In 2003, the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) published it's first set of Canine Vaccination Recommendations. According to that document, they divided vaccines into what they classed as core, non-core, and optional.
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Canine vaccines which are considered essential, and should be given to every dog, are termed "core vaccines". All other vaccines are regarded as "non-core" and should be used only in dogs considered at high risk on an as-needed basis. Core vaccines are considered essential because they are designed to prevent important diseases that pose serious health threats to susceptible dogs, irrespective of geographic location or the life style of a dog. Some "noncore" vaccines also may be considered "core" because they are designed to prevent a disease that is a potential public health threat. If "non-core" diseases are in outbreak in your area, vaccinations may become "core" or necessary for your dogs. Vaccines considered "non-core" are classified that way because the diseases are not widely prevalant in the United States any more.
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They also investigated and recognized a phenomenon called "vaccinosis":
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One of the things this team investigated was a reaction commonly called "vaccinosis", which is basically an allergic reaction to getting vaccinated for 6-7 things all at once with a standard "7-way" puppy shot.
There have also been instances where puppies vaccinated with standard 5-way or 7-way shots were actually contracting one disease or the other of what they were supposed to be getting vaccinated against (because the immune system is overwhelmed at trying to make antibodies for several different diseases all at once).
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They reconvened in 2005, to re-examine and revise the guidelines - and added a new section of guidelines for shelter animals. The guidelines can be found at:
www.aahanet.org It is a 28-page PDF document, but it is very interesting.
Short run-down on shots as classified by AAHA are:
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The "core" vaccines (with common abbreviations):
- Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
- Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2)
- Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2)
- Rabies Virus (RV)
The "non-core" vaccines are divided into viral, bacterial and parasite groupings with the available formula* noted:
Viral
- Canine Coronovirus (MLV, K)
- Canine Parainfluenza (MLV, K)
Bacterial
- Bordetella bronchiseptica (MLV, K)
- Leptospira canicola (K)
- Leptospira pomona (K)
- Leptospira grippotyphosa (K)
- Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae (K)
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) (K, KR)
Parasite
- Giardia (K)
Key: MLV=Modified Live Vaccine
K=Killed Vaccine
KR=Killed Recombinant Vaccine
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They also gave age & re-vaccination recommendations as follows:
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- At what age should the vaccination program begin?
The vaccination schedule should begin at age 6-8 weeks; with the later being more optimal. Passive acquired immunity antibody declines below levels to interfere with core vaccines by 12-14 weeks of age. Schultz (2000) noted, “a small percentage of pups (<5%) fail to develop immunity to one or more of the core components. Reasons which have been given include: The presence of passively acquired antibody at the time of last vaccination; delay in maturation of the immune system; poor vaccinal immunogenicity: vaccine not given often enough, genetic inability to respond to certain vaccine antigens: immunosuppressions: too many components in a multi-component vaccine; or ineffective lots of vaccine”.
The Canine Distemper (CDV), Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) vaccination series should be at 3-4 week intervals ending at about 14 weeks of age (indicating a schedule of 6-8 weeks (preferably 8 wks), 9-12 weeks, 12-16 weeks, respectively). The rabies vaccine should be given 3-4 weeks apart from the CDV/CPV-2 vaccines. (Better to start at 8 weeks, with 4-week intervals, so the best ideal schedule would be 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks with first rabies at 20 weeks.)
Colorado State University's Small Animal Vaccination Protocol (2002) recommends the "Progard-5 (intervet)" vaccine, which contains modified live canine distemper, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza, and parvovirus vaccine. They also recommend the "Imrab 3 (Rhone Merieux)" vaccine, which is a killed rabies vaccine with three-year duration of immunity after the initial one-year vaccine. The first booster for all the "core" vaccines will be at one year of age and at three-year intervals thereafter, until otherwise determine and/or mandated by law.
- How often does a dog need to be revaccinated? (What is the duration of immunity?)
Schultz (2000) discussed in his chapter, Considerations in Designing Effective and Safe Vaccination Programs for Dogs, that: The duration of immunity for the "core" vaccines after the initial puppy series and first booster: Canine Distemper (CDV), Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) are reported to be > or = to 7 years with >90% efficacy. The Rabies virus vaccine was reported at > or = to 3 years of age with >85% efficacy.
The "non-core" vaccines have a wide variation of duration of immunity and estimated efficacy.
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We developed a program with our vet that includes the core shots, the non-core things that are a problem in our geographic location, and optional things that she feels are necessary (if any) at the time of exams.
I hope this helps someone. These shots are NOT all necessary, but many vets have ignored these recommendations because they don't make as much MONEY this way.