2016 Canine Vaccination Protocols

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2016 Canine Vaccination Protocols
Richard B. Ford, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVPM (Hon)
North Carolina State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Raleigh, North Carolina
a
World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s
Vaccine Guidelines 2016: Soon to be available at
www.wsava.org.
vaccine
SydaProductions/Shutterstock.com
E
ach year, and despite the availability of published vaccination guidelines, veterinarians
continue to be challenged with new, sometimes complex, even conflicting, information
regarding the selection and use of companion animal vaccines. New products, new
issues, and of course, new controversies seem to emerge regularly. It’s all part of a dynamic,
changing market that not only complicates the effort of publishing current and relevant
vaccination guidelines but challenges practitioners to maintain a level of vaccine awareness
that goes beyond price and the marketing brochures.
Part 1 of this manuscript summarizes current recommendations for the vaccination of
dogs; this includes protocol-related information on the latest canine vaccines to be released
in the United States (e.g., H3N2 canine influenza virus) since the last iteration of the AAHA
Canine Vaccination Guidelines was published in 2011 (currently in revision).
Part 2 of this manuscript attempts to address some of the more common controversial
questions raised by practicing veterinarians as they review/revise current vaccination
protocols in practice; for example:
• REDUCING the dose when vaccinating small-breed dogs? Why not to do this?
• WHY VACCINATE at 8 weeks of age if maternal antibody interferes with vaccination?
• VACCINE TITERS—When are they indicated? And what do the results really mean?
• LEGAL LIABILITY—Published guidelines versus manufacturer recommendations?
• RABIES VACCINATION—Required (in most states) by law…are you really AWARE?
• And more…
It should be noted that this manuscript is written for and applicable to veterinarians
practicing in the United States and Canada. Although a small number of vaccines are
used in the United States that are not currently available in Canada, the recommendations
outlined in this paper are applicable to veterinarians practicing in both countries. For
veterinarians practicing outside of the United States and Canada, the World Small Animal
Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has recently updated vaccination guidelines for dogs (2016).a
There is considerable consistency among the recommendations outlined by respective
guidelines, highlighting the fact that vaccination guidelines are “going global.”
Although veterinarians are encouraged to follow published guidelines, unique variables
(e.g., age, chronic illness, exposure risk) exist that may require clinicians to modify a
conventional vaccination protocol to meet specific needs of an individual patient/client.
Therefore, vaccination recommendations outlined in this paper are not intended to define
a universal vaccination protocol or the “standard of care” for vaccination. Instead, they are
intended to guide practitioner decisions on how to best implement a rational vaccination
protocol that provides maximum levels of protection among the patient population seen in
an individual practice.
NOTE: Vaccination recommendations for dogs are based, whenever possible, on the
results of current scientific studies. The reader is reminded, however, that for some of the
recommendations offered, published studies are simply not available and ones that are may
not fall within the manufacturers’ label recommendations.

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TABLE 1. VACCINATION OF PUPPIES/DOGS
CORE Vaccines Administration Booster Recommendations
Combination product administered as:
MLV or recombinant canine distemper virus
+ MLV parvovirus
+ MLV adenovirus-2
OPTION: May include MLV canine parainfluenza
virus.
3 doses are recommended between 6 and 16
weeks of age.
Example:
8 weeks; and 12 weeks; and 16 weeks of age.
NOTE: The last dose in the initial series should be
administered between 14 and 16 weeks of age.
Administer a single dose (of a combination
product) not later than 1 year following the last
dose in the initial series.
NOTE: A minimum interval of 2 weeks between
any 2 doses of vaccine is recommended.
Administer subsequent boosters every 3 years
(or longer).
Rabies (killed)
1-year and 3-year vaccines are available.
A single dose of rabies vaccine should be
administered not earlier than 12 weeks of age.
(In most practices, rabies vaccine is usually
administered at 12 or 16 weeks of age.)
(State/local/provincial law applies.)
Schedule a second dose to be administered
not later than 1 year following administration of
the first dose, regardless of the dog’s age at the
time the initial dose is given.
Then every 3 years thereafter.
(State/local/provincial law applies.)
NONCORE Vaccines Administration Booster Recommendations
Bordetella bronchiseptica + canine
parainfluenza virus (intranasal only)
Some intranasal products may also contain
CAV-2 antigen.
Single intranasal (IN) dose at 12 or 16 weeks of
age. (Optional: Some authors recommend 2
doses at 12 and 16 weeks of age.)
Intranasal vaccine may be administered as early
as 3 to 4 weeks of age.
Where risk of exposure is sustained, administer
a single dose 1 year following the last dose
administered, then every year thereafter.
Bordetella bronchiseptica only (monovalent)
3 options are available:
• Parenteral (killed-bacterin) OR
• Intranasal (avirulent live) OR
• Intraoral (avirulent live)
Parenteral (SQ): 2 doses are required, 2 to 4
weeks apart.
Intranasal (IN): The manufacturer recommends
a single initial dose.
Intraoral: The manufacturer recommends a
single initial dose.
a single dose 1 year following the last dose
administered, then every year thereafter.
Leptospirosis (killed) 4-serovar
NOTE: Routine use of a 2-serovar leptospirosis
vaccine is not recommended.
2 initial doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, are required
regardless of the dog’s age.
NOTE:
• It is not recommended to administer the first
dose before 12 weeks of age.
• Small-breed dogs (20 lb [9 kg]): Consider
delaying initial doses until the CORE vaccine
series has been completed.
a single dose 1 year following completion of the
initial 2-dose series, then every year thereafter.
Lyme disease (recombinant OspA or killed
whole-cell bacterin)
2 initial doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, are required
regardless of the dog’s age.
NOTE: For small-breed dogs (20 lb [9 kg]):
Consider delaying initial doses until the CORE
vaccine series has been completed.
OPTION: For dogs residing in endemic regions,
administration of the first booster 6 months
following completion of the initial 2-dose
series is a reasonable alternative schedule. An
additional booster is recommended at 1 year
following completion of the initial series, with
annual vaccination recommended thereafter.
Canine influenza virus—H3N8 (killed) 2 initial doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, are required. Where risk of exposure is sustained, administer
Canine influenza virus—H3N2 (killed) 2 initial doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, are required. Where risk of exposure is sustained, administer
NOTE: Canine coronavirus vaccination is not recommended. Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondback rattlesnake) vaccine should only be used in
dogs with a defined risk for exposure. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for dosing. CAV=canine adenovirus; MLV=modified-live virus;
OspA=outer surface protein A; SQ=subcutaneous.
Part I. Canine Vaccination Recommendations

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Overdue for Vaccination
Studies focused on dogs that are overdue for routine vaccination
have not been published. The following recommendations
represent expert opinion and are intended to provide a practical
approach to immunizing dogs when conventional vaccination
guidelines have not been followed.
Overdue during the initial vaccine series: While most
practices administer the initial core vaccine series to young dogs
at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks, dogs exceeding a 6-week interval
between any of the initial doses should receive 2 additional
doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart.
The same is true during the initial 2-dose series recommended
for dogs receiving noncore vaccines. If the interval between
doses exceeds 6 weeks, 2 additional doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart,
should be administered.
Overdue for core vaccine booster: Administer a single dose
of a combination core vaccine regardless of the number of years
that have lapsed.
Overdue for rabies booster: Requirements for revaccination
of dogs that are overdue for a rabies booster vary from state to
state and may vary within an individual state. Many states follow
recommendations published in the 2011 Rabies Compendium,
which states: Administer a single dose, after which the dog will
be considered immediately immunized.
Overdue for leptospirosis, Lyme, and/or parenteral
Bordetella booster: Dogs that are within 2 years of a previous
dose may receive a single dose. Dogs exceeding a 2-year interval
should restart the initial 2-dose series.
Overdue for intranasal or intraoral Bordetella booster:
Administer a single dose regardless of the number of years that
have lapsed.
Overdue for canine influenza virus booster: Dogs that are
within 3 years of a previous dose may receive a single dose. Dogs
exceeding a 3-year interval should restart the initial 2-dose series.
Part II. Questions on Vaccination Protocols
The following questions are among the most commonly asked
questions I’ve received that address vaccination protocols
and recommendations. The responses are based on our
understanding of immunologic principles as they apply to
vaccines and vaccination as well as the collective opinion of
internists, immunologists, and virologists.
If you have a question that is not represented here, please
contact me at rbford@ncsu.edu, and I’ll get a response to you.
Should I reduce the 1.0 mL vaccine dose for small breeds?
This seems to be a relatively common practice today…but it
should not be. Generally, this is done for (at least) 2 reasons:
• Administering a 1.0 mL dose of vaccine to a 4 lb (~2 kg) dog
seems excessive when the same dose is required for a 110 lb
(50 kg) dog, and…
• Reducing the volume might reduce the risk of an adverse
reaction (this is commonly done with leptospirosis and killed
Lyme vaccines) when administering vaccine to small-breed
dogs.
While all vaccine licensing studies are based on ~22 lb (~10
kg) beagles, arbitrarily reducing the administered volume of
vaccine because the patient weighs 4 lb (2 kg) may induce an
immune response that is below that required to induce (or
sustain) protection…the fact is, you’re experimenting. There
are no published studies addressing the weight:vaccine dose.
One might also argue that the 1.0 mL dose administered to a 50
kg (110 lb) Great Dane might be inadequate…that’s not been
studied either.
An immune response subsequent to administering a vaccine
(biologic product) is far more complex (e.g., antigen processing
and presentation; expression of epitopes, B-cell activation) and
quite unlike that associated with administering an antibiotic
(pharmaceutical product).
Additionally, if a dog is truly hypersensitive to one or more
components of a vaccine, simply reducing the volume is certainly
no guarantee that the risk of a reaction will be reduced.
Because inactivated (usually adjuvanted) vaccines tend to be
associated with adverse reactions (although this is still argued),
we (AAHA Guidelines Task Force) have recommended that
veterinarians avoid administering multiple vaccine doses at a
single appointment to small-breed (≤10 kg [22 lb] estimated
adult body weight) dogs. It is also recommended to give the
full dose, but to delay administration of noncore (optional, and
usually killed) vaccines to small-breed dogs until at least 2 weeks
after administering core (priority) vaccines. Informal surveys with
veterinarians who practice this approach with small-breed dogs
suggest that client compliance (additional vaccine appointments)
is high…especially when it is explained that the reason for doing
so is safety.
If maternal antibody is so likely to interfere with a dose of vaccine
administered at 6 to 8 weeks of age, why even worry about this
dose?
Over the past few years, vaccination guidelines for dogs have
emphasized extending the initial vaccine series to 14 to 16 weeks
(dog) to avoid vaccine interference with maternally derived
antibody…so why even bother with giving a dose at 6 to 8 weeks
of age?
In practice, there is really no practical means of measuring
interfering levels of maternal antibody. Conventional
recommendations to administer the first dose between 6 and 8
weeks of age is intended to provide protection in the event there
is no maternal antibody present. If, in fact, maternal antibody is
not present at 6 weeks of age (e.g., orphan pup), a single dose
of a core vaccine will, quite likely, immunize. The goal is to “be
there with vaccine when maternal antibody is not there.” Hence,
the recommendation for the initial vaccine series beginning at 6
to 8 weeks of age.
What should I know about vaccine “titers”?
The demand for assessing antibody levels induced by vaccines
has increased substantially over the past 2 years. Titers can be
measured by either sending serum to a commercial laboratory
or documenting “protective” levels through use of test kits for

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to degradation and may become inactive within hours. In the
case of canine distemper vaccines, for example, the reconstituted
product can become inactive within 2 hours. Therefore, we have
recommended the following:
“1 HOUR…use it or lose it!”…regardless of how it’s
stored.
I gave the Bordetella vaccine SQ…oooops! What do I do?
It happens. An intranasal or oral Bordetella bronchiseptica
vaccine is inadvertently administered by the subcutaneous route.
What action, if any, is appropriate?
IMPORTANT: Any vaccine specifically licensed for
administration onto a mucosal surface (intranasal, conjunctival,
or oral) is a live, attenuated bacteria or virus. (Killed vaccines
administered onto a mucosal surface are not immunogenic.)
Because some of the Bordetella vaccines (intended for intranasal
or oral administration) are sold in vials that resemble parenteral
products, they are occasionally injected into the patient, usually
via the SQ route.
While anecdotal reports from veterinarians suggest that many
dogs tolerate SQ injection of an intranasal or oral Bordetella
vaccine with minimal consequences, some dogs will develop
severe injection-site reactions, and a very small number are at risk
of dying…from acute hepatic failure.
In the event this does happen, administer an antibiotic
(preferably doxycycline or amoxicillin–clavulanic acid) at
conventional doses for at least 5 to 7 days starting as soon as
possible subsequent to the injection. If an abscess develops at
the injection site, it should be opened, drained, and thoroughly
lavaged. Although attenuated, the B. bronchiseptica in the
vaccine is live and susceptible to antibiotics. Simply “diluting”
the vaccine by injecting sterile saline into the injection site is not
a reasonable treatment.
AND as a reminder…when administering an intranasal or oral
vaccine to a patient, it would be wise to ensure that the patient is
not also receiving concurrent antibiotic therapy, thereby avoiding
the risk of “killing” the vaccine.
What is my legal requirement to administer the rabies vaccination?
And what is the Rabies Awareness Initiative?
Rabies immunization is the only companion animal vaccine that is
required (at least in most states) by law. And, in many states, only
a licensed veterinarian is authorized to administer the vaccine.
Although it’s not the veterinarian’s responsibility to ensure that
animals are vaccinated, it is the veterinarian’s responsibility to
understand state (and local) rabies law and the implications of
rabies regulations when, for example, a dog bites a human or
when a pet that is overdue for a rabies booster is “exposed” to
rabies (wildlife or an unvaccinated dog).
The application, interpretation, and enforcement of rabies
vaccination laws are well known to vary significantly from state
to state and can even vary within states. We have learned that
practitioner awareness of complex and sometimes conflicting
rabies laws can lead to considerable confusion, misinterpretation
of state/local statutes, and inappropriate actions…some of which
point-of-care testing in practice (~25 minutes per test run).
IMPORTANT: There are some limitations to be aware of.
A “positive” result does correlate with “protection” when
assessing parvovirus (canine/feline) and canine distemper and
adenovirus. But not all “titers” correlate with protection. For
example, leptospirosis titers are measured in an attempt to
diagnose infection, but the antibody levels do not correlate with
protection. The same is true with rabies. A titer can be measured,
but rabies antibody titers represent prior/recent exposure to
vaccination; they are not a legal index of protection. No state
in the United States recognizes rabies antibody titers as
“protective.”
Indications for testing include:
• Assessing the antibody response following completion of the
initial vaccine series (test 2 to 4 weeks following the last dose
in the initial series). This is a valuable means of assessing
maternal antibody interference or identifying a so-called
genetic nonresponder (they still exist).
• Assessing antibody levels in a patient with a chronic illness
(or history of immune-mediated disease) in which boosters
might not be indicated. A “positive” test result indicates
2 things: (1) the patient is protected, and (2) the patient
has “memory” (the presence of antibody indicates B-cell
activation and “memory,” which for parvovirus, distemper
virus, and adenovirus likely correlates with lifelong protection
even though the antibody levels may decline in the future).
• Distinguishing “protected” from “susceptible” animals in
the event of an infectious disease outbreak (e.g., shelter-
housed dogs). Knowledge of the antibody level enables
selective isolation/fostering and avoids the need to arbitrarily
euthanize large numbers of animals.
What is my legal liability to administer core vaccines? Do I follow
guidelines or manufacturer recommendations?
True malpractice litigation linked to vaccination is rare in
veterinary medicine. Yet, veterinarians continue to challenge the
“legality” of administering (core) vaccines triennially when the
majority of vaccine labels (package inserts) recommend annual
vaccination. We’ve looked at this issue carefully and from the
legal perspective. Here’s how it goes: The manufacturer cites
recommendations for administering a vaccine…not requirements.
Fact: With the exception of rabies (which is required by state
or local statutes), veterinarians have considerable discretion in
the selection and use of vaccine. There is nothing illegal about
administering a vaccine every 3 years when the manufacturer
recommends annual boosters. It’s your choice.
How stable are vaccines in the vial?
Once a freeze-dried (lyophilized) vaccine is rehydrated
(reconstituted to a liquid state), how long will the vaccine remain
stable and immunogenic? Vaccines sold as a freeze-dried
(lyophilized) product (typically modified-live virus [MLV] vaccines)
should be used promptly following reconstitution, regardless of
whether they are stored in the refrigerator. Especially important
is the fact that once reconstituted, MLV vaccines are susceptible

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requirements for rabies, enhance clinical services to companion
animal clientele, and promote rabies vaccination compliance
among pet owners. Online resources will soon be available
(2016) that will provide the most up-to-date information and the
necessary tools to help educate pet owners on the importance of
rabies vaccinations.
References
Moore GE, Guptill LF, Ward MP, et al. Adverse events diagnosed within
three days of vaccine administration in dogs. JAVMA. 2005;227:1102-
1108.
Ford RB. Vaccine adverse events: acute allergic angioedema. Todays Vet
Pract. 2013;Jan-Feb:53-55. todaysveterinarypractice.epubxp.com/
i/107844-jan-feb-2013/56?.
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Task Force. 2011 AAHA
Canine Vaccination Guidelines. aaha.org/public_documents/professional/
guidelines/caninevaccineguidelines.pdf.
have led to unnecessary euthanasia of dogs. Knowledge and
application of state/local rabies law by veterinarians is further
compounded in some states by outdated online resources,
disparate distribution of rabies information, and the complexity
of state/local government websites citing immunization law.
To address the most critical issues concerning rabies
immunization and law, the Rabies Awareness Initiative has been
created for veterinarians practicing in the United States (and
Puerto Rico).
The Rabies Awareness Initiative is a national educational
program that is supported by Merial Inc. Content is solely
derived from the rabies control authorities in each state,
generally the state public health veterinarian.
The goal of the Rabies Awareness Initiative is to raise
veterinarians’ awareness of (individual) state immunization

2016 Canine Vaccination Protocols

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