Immunizing your dog provides protection from contagious diseases such as distemper, rabies, parvovirus, and lyme borreliosis.
There are two types of vaccines currently available to veterinarians: modfied-live vaccines and inactivated ("killed") vaccines.
Modified-live vaccines contain a weakened strain of the disease causing agent. Weakening of the agent is typically accomplished by chemical means or by genetic engineering. These vaccines replicate withing the host, thus increasing the amount of material available for provoking an immune response without inducing clinical illness. This provocation primes the immune system to mount a vigourous response if the disease causing agent is ever introduced to the animal. Further, the immunity provided by a modified-live vaccine develops rather swifly and since they mimic infection with the actual disease agent, provide the best immune response.
Inactivated vaccines contain killed disease causing agents. Since the agent is killed, it is much more stable and has a longer shelf life, there is no possibility that they will revert to a virulent form, and they never spread from the vaccinated host to other animals. They are also safe for use in pregnant animals ( a developing fetus may be suceptible to damage by some of the disease agents - even though attenuated - present in modified-live vaccines). Although more than a single dose of vaccine is always required and the duration of immunity is generally shorter, inactivated vaccines are regaining importance in this age of retrovirus and herpesvirus infections and concern about the safety of genetically modified microorganisms. Inactivated vaccines available for use in dogs include rabies, canine parvovirus, canine coronavirus, etc.
There is a great deal of controversy and confusion surrounding the appropriate immunization schedule, especially with the availability of modified-live vaccines and breeders who have experienced postvaccinal problems when using some of these vaccines. It is also important to not begin a vaccination program while maternal antibodies are still active and present in the puppy from the mother's colostrum. The maternal antibodies identify the vaccines as infectious organisms and destroy them before they can stimulate an immune response.
Many breeders and owners have sought a safer immunization program. Dr. W. Jean Dodds of the Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research in Albany, New York developed a program based on the following principles:
This program attempts to minimize the unwanted side effects of the immunization program while providing an appropriate level of stimulation of the immune system to avoid clinical illness.
NOTE: The following tables are recommendations ONLY! Discuss your immunization program with your veterinarian.
The following table represents a Conservative Puppy Immunization Series:
| Age | Vaccine |
| 6 weeks |
Distemper measles or Distemper measles,hepatitis,parainfluenza |
| 9 weeks | Killed canine parvovirus |
| 12 weeks | Distemper, hepatitis, leptopirosis, parainfluenza |
| 15 weeks | Kill canine parvovirus |
| 17 weeks | Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza |
| 19 weeks | Killed Canine parvovirus |
| 6 months | Killed canine parvovirus |
| 12 months |
Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza |
| 12 month 2 weeks | Rabies |
| 12 monts 4 weeks | killed canine parvovirus |
A more aggressive vaccination program is listed in the following table:
| Age | Vaccines |
| 6 weeks | Distemper, measles, hepatitis, canine parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, carona virus, inactivated Lyme borreliosis |
| 10 weeks |
hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, caronavirus, Lyme borreliosis |
| 12 weeks | rabies |
| 14 weeks | hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis |
| 12 months | distemper, hepatitis, rabies, parvovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, caronavirus, Lyme borreliosis |
It is imperative that you discuss the immunization program that is best for your pet with your veterinarian. Be sure to provide your veterinarian with a complete health history of your puppy and keep a record of any and all illnesses that your dog has had. It is sometimes useful to provide information about the lineage of your dog to make a more informed decision about the immunization program that best suits your dog.