CANINE IMMUNIZATION RISK ASSESSMENT

Maple Veterinary Hospital veterinarians want to keep your dog healthy and safely protected from preventive canine diseases. As part of your dog’s vaccination and wellness examination visit, our Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs) will discuss your pet’s exposure risk to the canine diseases outlined on this page. With your input, our LVTs will assess your pet’s exposure risks. Based on your pet’s risk assessment, our veterinarians will recommend a vaccination plan specifically designed to protect your dog from severe and sometimes fatal canine diseases.

Which Vaccines Does Your Dog Need?

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANINE VACCINATIONS

Based on the risk factors indicated for each canine vaccine listed below,

rate your dog's exposure risk by checking YES or NO.

If you check YES to any risk factors, your dog should be vaccinated for protection.

Canine Distemper

Upper Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, and Liver Diseases

Is My Dog At Risk?

YES        NO

DISTEMPER
A high contagious, often fatal virus that affects a dog's respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system.

HEPATITIS
A viral disease that affects the liver and cells lining the blood vessels. It can be fatal in puppies and older dogs.

PARAINFLUENZA
A viral infection that causes one form of what is often called "kennel cough". It is a highly infectious attack on the respiratory system.

PARVO VIRUS
A common and deadly viral infection of the gastrointestinal system that often has no early visible symptoms. It strikes quickly and death can result in less than a day.

CORONA VIRUS
A highly contagious viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract.

Risk Factors: All dogs are at risk for canine distemper, upper respiratory, gastrointestinal and liver diseases that are spread by airborne viruses that can be carried into your own house on your clothes and shoes or on breezes through open windows. Your dog is also at high risk of exposure in outside areas where other dogs have been walked or exercised. Raccoons and skunks can also spread these diseases to areas where your dog can be exposed.

Frequency of Vaccination: Annually unless replaced by annual titer testing.

Is My Dog At Risk?

YES        NO

A fatal viral infection of the central nervous system which is transmitted through the saliva of an affected animal and poses a serious public health threat.

Risk Factors: Rabies affects ALL mammals, including humans, dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks, bats, and fox. Local animal control officials have reported that rabid wild animals have been recently found in the Troy and Sterling Heights areas.

Frequency of Vaccination: The initial rabies vaccination is given for a period of 1 year. At the time of the first rabies booster vaccine, the duration of the vaccine resistance period becomes 3 year. From then on, rabies vaccinations are boosted every 3 years.

Licensing: Maple Veterinary Hospital will provide you with a Certificate of Vaccination that you will need to present to the pet licensing department for your municipality. Some municipalities require licensing of both dogs and cats. Please check with the pet licensing department of your municipality to be sure of the laws governing your pets.

Is My Dog At Risk?

YES        NO

A contagious bacterial infection that causes another form of what is often called “kennel cough”. It is a highly infectious attack on the respiratory system.

Risk Factors: Dogs that are exposed to contact with a large number of dogs in areas such as boarding kennels, grooming facilities, training facilities, and dog shows are at high risk of contracting Bordetella, the bacterial form of “kennel cough”. Bordetella vaccinations should be boosted annually if your dog will be a regular visitor in any of the listed environments. For one-time or infrequent visitors, Bordetella vaccinations should be given 2 weeks before needed.

Frequency of Vaccination: Annually if at risk of exposure.

Is My Dog At Risk?

YES        NO

A debilitating bacterial infection that affects the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones).

Risk Factors: Lyme disease is spread by ticks. Lyme disease is prevalent in areas such as the Western end of the Upper Peninsula, New England, New York and Pennsylvania. There are isolated pockets in the Lower Peninsula and in other states where Lyme disease is found. Lyme disease can seriously affect humans and is spread by the same ticks that give Lyme disease to dogs.

Frequency of Vaccination: Annually if at risk of exposure.

Is My Dog At Risk?

YES        NO

A contagious bacterial infection of the kidneys and liver that can be fatal if not treated in the early stages of the disease.

Risk Factors: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and dogs. It is most commonly contracted by dogs who come in contact with water that has been contaminated with the urine of an infected mouse, rat, raccoon, opossum, fox, or deer. Humans can also get Leptospirosis from handling an infected animal or contaminated urine.

Frequency of Vaccination: Annually if at risk of exposure.

Has My Dog Had Previous

Vaccine Reactions?

YES        NO

When a dog has severe allergic reactions to vaccines it may be best to do annual titer testing to monitor its level of antibody protection to Distemper and Parvo viruses. Antibody level is thought to be an indication of the body’s ability to defend against a disease.

Risk Factors: Any dog that has severe reactions to Canine Distemper and Parvo Virus vaccines. Also, titer testing is a valuable diagnostic tool to evaluate disease defenses in dogs that do not produce a good immunity from a vaccine such as Rottweilers.

Frequency of Testing: Annually if at risk of severe vaccine reactions to Canine Distemper and Parvo Virus vaccines.

Related Topics: Titer Testing