Vaccinations for Puppies and Dogs
Vaccines protect your furry friends from various illnesses. When your puppies or dogs are fully vaccinated, they are less likely to contract illnesses or pass them on to other pets. At Sims Veterinary Hospital we create wellness programs for your pets from their puppy stage, through to their adult and senior stage. An important part of our wellness program is composed of vaccinations.
What vaccines does your hospital offer?
At Sims Veterinary Hospital we offer both core and non-core vaccines for puppies and dogs. In veterinary medicine, vaccines that protect against diseases that are widespread, highly contagious and cause serious illness are called core vaccines. Core vaccines include: Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Rabies and Canine Parvovirus.
Non-core vaccines are recommended based on the individual pet exposure risk. Non-core vaccines include: Canine Parainfluenza Virus, Leptospirosis, Bordetellosis and Borreliosis (Lyme Disease).
What vaccines does my pet need?
Our team will recommend core vaccines for your puppies or dogs even if they are healthy. We can further assist you if your pet has individual risks to diseases that fall under non-core vaccines. When recommending non-core vaccines we consider age, health, exposure to other animals, household, and travelling lifestyle as these can make them more susceptible to diseases. If your pet’s lifestyle changes it may be time to revisit your pet’s vaccination options with a veterinarian.
To find out what vaccines your pet needs, schedule an appointment at 613.531.3334.
How often should my pet be vaccinated?
Puppies should start vaccinations between 6 to 8 weeks and continue every three weeks until they are six months of age. Once their puppy series of vaccines are completed they receive their first booster shots after a year. Vaccine immunity varies for each shot. For example. Distemper, Parvovirus, Rabies and Canine Hepatitis usually need to be given every three years. Bordetella needs to be administered every 6-12 months. Our team will keep records and inform you when your pet needs a booster shot.
Are there alternatives to vaccinations for my pet?
Unfortunately, there aren’t any alternatives. Vaccines are highly encouraged as they play an important role in protecting your pet and the rest of the community.