Pet Care Basics, Vaccines

Vaccinology & Canine Vaccine Protocols Webinar

What is the proper vaccination schedule for a dog? Which dog vaccines are absolutely necessary? Explore the latest in canine immunization with Dr. Marty Greer, Revival’s Director of Veterinary Services. This Dog Vaccine Webinar dives into essential topics like core and non-core vaccines, the science of immunization, intranasal vs injectable vaccines and recent advancements in veterinary vaccinology.

Gain valuable insights into puppy vaccine protocols, a critical aspect of ensuring healthy immune development in young dogs. Whether you’re a veterinary professional, dog breeder, rescue or shelter caretaker or a pet owner, this webinar provides expert advice to help optimize vaccination strategies for dogs of all ages.

*Have cats? Join us for an all-new webinar with Revival’s Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Marty Greer, on February 20th on Feline Vaccination Strategies and Best Practices. Reserve your spot now- Register Here!

Learn About Dog Vaccines in This Informative Webinar

Vaccinology & Canine Vaccine Protocols Webinar

Dr. Greer’s Key Puppy Vaccination Tips

Proper puppy vaccination schedules are essential for protecting against parvo, rabies, distemper, influenza, bordetella, lepto, canine coronavirus, Lyme disease and more. Each puppy’s vaccine needs vary, but immunization is crucial for lifelong health. Different puppies need different vaccination protocols and schedules but all puppies need to be immunized at some point in their puppyhood to make sure that they’re protected. Follow a vet-recommended vaccination protocol—not all puppies need the same shots. The timing and vaccine selection varies based on the litter of the puppies. Not every dog has the same lifestyle, not every kennel is in the same state, so talk to your veterinarian about what you want to do for those vaccines. Important Note: Rabies vaccines must be administered by a licensed veterinarian to ensure proper handling, effectiveness and legal compliance. Getting a vet-administered rabies vaccine guarantees the best protection for your pet. Always choose a trusted veterinarian to ensure safe and effective pet vaccinations.

Dog Vaccine Dosage

One dose is one vaccine vial. Do not split your vaccines into smaller amounts. If you have a small breed puppy they get the same dose as a large breed puppy. I recommend that you use a single dose vial, not the multiple dose vials. You can still buy those but they’re not recommended as they tend to have a more or less uniform distribution of the product. If you do use a multi-dose vial, make sure you’re using a sterile needle every time and make sure you roll the vaccine between your hands as you administer it or as you draw it up. Use one syringe per puppy, don’t use one per litter.

Why Dog Vaccines Are Important

Vaccines do not replace good hygiene, deworming or disinfecting so you still need to do all those things but we can certainly augment those with the appropriate vaccinations. One of the strongest medications you will ever give your dog is a vaccination. It affects their immune system and can do so for their lifetime so be sure that you’re choosing well who helps you pick out your vaccine protocols, which veterinarians you speak to, what products you use and how often you use them.

Avoid Over-Vaccination

More vaccines are not better so there’s a limit to how many you should give. You should not be vaccinating more often than every 21 days, every three weeks. There are some protocols out there that people are vaccinating every seven days or every 14 days but we have to be really careful with those. Really 14 to 21 days is an absolute minimum in between vaccinations. Vaccinating weekly will cause suppression of the immune system and that can be dangerous for the puppies.

Track Vaccines Properly

Track vaccines properly with medical records and lot numbers for safety. If you are administering your own vaccines or if you’re going to the veterinary clinic for that you want to know which vaccine was given and where that vaccination was given. There are some local vaccine reactions that you’ll see a swelling or a lump at the vaccination site. In cats we can see tumors caused by vaccines, really rarely one in 10,000, but it happens so if we don’t know where that vaccination was given we don’t know which vaccine company was the problem, we don’t know which vaccine was the problem. All those little vaccine vials now have labels that are meant to peel off so you can put them on your medical vaccine records to help keep track of the lot number, the serial number, the product name and what was in the product.

Expired Vaccines

It’s very important not to use expired vaccines. Vaccines are only good for the amount of time that they are labeled for. Once a vaccine is expired you should be not using those vaccines.

Dog Vaccine Storage

Vaccines should be shipped appropriately and stored appropriately so they stay cold, but not too cold. When you get your vaccines they should be in a styrofoam box they should be cool. The ice pack should be cool to the touch, you don’t want to freeze the vaccine. Refrigerate your vaccines as soon as they arrive. Avoid storing them in the door, as temperature fluctuations occur with frequent opening. Keep them at the back for stable storage.

What Vaccinations Does My Dog Need Yearly?

Watch the full webinar to learn more from Dr. Greer about dog vaccine protocols, titers and nomograms to ensure your puppy or dog gets the best protection!

Not sure what vaccines your dog needs? Revival’s Vaccine Finder can help!

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Marty Greer, DVM

Written by: Marty Greer, DVM

Director of Veterinary Services

Marty Greer, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, has 40+ years’ experience in veterinary medicine, with special interests in canine reproduction and pediatrics. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 1981. She’s served as Revival’s Director of Veterinary Services since 2019. In 2023, Dr. Greer was named the Westminster Kennel Club Veterinarian of the Year.

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