What is vaccination?

Vaccination or active immunisation means inducing active immune reaction of the organism. During vaccination, an antigen of a disease is introduced to the organism to make it start producing antibodies. If an animal is vaccinated against a certain disease, then, if it has a contact with this infection in the future, it is already prepared to protect itself. It is significantly cheaper to vaccinate the animal than treat the infections that could be avoided!

Against what infections are dogs vaccinated?

We differentiate between core (those done to all the pet animals, as they protect them against serious, life-threatening, and widely spread diseases) and non-core (vaccination necessity depends on the specific animal, its living environment and location, etc.) vaccines.

Core vaccines include vaccination against rabies (In Estonia, vaccination against rabies is obligatory every two years), canine distemper, parvovirus, and viral hepatitis.

Non-core vaccines include vaccination against canine parainfluenza virus, kennel cough, and leptospirosis.

Parvovirus (P)

Parvovirus is a highly contagious serious viral disease. Puppies are more susceptible, the course of the disease is more severe and may lead to death.  The animals contract the disease via digestive or respiratory tracts. The main symptoms include lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, severe diarrhoea (with the stool possessing foul smell and containing blood), and weight loss.

Canine distemper (D)

Canine distemper is an extremely contagious multi-systemic viral infection with high mortality rate. The virus may cause respiratory infection revealing itself via purulent nasal discharge and cough. Other symptoms may include vomiting and diarrhoea. In more severe case, nervous system related symptoms may occur, i.e. cramps, pressing the head against the wall, hyperexcitability, and stiffness of the limbs.

Canine contagious hepatitis (H)

This is a viral infection spreading from animal to animal via either direct contact or indirectly via object that has been in contact with virus particles. If the animal contracts the infection, it may result in death within five days. Hepatitis causes liver inflammation, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, skin jaundice, disorientation, cramps, and coma. In some cases, the virus may lead to eye damage.

Canine parainfluenza (Pi)

This is the most common respiratory viral infection. The contraction occurs via direct contact with the infected animal or via air. The symptoms include eye and nasal discharge, fever, cough, lethargy, and loss appetite.

Leptospirosis (L)

Leptospirosis is a widely spread viral infection that can be caused by hundreds of pathogens infecting various species (including humans). The contraction occurs via direct or indirect contact with an infected animal, contaminated urine or water. The symptoms vary and may include fever, loss of appetite, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea (the stool may be watery, greyish in colour), jaundice, and abortion in pregnant animals. In more severe cases, the animal may suffer from nose bleeding, cough, and sudden death.

Rabies (R)

Rabies is a fatal acute viral infection causing mainly nervous system related symptoms. The infection spreads via bites. Different species (including humans) are susceptible to the disease. The spread of the infection mainly depends on the country. For example, Estonia is declared rabies free, whereas the disease is widely spread in African countries. The disease has several stages, and the symptoms vary from inertia to severe aggressiveness and muscle paralysis. The animal commonly dies within 5–6 days after the first symptoms develop. In Estonia, it is obligatory to vaccinate your pet against rabies every two years! For more information in visit https://pta.agri.ee/en/animals/infectious-animal-diseases

Vaccination protocol

It is recommended to follow this protocol when vaccinating the puppies. However, your veterinarian may change it depending on the animal health and living conditions.

Puppy vaccination procedure starts at the age of two months, when the animal is vaccinated with a DHPPi complex vaccine. At the age of three months, the puppy receives a booster shot of complex vaccine (DHPPi) as well as vaccine against leptospirosis (L).  The third vaccination is performed at the age of four months, when the puppy is vaccinated against rabies (R) in addition to complex vaccine and the one against leptospirosis. The fourth vaccination occurs when the dogs turns one year. Then DHPPi+L+R vaccine is used.  

Afterwards, the animal has to be vaccinated against parvovirus (P), canine distemper (D), and contagious hepatitis (H) every three years. In Estonia, it is obligatory to vaccinate the animal against rabies (R) every two years. It is recommended to vaccinate against canine parainfluenza (Pi) and leptospirosis (L) every year.