Vaccination of dogs is important preventive protection for your four-legged friend and gives you as the owner greater security. In Norway we are lucky and have a low infection rate of deadly diseases among our dogs. This is partly due to our climate and the country's remote geographical location, but mainly this is thanks to the high vaccination rate among Norwegian dogs.
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Why is it important to vaccinate a dog?
Dogs are social animals and are exposed to infection through contact with others – just like us humans. Therefore, it is especially important to properly vaccinate dogs that live in close proximity or that are for other reasons particularly susceptible to infection. In addition to protecting the vaccinated dog from disease, the general infection pressure is also reduced when the majority of dogs in the community are vaccinated. This makes it easier for dogs that cannot be vaccinated (e.g. very young puppies and dogs with suppressed immune systems, etc.) to stay healthy.
What vaccines does the dog need?
There are some vaccines for dogs which are recommended for everyone regardless of where they are located and these are called core vaccines. The core vaccines protect against, among other things, the three diseases distemper, canine distemper (parvovirus) and infectious hepatitis, which we see sporadic cases of in Norway and which can be fatal.
In addition to the core vaccines, your dog can also receive additional vaccines. The need for additional vaccines will vary based on local conditions, and in Norway, a vaccine against kennel cough is recommended in addition to the core vaccines. If you are going to travel abroad with your dog, it needs protection against several diseases, such as rabies.
Puppy distemper
Distemper is a serious disease that can affect not only puppies but also adult dogs. The disease causes an infection that spreads in the blood and is highly contagious, but the vaccine fortunately provides good protection. Symptoms of distemper are high fever, rash around the eyes and nose, diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy.
Canine distemper
Canine distemper or Parvovirus infection is caused by parvovirus attacking the dog's intestinal system. For unvaccinated dogs, the disease can be fatal and the infection is often characterized by the dog developing bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
Infectious hepatitis
Adenovirus is a virus that causes hepatitis, also known as infectious hepatitis. The virus can also cause respiratory infections and can be life-threatening, especially in puppies. Common symptoms include fever, bleeding, and abdominal (tummy) pain.
Kennel cough
Kennel cough vaccine recommended for all dogs in Norway. Kennel cough can be caused by several different types of viruses and bacteria, just like the common cold in humans. The kennel cough vaccine protects against the most common infectious agents, including parainfluenza virus, which causes "common" cold symptoms with coughing and fatigue. It also protects against the bacterium Bordetella bronciseptica, which can worsen the infection and cause serious and sometimes life-threatening pneumonia.
If the dog is infected with a different type of virus than the one in the vaccine, it may still develop cold symptoms and thus "kennel cough" despite vaccination. However, these other viruses often cause milder symptoms and less severe illness.
Rabies and leptospirosis
Dogs that are going to travel or stay abroad need additional vaccinations. For example, it is required by law to rabies vaccine for dogs before traveling abroad. Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted between animals but also from animals to humans. The rabies vaccine must be given at least 21 days before departure and be documented in the passport.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can infect both animals and humans and is most widespread from Denmark and southwards. The disease is mainly transmitted through contact with water containing urine from infected animals. In infected dogs, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and general poor general condition are common and without treatment the disease can be life-threatening.
Lyme disease
Very few tick bites result in illness, but both dogs and cats that are bitten tick bite can become infected with a tick-borne disease such as Lyme disease. The sooner a tick is removed from an animal, the less risk there is of transmission from the tick.
In Larvik, we receive 3–4 dogs each year with Lyme disease. Some show symptoms such as lameness and others develop kidney failure.
Our veterinarians recommend the use of preventive tick agent og Borrelia vaccine to minimize the risk of serious illness.
Dog vaccination is especially recommended for working dogs and hunting dogs that spend a lot of time in forests and fields, and for family dogs in tick-prone areas. Those of you who live or have a cabin in Vestfold and Agder and in southern parts of Sweden should especially consider vaccination.
The vaccine is approved from 12 weeks of age. Two vaccinations should be given three weeks apart. The dog is then given an annual vaccination for as long as protection is desired. It is recommended to start vaccination in late winter/early spring to get the best effect possible before the tick season starts in full.
When should the puppy be vaccinated?
Dog vaccination recommendations have changed a lot over the past few decades and can actually vary from veterinarian to veterinarian. Therefore, a core vaccination regimen has now been developed, compiled by the veterinary world's leading immunologists. This ensures comprehensive recommendations and the best possible treatment for your dog, and is continually reassessed as new research is presented.
Based on these expert assessments, the course for basic vaccination is set up as follows:
- Vaccine: 8 weeks, DHP
- Vaccine: 12 weeks, DHP + BbPi/DHPPi
- Vaccine: 16 weeks, DHP
- Vaccine (1st first booster): 12 months, DHP + BbPi/DHPPi
The reason for this program is to be able to provide complete protection to the puppy with vaccines. The maternal antibodies that the puppy receives from its mother in the first few days after birth are important for protection against disease. Whether the puppy receives this from its mother is difficult to know and can vary even within the same litter. At the same time, the vaccination will not be effective if the puppy is nursing for a long time because it receives these substances naturally. To ensure that the vaccine has the correct effect and provides good protection, it is therefore necessary to vaccinate the puppy at both 8 and 16 weeks.
How often does the dog need a vaccine after basic vaccination?
Furthermore, the dog should be vaccinated annually and this is especially important for older dogs. Giving annual vaccination for the dog is a practice that helps to maintain the dog's immunity against certain diseases and protect it against potentially serious health problems.
Side effects of vaccination for dogs
Most dogs usually experience little to no side effects from dog vaccinations. However, it is possible that your dog may become a little extra tired and lethargic for 1–2 days after receiving the vaccine.
Although side effects after vaccination of dogs are rare, nausea, fever or allergic reactions can sometimes occur. Contact your veterinarian if your dog becomes very weak, vomits or has severe diarrhea within the first half hour after receiving the vaccine, as it may have had an allergic reaction that requires treatment.
Vaccine for dogs price
Contact us if you have any questions in connection with dog or cat vaccinations. You will find an overview of our vaccine prices here.
