Vaccinating Your Dog

Vaccination is best-practice and the best defence in protecting your dog from dangerous and even fatal disease which can be easily preventable.

We are happy to talk with dog owners about which vaccines are suitable for your dog, and the schedule you should follow.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions you may have about vaccines. 

Why Are They Important?

Vaccines assist a dogs own immune system in building defence to disease.  This is most commonly done via introducing a mimic or weakened version of the disease-causing virus or organism, which teaches a dog’s body in advance how fight it off, or reduce the effects should it ever catch the real virus in the future.

What Are the Common Dog Vaccines for New Zealand?

  • Canine Parvovirus (core vaccine)
  • Canine Distemper (core vaccine)
  • Hepatitis (core vaccine)
  • Canine (‘Kennel’) Cough
  • Leptospirosis 

Are There Optional Dog Vaccines?

Yes, your vet may recommend additional vaccines depending on things like:

  • Age
  • Medical history
  • Environment
  • Overseas Travel
  • Lifestyle

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Puppies initially gain protection from their mother’s milk, so if your puppy is not able to have this, please speak with your vet as soon as possible.  You should always confirm a suitable vaccination schedule for your puppy with your vet as this is tailored to their medical and vaccination history, and where they are living/visiting, however a general vaccination guide is:

  • At 6 weeks: first core vaccination
  • At 9 weeks: booster core vaccination
  • At 12 weeks: booster core vaccination, Canine Cough, first Leptospirosis
  • At 16 weeks: booster core vaccination, booster Leptospirosis
  • At 6 months: booster core vaccination

Your dog will also require ongoing annual vaccinations, with the first (Canine Cough and Leptospirosis) due at 15 months.

Are vaccines safe?

Vaccines are extremely safe with only rare negative reactions.  If your dog does experience any reaction, call us to discuss.  These rare cases would most likely show as:

  • Fever
  • Sluggishness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Facial or paw swelling and/or hives
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Pain or swelling around the injection site
  • Collapse, difficulty breathing, and seizures (anaphylactic shock)

No unlike humans, mild symptoms can be ignored as your body processes the vaccine, but for anything more severe give us a call.

Scheduling an Appointment for Dog Vaccinations

You can book online (select vaccination as the appointment type) or give us a call to arrange a time.  Every vaccination appointment includes a health check for your puppy/dog.