Vaccination is best-practice and the best defence in protecting your dog from dangerous and even fatal disease which can be easily preventable.

We are happy to talk with dog owners about which vaccines are suitable for your dog, and the schedule you should follow.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions you may have about vaccines.

Vaccines assist a dogs own immune system in building defence to disease. This is most commonly done via introducing a mimic or weakened version of the disease-causing virus or organism, which teaches a dog’s body in advance how fight it off, or reduce the effects should it ever catch the real virus in the future.

What Are the Common Dog Vaccines for New Zealand?

Canine Parvovirus (core vaccine)

Canine Distemper (core vaccine)

Yes, your vet may recommend additional vaccines depending on things like:

Puppies initially gain protection from their mother’s milk, so if your puppy is not able to have this, please speak with your vet as soon as possible. You should always confirm a suitable vaccination schedule for your puppy with your vet as this is tailored to their medical and vaccination history, and where they are living/visiting, however a general vaccination guide is:

At 6 weeks: first core vaccination

At 9 weeks: booster core vaccination

At 12 weeks: booster core vaccination, Canine Cough, first Leptospirosis

At 16 weeks: booster core vaccination, booster Leptospirosis

At 6 months: booster core vaccination

Your dog will also require ongoing annual vaccinations, with the first (Canine Cough and Leptospirosis) due at 15 months.

Vaccines are extremely safe with only rare negative reactions. If your dog does experience any reaction, call us to discuss. These rare cases would most likely show as:

Facial or paw swelling and/or hives

Pain or swelling around the injection site

Collapse, difficulty breathing, and seizures (anaphylactic shock)

No unlike humans, mild symptoms can be ignored as your body processes the vaccine, but for anything more severe give us a call.

Scheduling an Appointment for Dog Vaccinations