Dog Vaccinations

There are hundreds of dog diseases. However, there are only a handful that your dog is most likely to be exposed to. Vaccines are an effective way to help give your dog his or her best chance at never suffering or dying from several of the most contagious canine diseases. Magruder-Tabb Animal Clinic in Yorktown, a VA veterinary, lists what you need to know about dog vaccinations.

Dog Vaccinations

Rabies

In the state of Virginia, all dogs over the age of four months are legally required to get the rabies vaccine. It’s much cheaper to pay for the vaccine than fines and court costs. Rabies is incurable and almost always lethal in dogs. Dogs can transmit rabies to people. Puppies can get the rabies vaccine from a veterinary clinic when they are three months old. They need another shot at one year, then only need to get the booster every one to three years, depending on which kind they get.

Canine Distemper

Before the 1950s, an animal hospital would be full of dogs with canine distemper that usually wound up dying. Now, the disease is on the wane because of vaccines. This is a core vaccine. Puppies can get their first shot as early as six weeks old, then need two boosters given about a month apart. They need another shot at one year old, then about every three years.

Parvovirus

This is also considered a core vaccine since it is so contagious. The vaccine schedule is the same as for canine distemper.

Adenovirus Vaccines

There are vaccines for two kinds of adenovirus that all dogs should get. Just when a puppy or dog can first get the vaccines and how many doses are needed depends on which manufacturer of the vaccine your canine companion gets.

Non-Core Vaccines

Non-core vaccines are vaccines that not all dogs are recommended to get. However, if your dog is going to go to shows or compete in dog sports, go traveling, or goes anywhere where there are a lot of other dogs, then your veterinarian may recommend that your dog get these vaccines. They include Bordetella or kennel cough, Lyme disease, parainfluenza, canine influenza, and leptospirosis.

Vaccine Side Effects

Most puppies and dogs show no side effects from vaccines. The most common side effect is being tired more than usual for less than two days. Other reported side effects include tenderness, swelling, or minor bleeding at the injection site, and a mild fever that usually goes away in one or two days.

Schedule an Appointment with Our Veterinary Professionals’ in Yorktown, VA

Call Magruder-Tabb Animal Clinic today at (757) 865-6510 for more information on canine vaccinations or to schedule an appointment with our veterinarian.

Location

Hours of Operation

Monday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Monday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sunday
Closed