It’s likely your dog had two lots of puppy vaccinations and gets an annual booster. If it goes into kennels it might have had another type of vaccine squirted up its nose, and if you like to take your pooch with you to Europe you will also have had a special vaccination for that. But what are all these vaccines actually for?

Well, the core vaccinations we give to puppies cover them against five main nasties – Parvovirus, Infectious Hepatitis, Distemper, Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis. The first four are all viruses and of these the most well-known is Parvovirus.

‘Parvo’ as it’s often called, appeared in the late 1970s and is thought to be a variant of a very similar virus in cats (which we also vaccinate against). It spread world-wide in just a few years and is a truly dramatic and unpleasant disease. It causes significant damage to the lining of the intestine – common symptoms are vomiting and profuse, often bloody, diarrhoea. It is highly contagious and without treatment has a very high mortality rate. Fortunately, the vaccine is very effective and has greatly reduced the number of cases we see. However, the virus is extremely hardy – surviving in the soil for years so it is unlikely we will ever truly eradicate this particular virus.

Canine Hepatitis is much less commonly seen, partly because the symptoms can be mild and non-specific. However, it can also cause significant liver damage and we do sadly see dogs dying from this disease. What makes it particularly troublesome is that dogs that survive the virus can shed it in their urine for months afterwards and continue to spread the virus long after they appear normal.

Distemper is an interesting virus. First recorded in 1905, it was once known as ‘hardpad disease’ as dogs that survived it were left with permanent hardening of the foot pads and nose. It causes many symptoms starting with a fever, then discharge from the eyes and nose. Gut and respiratory signs follow and then ultimately neurological damage that can again leave dogs with long-term damage if they survive. It has largely been wiped out by routine vaccinations and, happily, cases are extremely rare these days.

Kennel Cough is a well-known, highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs. Parainfluenza and Bordetella Bronchiseptica are the two most common causes – the latter is actually a bacteria and that is what the intra-nasal vaccine protects against. Although rarely fatal, it is another highly contagious infection and we regularly see outbreaks of this disease. The vaccine provides reasonable protection against the worst of the symptoms, but a persistent, hacking cough is most common and for some dogs it can persist for several weeks.

Leptospirosis is another bacteria and more commonly known as Weils disease. It is shed in urine, and rats, cattle and wildlife are known to be common sources of the disease. The bacteria is often found in contaminated water, so dogs drinking from stagnant water or streams and rivers that have farm waste run off are likely to be sources of the infection. It can cause severe kidney or liver damage, and is also transmissible to humans. We have a new vaccine that gives dogs protection against four common strains of the bacteria. Regular vaccinations are required to maintain a good immunity against this particular bug.

Annual vaccinations are needed against leptospirosis and kennel cough to maintain immunity, and every 3 years against distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis. Always make sure your puppy has had its vaccinations before it starts going outside, and if you are worried about what vaccines are most appropriate for your pet, have a chat to your vet.