How Many Vaccines Does a Dog Need in Its Lifetime?

As the weather gradually warms up in March, it's time to focus on vaccinations before we embrace the "spring warmth and autumn cold" routine! Besides taking your dog out for walks with a leash, don't forget to ensure your dog gets timely vaccinations.

1. How Many Vaccines Does a Dog Need in Its Lifetime? The best time to vaccinate a dog is within 45-60 days after birth, with deworming done before the vaccine. During the first year, the dog will need a series of vaccinations, with one shot every 21 days to prevent infectious diseases. It is important to note that the rabies vaccine can only be administered after the dog reaches 3 months old, which is considered the first immunization. From then on, every year, the dog will need to get a booster shot of both the infectious disease vaccine and the rabies vaccine, with appointments made at least a month before the due date, continuing throughout the dog's life. The reason for the 21-day gap between the first and second vaccination is that vaccines typically begin to show effects about 10 days after administration, with the most significant antibody response appearing around the 15th-21st day. However, around the 20-21 day mark, the immune response peaks, and after 21 days, it starts to decrease. Giving the second shot during this period helps stimulate a higher antibody titer and prevents immunity from wearing off. The purpose of dog vaccinations is to strengthen immunity and prevent diseases like parvovirus, canine distemper, enteritis, and rabies. It not only helps prevent inter-dog transmission but also offers some protection to humans. However, relying solely on vaccines isn't enough. Dog owners should regularly exercise and play with their dogs using a leash to improve their physical health and ensure overall well-being. 2. Which Dogs Should Not Be Vaccinated? In theory, any healthy dog can receive vaccines. However, for dogs in specific conditions, such as those that are sick, weak, or newly adopted, it is recommended to wait before vaccinating. They should first be observed for a while at home. This is because vaccines are essentially a form of "virus," and dogs may experience a temporary drop in immunity or encounter an infection or adverse situation due to their body's reaction to the vaccine or because of the disease's incubation period. This is also why deworming is necessary before vaccination and why dogs should avoid baths for some time after getting vaccinated. Additionally, puppies younger than 6 weeks old have maternal antibodies, so it’s not recommended to administer the commonly used six-in-one vaccine too early. Nonetheless, even healthy dogs can experience some adverse reactions to vaccines. Symptoms like mild fever, lethargy, or redness/swelling at the injection site are common and typically resolve within 2-3 days. In more severe cases of allergic reactions, prompt veterinary attention is required. 3. How to Choose Vaccines for Your Dog We often hear about "two-in-one," "four-in-one," and "six-in-one" vaccines for dogs. These numbers represent the different diseases the vaccines can protect against. Two-in-one vaccine: Canine distemper and parvovirus; suitable for dogs over 30 days old. Four-in-one vaccine: Canine distemper, parvovirus, canine parainfluenza, and adenovirus; for dogs around 50 days old, or they may receive a five-in-one shot. Six-in-one vaccine: Canine distemper, parvovirus, canine parainfluenza, adenovirus type I and II (canine infectious hepatitis and infectious tracheobronchitis), and leptospirosis; given to puppies around 90 days old. Of course, we don’t simply give a single vaccine at any one stage; rather, we should match the vaccines based on the dog’s age and health status. 0-4 months: Two-in-one vaccine + Four-in-one vaccine + Six-in-one vaccine + Rabies vaccine 4-8 months: Four-in-one vaccine + Four-in-one vaccine + Six-in-one vaccine + Rabies vaccine 8 months and older: Six-in-one vaccine + Six-in-one vaccine + Six-in-one vaccine + Rabies vaccine