To help your Dog live a long and healthy life, Vaccinating your Dog is essential. After your initial Veterinarian visit, your Vet will determine a Vaccination schedule that will be best for your Dog.
What Vaccines do Dogs need? Your Dog would need at least the following Core Vaccines: Canine Parvovirus, Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, and Rabies. Your Dog would also need the following non-core vaccines depending on your Dog’s risk of exposure: Bordetalla Bronchiseptica, Borrelia Burgdorferi, Parainfluenza, Canine Influenza, Leptospira Bacteria, Lyme Disease.
Why Does My Pet Need Vaccines?
Just like us, Vaccines are an important part of preventative health for Pets. Vaccines help prepare your Dog to fight disease causing organisms trying to invade their body by mildly stimulating your Dog’s immune system. Vaccines contain antigens, which trick your Dogs immune system by imitating the disease causing organisms into thinking it’s the real thing. If ever exposed to the real disease, your Dog’s immune system will recognize it and fight it off or reduce how severe the illness gets.
What Are Core Pet Vaccines?
Core Pet Vaccines are those vaccines that are recommended for every Pet, no matter their age lifestyle or geographic location. This includes all dogs with an unknown vaccination history, as well as new puppies. Core Vaccines protect against diseases that have high rates of infection, pose a threat to your Pet’s life and/or are a danger to human health.
| CORE DOG VACCINES | VACCINE ABBREVIATIONS | RESULT IF INFECTED |
| Rabies | Viral Disease 1. Attacks the Nervous System 2. 100% Fatal 3. Contagious to Humans | |
| Rabies | Viral Disease 1. Attacks the Nervous System 2. 100% Fatal 3. Contagious to Humans | |
| Canine Parvovirus | “PV”, “Pv”, CPV, “P” | Viral Disease 1. Contagious 2. Can cause Severe vomiting 3. Can cause Bloody Diarrhea 4. Fatal |
| Distemper | “D” | Viral Disease 1. Affects the Respiratory System 2. Affects the Intestinal Tract 3. Can affect the Nervous System 4. Fatal |
| Canine Hepatitis/Adenovirus | “A”, “A2”, “H” | Viral Disease Type 1 1. Affects the Liver and other Organ Systems 2. Serious viral illness that can be Fatal Type 2 1. Affects the Respiratory System 2. Can develop Kennel Cough |
What Are Non-Core Pet Vaccines?
Non-Core Pet Vaccines are optional vaccines that are recommended depending on your Pet’s risk of exposure, like your Pet’s lifestyle or where your live on the map.
| NON-CORE DOG VACCINES | VACCINE ABBREVIATIONS | RESULT IF INFECTED |
| Bordetalla Bronchiseptica | “B”, “Bb” | Bacterial Infection 1. Can cause Kennel Cough |
| Parainfluenza | “P”, “Pi” | Viral Disease 1. Affects the Respiratory System 2. Can develop Kennel Cough or canine Bronchitis |
| Canine Influenza (Dog Flu) | “CI” | Viral Disease 1. Causes Flu-like Symptoms 2. Very Contagious |
| Leptospira Bacteria (leptospirosis) | “L”, “L2”, “4L”, “L4” | Bacterial Disease 1. Affects Kidneys 2. Affects Liver 3. Can be Fatal |
| Canine Lyme Disease (Borrelia Burgdorferi) | “OspA”, “OspA+C” | Bacterial Disease 1. Spreads by ticks 2. Can cause Arthritis 3. Can cause Kidney Disease |
| Coronavirus | “C”, “CV”, “CvK” | Viral Disease 1. Intestinal Disease 2. Causes severe Diarrhea 3. Can be Fatal |
MY EXPERIENCE: When we rescued our Black Lab 3 years ago from the SPCA, we encountered a lot of misinformation on her vaccination records. The Vet’s notes vs. what the SPCA gave us were not the same. Luckily, the SPCA gave me the Vet’s office that worked on our new Dog.
Once I had more accurate dates on what care was conducted on my New Dog, I set out to get our initial local Vet visit to determine what Vaccinations our new Fur Friend needed and when she needed them.
What Do These Vaccine Abbreviations Mean?
It is very common for Dog Vaccines to be combined together in a single shot. You will find the Abbreviations for both Core and Non-Core Dog Vaccinations in the Table above. Some combinations can be written slightly different, but the combination can be the same.
“DA2PP”, “DHPPV,” “DHPP,” or “DA2PP” all mean the same combination of shots:
- Canine Distemper = “D”
- Canine Adenovirus-2 infection or Canine Hepatitis = “A2” or “H”
- Canine Parvovirus Infection = “PV” or “P”
- Parainfluenza = “P”
*See the AAHA Vaccination Guidelines for more in depth information.
Your Veterinarian will be the best person to determine what Vaccinations your Dog will need because there are many factors to think about, like age, environment, medical history, and lifestyle. Once you get a schedule of recommended Vaccines, you can save money by tracking the Vaccination schedule yourself and find locations that administer Vaccines at a lower price point.
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*This article is for information purposes only and any health concerns should be discussed with your veterinarian.
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