Canine Diseases and Vaccines
Rabies
What is it? Rabies is a deadly viral disease that invades the central nervous system.
How is it contracted? Through open wound contact with saliva of an infected animal (most commonly via a bite). This disease causes fear and aggression, which in turn, causes an infected animal to bite without provocation or warning. This disease can infect any species of mammal.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; headache, anxiety, hallucinations, excessive drooling, fear of water, aggression, paralysis, and death.
Can it be cured? Action within hours of infection is essential. Pets bit by an animal suspected of rabies should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible in order to receive a booster of the Rabies vaccine. The pet will then need to be strictly quarantined and closely monitored for signs of rabies for several weeks. If symptoms appear, the pet will need to be euthanized quickly to prevent the spread of the disease. Once symptoms present, there is no cure and the death rate is 100%.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccine is given as early as 16-18 weeks old, and is repeated every 1-3 years, depending on vaccine type.
Franklin county law requires that all felines and canines over the age of 16 weeks are vaccinated against rabies and kept up to date.
Canine Distemper
What is it? Distemper is a contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous systems of many mammal species, including dogs, cats, raccoons, and skunks.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or hissing, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; discharges from the eyes and nose, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching, paralysis, and, often, death.
Can it be cured? Patients with Distemper are given supportive care that can be extensive and aggressive, and does not guarantee recovery. Vaccinated animals have a higher likelihood of survival.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of he DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 more months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on the vaccination type.
Canine Adenovirus (Hepatitis)
What is it? Canine adenovirus is a highly contagious virus that leads to Hepatitis.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact, and contact with urine of an infected dog.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include, and can range from mild fever and congestion of the mucous membranes to vomiting, jaundice, stomach enlargement, and pain and inflammation of the liver.
Can it be cured? Dogs with Hepatitis receive supportive care and the prognosis varies depending on the status of the liver.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of the DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 more months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on the vaccine type.
Canine Parainfluenza
What is it? Canine Parainfluenza is a contagious virus that can cause similar symptoms to Canine Influenza, however, this is a separate virus that requires different treatment and a different vaccine.
How is it spread? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; coughing, lethargy, decreased appetite, labored breathing, upper respiratory infection, and in more extreme cases, can lead to pneumonia.
Can it be cured? A mild case can go away on its own, but may need supportive meds to relieve coughing or secondary infections. More complicated cases, usually in dogs who have not been vaccinated, may lead to pneumonia.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of the DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on vaccine status.
Canine Parvovirus
What is it? Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that all dogs are exposed to, as it is located everywhere. Unvaccinated or improperly vaccinated dogs, and puppies less than four months of age are at the most risk to contract it.
How is it contracted? Parvovirus is shed through the stool and can stay active in the environment for up to 1 year, long after the infected stool sample is gone. Contact with an infected dog or an infected environment spreads the virus.
What are the symptoms? The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system and creates a loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, severe diarrhea, often with blood, and even sepsis.
Can it be cured? Extreme dehydration can come on rapidly and kill a dog within 48 to 72 hours, so prompt veterinary attention is crucial. Dogs with Parvovirus receive supportive care that can be extensive and the infected dog may need to stay in a hospital for several days to a few weeks to monitor and provide necessary medications, fluids, and proper nutrition if the infection is severe.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of the DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 more months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on the vaccination type. Keeping young puppies who are unvaccinated or are receiving their first booster series should be kept away from dog-populated areas, and only taken to use the bathroom in your own yard to decrease exposure risk.
Leptospirosis
What is it? Leptospirosis (Lepto) is a spirochete bacterium that is known to exist in standing water, dampness, and mud.
How is it contracted? Pets can become infected through consumption of infected water, remains, or grass, contact through an open wound or cut with the urine of infected animals such as raccoons, skunks, rats, feral cats, dogs, and other animals, or through a bite from an infected animal. Winter conditions tend to lower the risk because Leptospira do not tolerate freezing temperatures. This disease is zoonotic, and can pass to humans.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; fever, abnormal bleeding or bruising, inflammation and pain in the kidneys, and can lead to kidney failure and liver disease.
Can it be cured? Dogs with Lepto are put on an antibiotic course and are usually cured in a week, however it is recommended to isolate for a couple of weeks after. It is also important for infected dogs to receive fluids to help the kidneys which may have been damaged due to the infection.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
Lyme
What is it? Lyme Borreliosis is a bacterial illness. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
How is it contracted? Lyme is carried inside Black Legged ticks, and gets into a dog or person’s bloodstream via bite. The tick usually must be attached for more than 24 hours in order to transmit Lyme.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms of extreme cases can include; fever, joint pain/arthritis, kidney disease, and heart and neurologic issues.
Can it be cured? Only about 5-10% of dogs will show symptoms of Lyme, however, when testing positive, most dogs will respond well to a course of antibiotics.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
Bordetella
What is it? Bordetella is a genus of bacteria that affects the respiratory system.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; coughing, poor appetite, and fever
Can it be cured? Mild cases may resolve on their own, or with medications to relieve a cough or secondary infection. However in more severe cases, usually in dogs who have not been vaccinated, Bordetella may lead to pneumonia.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
Canine Influenza
What is it? Canine Influenza is an infectious respiratory disease caused by an Influenza A virus, similar to the viral strains that cause influenza in people, however, this strain cannot be transmitted to humans. This disease can cause similar symptoms to Parainfluenza, however, this is a separate virus that requires different treatment and a different vaccine.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; lethargy, coughing, sneezing, fever, decreased appetite, and discharge from the eyes and/or nose. In extreme cases, pneumonia can occur
Can it be cured? Antibiotics and cough medications are utilized as needed
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
What is it? Rabies is a deadly viral disease that invades the central nervous system.
How is it contracted? Through open wound contact with saliva of an infected animal (most commonly via a bite). This disease causes fear and aggression, which in turn, causes an infected animal to bite without provocation or warning. This disease can infect any species of mammal.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; headache, anxiety, hallucinations, excessive drooling, fear of water, aggression, paralysis, and death.
Can it be cured? Action within hours of infection is essential. Pets bit by an animal suspected of rabies should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible in order to receive a booster of the Rabies vaccine. The pet will then need to be strictly quarantined and closely monitored for signs of rabies for several weeks. If symptoms appear, the pet will need to be euthanized quickly to prevent the spread of the disease. Once symptoms present, there is no cure and the death rate is 100%.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccine is given as early as 16-18 weeks old, and is repeated every 1-3 years, depending on vaccine type.
Franklin county law requires that all felines and canines over the age of 16 weeks are vaccinated against rabies and kept up to date.
Canine Distemper
What is it? Distemper is a contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous systems of many mammal species, including dogs, cats, raccoons, and skunks.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or hissing, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; discharges from the eyes and nose, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching, paralysis, and, often, death.
Can it be cured? Patients with Distemper are given supportive care that can be extensive and aggressive, and does not guarantee recovery. Vaccinated animals have a higher likelihood of survival.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of he DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 more months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on the vaccination type.
Canine Adenovirus (Hepatitis)
What is it? Canine adenovirus is a highly contagious virus that leads to Hepatitis.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact, and contact with urine of an infected dog.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include, and can range from mild fever and congestion of the mucous membranes to vomiting, jaundice, stomach enlargement, and pain and inflammation of the liver.
Can it be cured? Dogs with Hepatitis receive supportive care and the prognosis varies depending on the status of the liver.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of the DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 more months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on the vaccine type.
Canine Parainfluenza
What is it? Canine Parainfluenza is a contagious virus that can cause similar symptoms to Canine Influenza, however, this is a separate virus that requires different treatment and a different vaccine.
How is it spread? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; coughing, lethargy, decreased appetite, labored breathing, upper respiratory infection, and in more extreme cases, can lead to pneumonia.
Can it be cured? A mild case can go away on its own, but may need supportive meds to relieve coughing or secondary infections. More complicated cases, usually in dogs who have not been vaccinated, may lead to pneumonia.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of the DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on vaccine status.
Canine Parvovirus
What is it? Parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that all dogs are exposed to, as it is located everywhere. Unvaccinated or improperly vaccinated dogs, and puppies less than four months of age are at the most risk to contract it.
How is it contracted? Parvovirus is shed through the stool and can stay active in the environment for up to 1 year, long after the infected stool sample is gone. Contact with an infected dog or an infected environment spreads the virus.
What are the symptoms? The virus attacks the gastrointestinal system and creates a loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, severe diarrhea, often with blood, and even sepsis.
Can it be cured? Extreme dehydration can come on rapidly and kill a dog within 48 to 72 hours, so prompt veterinary attention is crucial. Dogs with Parvovirus receive supportive care that can be extensive and the infected dog may need to stay in a hospital for several days to a few weeks to monitor and provide necessary medications, fluids, and proper nutrition if the infection is severe.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination of the DAPP vaccine is given as early as 8 weeks old. Following that, a series of boosters are given monthly for 1-3 more months depending on age and previous vaccine status. The vaccine is then given yearly, or every 3 years depending on the vaccination type. Keeping young puppies who are unvaccinated or are receiving their first booster series should be kept away from dog-populated areas, and only taken to use the bathroom in your own yard to decrease exposure risk.
Leptospirosis
What is it? Leptospirosis (Lepto) is a spirochete bacterium that is known to exist in standing water, dampness, and mud.
How is it contracted? Pets can become infected through consumption of infected water, remains, or grass, contact through an open wound or cut with the urine of infected animals such as raccoons, skunks, rats, feral cats, dogs, and other animals, or through a bite from an infected animal. Winter conditions tend to lower the risk because Leptospira do not tolerate freezing temperatures. This disease is zoonotic, and can pass to humans.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; fever, abnormal bleeding or bruising, inflammation and pain in the kidneys, and can lead to kidney failure and liver disease.
Can it be cured? Dogs with Lepto are put on an antibiotic course and are usually cured in a week, however it is recommended to isolate for a couple of weeks after. It is also important for infected dogs to receive fluids to help the kidneys which may have been damaged due to the infection.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
Lyme
What is it? Lyme Borreliosis is a bacterial illness. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi.
How is it contracted? Lyme is carried inside Black Legged ticks, and gets into a dog or person’s bloodstream via bite. The tick usually must be attached for more than 24 hours in order to transmit Lyme.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms of extreme cases can include; fever, joint pain/arthritis, kidney disease, and heart and neurologic issues.
Can it be cured? Only about 5-10% of dogs will show symptoms of Lyme, however, when testing positive, most dogs will respond well to a course of antibiotics.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
Bordetella
What is it? Bordetella is a genus of bacteria that affects the respiratory system.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; coughing, poor appetite, and fever
Can it be cured? Mild cases may resolve on their own, or with medications to relieve a cough or secondary infection. However in more severe cases, usually in dogs who have not been vaccinated, Bordetella may lead to pneumonia.
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
Canine Influenza
What is it? Canine Influenza is an infectious respiratory disease caused by an Influenza A virus, similar to the viral strains that cause influenza in people, however, this strain cannot be transmitted to humans. This disease can cause similar symptoms to Parainfluenza, however, this is a separate virus that requires different treatment and a different vaccine.
How is it contracted? Airborne respiratory droplets through coughing, sneezing, or barking, or through direct face to face contact.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include; lethargy, coughing, sneezing, fever, decreased appetite, and discharge from the eyes and/or nose. In extreme cases, pneumonia can occur
Can it be cured? Antibiotics and cough medications are utilized as needed
How do I protect my pet from it? An initial vaccination is given as early as 12 weeks old, boostered one month later, then given yearly.
Risk of contracting these diseases reduces significantly when the pet is properly vaccinated by a licensed Veterinarian.
Vaccine Prices:
Rabies $37.12 ~ DAPP $33.30 ~ DAPP 3 Year $43.60 ~ Influenza $62.92 ~ Bordetella Oral $36.30 ~ Bordetella Injectable $37.64 ~ Lyme $62.79 ~ Leptospirosis $37.00 ~Lyme + Lepto Combination $73.86
Prices up to date as of 2/19/25