Vaccines for Puppies & Dogs

Vaccinations are an important part of your pet’s preventative healthcare measures, protecting them from harmful diseases. Like many other things, prevention is better (and cheaper) than cure. Though we can’t guarantee we will completely be protected against some diseases, we’ve seen how successful vaccination can be. Depending on your pet’s specific needs, our veterinary team will tailor a vaccination plan for them. If you haven’t created a vaccination plan yet, please call our team at 604-544-7387.

Why should my canine friend get vaccinated?

Vaccines help protect your pup (and the pups around them) from contracting harmful diseases that are extremely contagious and in some cases, deadly. Experts have shown how widespread vaccination efforts over the last century have prevented disease and death in millions of furry friends. Vaccinations help your pet’s body to build immunity against disease and effectively fight against them if they come in contact in the future. Vaccines can lessen the severity of future diseases and certain vaccines can prevent infection altogether.

What vaccines do you recommend for puppies and dogs?

Our veterinary team will discuss factors like your pet’s age, location and risk factors for some diseases to decide which ones they’ll most likely need. Core vaccines are the ones most canine friends in a particular area receive. Non-core vaccines are unique to the specific needs of each individual pet.

Core vaccines:

• Rabies – protects against the fatal disease that can be contracted from other animals
• Combination Vaccine – protects against distemper, adenovirus-2, parainfluenza, and parvovirus

Non-core vaccines:

• Bordetella (Kennel Cough) – recommended for dogs who spend lots of time around other dogs like at dog parks, boarding facilities, training classes, or dog shows
• Lyme Disease – necessary if you live in an area where the disease is common
• Leptospirosis – recommended if your pet spends a lot of time outdoors
• Influenza – lessens flu symptoms, especially for dogs who spend a lot time with other dogs

How often should my pet be vaccinated?

Puppies tend to be vaccinated more frequently because they’re more susceptible to diseases after the immunity benefits from their mother’s milk has worn off. Older dogs need booster vaccinations they received at a younger age to ensure they’re still immune. Our veterinary team will tailor a vaccination schedule to suit your pet’s needs.