Dog Vaccination Q&A: Apart from Rabies, Which Vaccines Are Necessary?

Want to feel at ease when bringing your dog out for some fun? Get your dog vaccinated to prevent infection from viruses that could appear everywhere! There are two types of vaccines recommended for dogs: rabies vaccine and core vaccine. Hong Kong has been free from rabies for many years. Yet, as rabies is zoonotic and extremely deadly, our law still requires all puppies reaching 5 months of age to receive rabies vaccination and repeat the vaccination every 3 years.

On the other hand, the core vaccine can prevent at least three common dog diseases, including canine distemper, canine parvovirus and infectious canine hepatitis. As parainfluenza and leptospirosis are also common in Hong Kong, many core vaccines available on the market are 5-in-1 vaccine (DHPPiL), which can prevent the following 5 diseases:

Canine distemper

This is a deadly infectious disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV). It is common in Hong Kong and mostly occurs in puppies without any vaccination. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the secretion such as saliva and nasal discharge of the infected dog. Dogs of any age can be infected with this disease, but puppies are at a higher risk of infection.

Canine parvovirus

This is a highly infectious disease transmitted through direct or indirect contact with the infected dog’s stools. The virus will then be carried to the intestines and attack the intestinal walls, leading to inflammation. Currently, canine parvovirus cannot be treated with medications, so prevention by vaccination is necessary.

Infectious canine hepatitis

This disease is transmitted through media such as blood, nasal discharge, saliva, urine or stools, etc. The virus mainly attacks the liver and endothelial cells, triggering high fever, thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, tonsillitis, etc. You should get your dog vaccinated when it was small.

Parainfluenza

Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) is a highly infectious virus that is transmitted through the air. It can lead to mild to severe infection in the trachea, bronchi and lungs, causing eye and nasal discharge, lethargy, and loss of appetite. It is also the culprit of kennel cough. If not treated, the disease may cause hepatitis and eventually death.

Leptospirosis

Leptospira is a highly infectious bacterium that can cause severe acute kidney and liver failure. The death rate after infection is extremely high, and the treatment is also very hard. Therefore, every dog, whether it lives indoors, often goes hiking or plays in the grass, should get vaccinated against leptospirosis yearly.

Apart from the 5-in-1 vaccine, do not forget to receive heartworm injections!

Heartworm

Heartworm disease is a common parasitic infection in dogs. It is transmitted by mosquitos, which makes dogs vulnerable to infection when going out! When infected with heartworms, they will live in the blood vessels in the dog’s lungs and heart and damage these vital organs, eventually leading to death due to heart and lung failure. So, it is necessary to receive heartworm injections every year!

If your loving puppy has reached an age suitable for vaccination, do not hesitate to get it vaccinated to safeguard its health! Please ask your vet for more information.