it’s also essential to socialise your puppy to help them grow into a confident dog with a stable temperament. Between three and 12 weeks old, puppies go through a developmental phase when they’re best suited to being exposed to new experiences and interactions.

Until they are fully protected by vaccinations, they should only mix with dogs whose vaccinations are fully up to date and should not be taken to parks or areas where other dogs have toileted. But there’s still lots of safe and important socialisation you can and should do, for example, taking them on car trips, visiting friends and family, and exposing them to different types of flooring, sounds and sights.

You can find more information about vaccinations and caring for your dog on our petcare blog.

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