Post date: Jun 02, 2013 3:49:49 PM
See our latest advice at: https://www.dachshundhealth.org.uk/vaccinations
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has issued guidelines to veterinary surgeons and dog owners which aim to ensure that dogs are protected from infectious disease, while reducing the number of vaccines that are given routinely. Full guidelines are available at this link: http://www.wsava.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines
The basic principles of these guidelines are:
We should aim to vaccinate every animal with core vaccines, and to vaccinate each individual less frequently by only giving non-core vaccines that are necessary for that animal.
Vaccines should not be given needlessly. Core vaccines are those that are required by every dog in order to protect them from life-threatening infectious diseases that remain prevalent throughout the world. Core vaccines should not be given any more frequently than every three years after the 12 month booster injection following the puppy/kitten series, because the duration of immunity (DOI) is known to be many years and may be up to the lifetime of the pet.
The WSAVA has defined non-core vaccines as those that are required by only those animals whose geographical location, local environment or lifestyle places them at risk of contracting specific infections.
The WSAVA strongly supports the concept of the ‘annual health check’ which removes the emphasis from, and client expectation of, annual revaccination and suggests that vaccination (if required) forms only one part of an annual veterinary visit that considers the entire health and wellbeing of the individual dog.
UK Core vaccines:
Every dog should receive vaccination against Canine Adenovirus (infectious hepatitis), Canine Parvovirus, and Canine Distemper. The latest advice is that the final dose in the puppy series of vaccinations is given at 16 weeks, so a typical schedule would be to vaccinate at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. A follow-on vaccination is also now recommended at 6 months, not 12 months. Adult dogs should receive core vaccines no more frequently than every 3 years and a titre test can be used to find out if an adult dog does actually require re-vaccination.
UK Non-core vaccines:
In the UK, almost all dogs should receive Leptospirosis vaccination. Kennel Cough vaccines may also be considered to protect against Bordatella and Parainfluenza. Leptospirosis and Kennel Cough vaccinations should be repeated annually, if required.
Rabies is also not a core vaccine, but is required for travel under the Pet Passport Scheme.
Download the WSAVA Guidance (pdf).
Pictorial information sheet from WSAVA (pdf).