Vaccination - Paw's Veterinary Clinic Belize

What Are Canine (Dog) and Feline (Cat) Core Vaccines?

Core vaccines are considered vital to all dogs and cats based on risk of exposure, severity of disease or transmissibility to humans.
Canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies are considered core vaccines.
Feline Herpesvirus 1, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Panleukopenia Virus and Feline Rabies Vaccines are considered core vaccines.
Non-core vaccines are given depending on the dog’s exposure risk. These include vaccines against Bordetella bronchiseptica, Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira bacteria.
Non-core vaccines for cats are Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica Vaccine.

Vaccination Schedule for Dogs: Core and Non-core Vaccines
Dog Vaccine
Initial Puppy Vaccination (at or under 16 weeks)
Initial Adult Dog Vaccination (over 16 weeks)
Booster Recommendation
Comments
Rabies 1-year
Can be administered in one dose, as early as 3 months of age. States regulate the age at which it is first administered.
Single dose
Annual boosters are required.
Core dog vaccine. Rabies is 100% fatal to dogs, with no treatment available. Prevention is key.
Rabies 3-year
Can be administered as one dose, as early as 3 months of age. States regulate the age at which it is first administered.
Single dose
A second vaccination is recommended after 1 year, then boosters every 3 years.
Core dog vaccine.
Distemper
At least 3 doses, given between 6 and 16 weeks of age
2 doses, given 3-4 weeks apart
Puppies need a booster 1 year after completing their initial series, then all dogs need a booster every 3 years or more often.
Core dog vaccine. Caused by an airborne virus, distemper is a severe disease that, among other problems, may cause permanent brain damage.
Parvovirus
At least 3 doses, given between 6 and 16 weeks of age
2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart
Puppies need a booster 1 year after completing the initial series, then all dogs need a booster every 3 years or more often.
Core dog vaccine. Canine “parvo” is contagious, and can cause severe vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Parvo is usually fatal if untreated.
Adenovirus (canine hepatitis)
At least 3 doses, between 6 and 16 weeks of age
2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart
Puppies need a booster 1 year after completing the initial series, then all dogs need a booster every 3 years or more often.
Core dog vaccine. Spread via coughs and sneezes, canine hepatitis can lead to severe liver damage, and death.
Parainfluenza
Administered at 6-8 weeks of age, then every 3-4 weeks until 12-14 weeks old
1 dose
A booster may be necessary after 1 year, depending on manufacturer recommendations; revaccination every 3 years is considered protective.
Non-core dog vaccine. Parainfluenza infection results in cough, fever. It may be associated with Bordetella infection.
Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough )
Depends on the vaccine type; 2 doses are usually needed for protection.
1 dose of the intranasal or oral product, or 2 doses of the injected product
Annual or 6-month boosters may be recommended for dogs in high-risk environments.
Non-core dog vaccine. Not usually a serious condition, although it can be dangerous in young puppies. It is usually seen after activities like boarding or showing.
Lyme disease
1 dose, administered as early as 9 weeks, with a second dose 2-4 weeks later
2 doses, 2-4 weeks apart
May be needed annually, prior to the start of tick season
Non-core dog vaccine. Generally recommended only for dogs with a high risk for exposure to Lyme disease-carrying ticks.
Leptospirosis
First dose at 12 weeks; second dose 4 weeks later
2 doses, 2-4 weeks apart
At least once yearly for dogs in high-risk areas
Non-core dog vaccine. Vaccination is generally restricted to established risk areas. Exposure to rodents and standing water can lead to a leptospirosis infection.
Canine influenza
First dose as early as 6-8 weeks; second dose 2-4 weeks later
2 doses, 2-4 weeks apart
Yearly
Non-core dog vaccine.
Similar to bordetella.

Vaccination Schedule for Cats: Core and Non-core Vaccines

Cat Vaccine	Initial Kitten Vaccination (at or under 16 weeks)	Initial Adult Cat Vaccination (over 16 weeks)	Booster Recommendation	Comments
Rabies	Single dose as early as 8 weeks of age, depending on the product. Revaccinate 1 year later.	2 doses, 12 months apart	Required annually or every 3 years, depending on vaccine used. State regulations may determine the frequency and type of booster required.	Core cat vaccine. Rabies is 100% fatal to cats, with no treatment available. Prevention is key.
Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia)	As early as 6 weeks, then every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart	1 dose is given a year after the last dose of the initial series, then every 3 years.	Core cat vaccine. Feline distemper is a severe contagious disease that most commonly strikes kittens and can cause death.
Feline Herpesvirus	As early as 6 weeks, then every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart	1 dose is given a year after the last dose of the initial series, then every 3 years.	Core cat vaccine. Feline herpesvirus causes feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), a very contagious upper respiratory condition.
Calicivirus	As early as 6 weeks, then every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart	1 dose is given a year after the last dose of the initial series, then every 3 years.	Core cat vaccine. A very contagious upper respiratory condition that can cause joint pain, oral ulcerations, fever, and anorexia.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)	As early as 8 weeks, then 3-4 weeks later	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart	1 dose is given a year after the last dose of the initial series, then annually	Non-core cat vaccine. Should test FeLV negative first. Transmitted via cat-to-cat contact. Can cause cancer, immunosuppressant
Bordetella	At 8 weeks, then 2-4 weeks later	2 doses, 2-4 weeks apart	Annually	Non-core cat vaccine. A contagious upper respiratory condition.

Dog Vaccine	Initial Puppy Vaccination (at or under 16 weeks)	Initial Adult Dog Vaccination (over 16 weeks)	Booster Recommendation	Comments
Rabies 1-year	Can be administered in one dose, as early as 3 months of age. States regulate the age at which it is first administered.	Single dose	Annual boosters are required.	Core dog vaccine. Rabies is 100% fatal to dogs, with no treatment available. Prevention is key.
Rabies 3-year	Can be administered as one dose, as early as 3 months of age. States regulate the age at which it is first administered.	Single dose	A second vaccination is recommended after 1 year, then boosters every 3 years.	Core dog vaccine.
Distemper	At least 3 doses, given between 6 and 16 weeks of age	2 doses, given 3-4 weeks apart	Puppies need a booster 1 year after completing their initial series, then all dogs need a booster every 3 years or more often.	Core dog vaccine. Caused by an airborne virus, distemper is a severe disease that, among other problems, may cause permanent brain damage.
Parvovirus	At least 3 doses, given between 6 and 16 weeks of age	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart	Puppies need a booster 1 year after completing the initial series, then all dogs need a booster every 3 years or more often.	Core dog vaccine. Canine “parvo” is contagious, and can cause severe vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Parvo is usually fatal if untreated.
Adenovirus (canine hepatitis)	At least 3 doses, between 6 and 16 weeks of age	2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart	Puppies need a booster 1 year after completing the initial series, then all dogs need a booster every 3 years or more often.	Core dog vaccine. Spread via coughs and sneezes, canine hepatitis can lead to severe liver damage, and death.
Parainfluenza	Administered at 6-8 weeks of age, then every 3-4 weeks until 12-14 weeks old	1 dose	A booster may be necessary after 1 year, depending on manufacturer recommendations; revaccination every 3 years is considered protective.	Non-core dog vaccine. Parainfluenza infection results in cough, fever. It may be associated with Bordetella infection.
Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough )	Depends on the vaccine type; 2 doses are usually needed for protection.	1 dose of the intranasal or oral product, or 2 doses of the injected product	Annual or 6-month boosters may be recommended for dogs in high-risk environments.	Non-core dog vaccine. Not usually a serious condition, although it can be dangerous in young puppies. It is usually seen after activities like boarding or showing.
Lyme disease	1 dose, administered as early as 9 weeks, with a second dose 2-4 weeks later	2 doses, 2-4 weeks apart	May be needed annually, prior to the start of tick season	Non-core dog vaccine. Generally recommended only for dogs with a high risk for exposure to Lyme disease-carrying ticks.
Leptospirosis	First dose at 12 weeks; second dose 4 weeks later	2 doses, 2-4 weeks apart	At least once yearly for dogs in high-risk areas	Non-core dog vaccine. Vaccination is generally restricted to established risk areas. Exposure to rodents and standing water can lead to a leptospirosis infection.
Canine influenza	First dose as early as 6-8 weeks; second dose 2-4 weeks later	2 doses, 2-4 weeks apart	Yearly	Non-core dog vaccine. Similar to bordetella.