Essential Dog Vaccinations: What Your Puppy Needs to Stay Healthy

For new dog owners, we understand that having a new dog or puppy is overwhelming. Ensuring the health and well-being of your furry friend is a top priority for any pet owner. Vaccinations play a crucial role in protecting dogs from various infectious diseases. However, as awareness of holistic pet care grows, many pet parents are seeking a more balanced approach. A holistic perspective on dog vaccinations emphasizes the importance of immunization but also the overall health and lifestyle.

Holistic pet care aims to support the body’s natural defenses through optimal nutrition, minimal exposure to toxins, and mindful vaccination schedules. This approach advocates for necessary vaccines while being cautious of over-vaccination. Over-vaccination can potentially lead to adverse effects and compromised immune systems.

In this blog, we will explore the essential vaccines for dogs, guided by holistic principles. We will discuss which vaccines are crucial for your dog’s health and how to tailor a vaccination schedule to your dog. By understanding the holistic approach to vaccinations, you can make informed decisions that prioritize your dog’s overall wellness and longevity.

Core and Non-Core Dog Vaccines: Understanding the Differences

Essential dog vaccines or the ones described as absolutely necessary are described as core vaccines. Non-core vaccines are on a case-by-case basis when you talk to your vet.

1. Core Vaccines are for Canine Distemper (CDV), Canine Parvovirus (CPV- 2), Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2) and Rabies. These are highly contagious viral diseases with some being fatal.
   • Canine Distemper (CDV), Canine Parvovirus (CPV- 2), Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2) are spread directly through contaminated feces, urine or indirectly through the air.
   • Rabies is primarily spread to dogs through a bite.
2. Non-Core Vaccines are for things like Bordetella (kennel cough), Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, Lyme disease etc. These are typically bacterial based diseases.
   • Even with your dog vaccinated for Bordetella, it may still get kennel cough from a wide variety of bacteria and virus. We’ve got a blog on how to resolve kennel cough.
   • Leptospirosis for dogs can be transferred to humans (zoonotic) and can be picked up from bacteria in water, contaminated soil affected by urine.
   • Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks.
   • Non-core vaccines provide only short-term immunity and are sometimes ineffective against an evolved strain of bacteria. Getting non-core vaccines is a judgment call based on a conversation with your vet.

Are Dog Vaccinations Required by Law in Canada? What You Should Know

For a new puppy, it is essential to have dog vaccination. Vaccination after your puppy’s maternal antibodies wear out is critical to preventing the spread of disease to dog and humans.

However, with the exception of rabies in a few Canadian provinces, there is no legal requirement to vaccinate your dog.

Since July 2024, the US CDC will not require Canadians to fill out long form for their pets.

The US had announced new rules earlier in 2024 to prevent rabies from entering the USA. Requirements included forms from vets, pictures of your dog’s teeth and other strict rules. However, as Canada is a rabies-free country, the US has provided a 9 month exemption.

Despite there being no legal requirement for dog vaccination other than for rabies, there is still a health reason to vaccinate your puppy.

How Often Should You Vaccinate Your Dog? Experts Weigh In

The frequency of dog vaccinations is important. There is always the likelihood that there are adverse effects when your puppy or dog gets vaccinated.

In actuality, according to Dr. Ron Schultz annual vaccination “provides no demonstrable benefit and may increase the risk of adverse reactions.” 

Potential Side Effects of Annual/ Over Vaccination

Vaccines can cause adverse reactions in dogs from hair loss, lethargy, allergies, to seizures and chronic issues in some cases. Our dog, Shinji developed food sensitivities as well environmental allergies due to over-vaccination by his vet.

Here is the direct quote on adverse reactions from Dr. Schultz’s website

“While there may be immediate hypersensitivity reactions, other acute events tend to occur 24-72 hours afterwards, or up to 45 days later in the case of delayed reactions.“

Holistic Approach to Dog Vaccinations: Natural Solutions for Pet Wellness

Here is a potential approach based on a holistic vet’s input.

1. Do not start a puppy on core vaccination before 6 to 8 weeks of age.
   • The reason is that puppies still have maternal antibodies, which are compromised by pet vaccinations at that early age.
2. During the 1st year of vaccinations, consider the next set of vaccination no more frequently than every 4 weeks.
3. After the 2nd round of core vaccines, you could titer test (measures antibodies) to see if you need a third round of core vaccines.
   • It may not be necessary to have a third round if the titer shows ‘strong’ titer .
4. According to holistic vets, consider giving the Rabies vaccine to dogs after 6 months of age and then depending on the law every 3 years.
5. Do not bundle non-core vaccines with the core vaccines as this may be taxing on your dog’s system.

A Vet’s Puppy Vaccination Schedule & Cost of Dog Vaccines in Canada

1. 9-10 weeks old – 1st round of Canine Distemper (CDV), Canine Parvovirus (CPV- 2), Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2)
2. At least 4 weeks after – 2nd round of Canine Distemper (CDV), Canine Parvo (CPV- 2), Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2)
3. Another 4 weeks to 3rd round of shots or for some who want to titer, wait only 2 weeks after 2nd round of vaccinations to check if the dog is immunized.
   • The titer cost would be about $70 for all of them. However, you probably could get a package of shots including Bordetella, Leptospirosis and vet exams for about $125.
   • Typically, we’ve seen DAPPV shot, a combination vaccine for distemper virus, adenovirus type 1 and 2, canine parainfluenza virus and canine parvovirus cost between $40 and $55.
   • Note that for puppies, traditionally vets would recommend 3 visits.
   • So what if you did the titer testing instead on the 3rd visit just to find out that you need the shot anyway. That is a question that pet owners would have to wrestle with.
   • Bordetella shot or the nasal vaccine can range from $25 to $35. Add on tech exam fees and the Lepto Vaccine and you are looking at around $125 per visit.
   • A Lyme vaccine would be about $30.
   • On a side note, fecal tests and blood tests are a good idea during vet checkups and those are about $200 including the vet fees.
4. > 6 months old – According to our vet, talk to your vet about having the rabies shot done after your pup is older than 6 months. And then every 3 years depending on which Canadian province you live in. Alternatively you can have titer tests done. Ontario requires the rabies vaccine.

How Long Are Dog Vaccines Effective?

Here is a snapshot of Dr. Schultz’s research results. Here are a few things to keep in mind to understand this chart:

1. A Challenge study in assessing vaccines refers to exposing/injecting the animal to the actual disease and observing whether they develop the disease.
2. Serology study refers to measuring antibody production in the blood in response to a disease.

1. Note that these results do not mean that all vaccinated dogs will be immune for the period of time listed. These are just benchmarks meaning that a dog can be immune for shorter, equal or longer times.
2. In the case of challenge study, it meant that 97% of dogs were immune to the disease after the listed time period.

Discussing Annual Dog Vaccinations With Your Vet  

We used to receive letters from our vet about Shinji getting annual vaccinations. Thankfully, the letter stated that you could either get the shots for Parvovirus in dogs, Distemper, Adenovirus or have him checked by alternative means.

Our vet recognized that annual dog vaccinations are not necessary and offered alternative means. Most vets agree that both dogs and cats need annual check ups.

Typically, pet parents are more likely to go visit the vet if they believe they have to do vaccinations. Schedule an annual check up with your pet if you can afford it. Usually, we’d recommend a blood work done so that you know how healthy your pet is.

Based on the chart above, you can revaccinate your dog when he/she is at least 5 years old, after the initial vaccinations in Year 1.

A vet we spoke to, suggested talking to your vet to get the rabies shots done every 3 years or alternatively having titer tests.

• Rabies titers are expensive with a vet quoting $250. Compared to the rabies vaccination cost, the titer cost is twice the amount. Note that both prices include vet consultation fees.

Animal Rabies Statistics in Canada (Updated)

We’ve been keeping track of rabies cases in animals including dogs and cats across Canada since 2015. Here are a few trends we see holding true based on data from Canada Food Inspection Agency.

• From 2015 to 2021, bats were the primary animal affected by rabies and the potential carrier for rabies in Canada.

• The trend for British Columbia still seems to be holding the same with rabies cases highest in bats. Please make sure you report any bat bites or scratches to your animal or yourself if you go camping or hiking. Unfortunately, a man was bitten on Vancouver Island and passed away. This is a serious disease so please don’t take any chances after you come into physical contact with a bat in Canada.
• For the other provinces, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec seem to be the only provinces that have dogs contract rabies every year.
• Manitoba also tends to record cat rabies while other provinces do not seem to have rabies transmitted to household pets.

What to Do If Your Dog Experiences Vaccine Side Effects

1. Monitor your dog for immediate noticeable vaccine reactions.
   • Talk to your vet immediately if you notice anything.
2. We’d suggest Thuja occidentalis recommended for anti-vaccinosis. Ask your holistic vet about thuja. Adored Beast Anti-Vaccinosis is another product you can try for this issue.

Please comment to let us know what you think about this guide? Is there something you would have liked us to include in this guide? Let us know by leaving a comment below.