When puppies are born, they become temporarily protected from disease by nursing from their mother. The first milk she produces, called colostrum, contains maternal antibodies that protect the pup during the first weeks of life. Dogs can also acquire what is called natural, or active, immunity if they become ill with — and survive — a particular infectious disease. Viral immunities formed from natural exposure usually last for a long time, though bacterial immunities do not.

Vaccination provides what is known as acquired immunity. A vaccine is a substance that, when injected, provides immunity against infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and other organisms. It does this by challenging the body with modified disease organisms, provoking the immune system to form antibodies against those particular organisms. Vaccinations don't necessarily provide lifelong immunity and must be repeated at certain intervals.

Core and Non Core Vaccines

The decision to vaccinate a dog against a particular disease depends partly on the dog's age, breed, and potential exposure to the disease. It also has a lot to do with the distribution and virulence of the particular disease. Certain canine diseases are widely distributed, highly contagious among dogs, and serious or sometimes even fatal.

Once a dog has acquired them, no treatment other than supportive therapy can help. The vaccines against these diseases are referred to as core vaccines, meaning that they are recommended for all puppies and dogs. These diseases are canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, and rabies.

In the following list, check off which vaccinations your dog has received, and write down the date of the vaccination in the space provided.

CANINE PARVOVIRUS

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CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS

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CANINE ADENOVIRUS

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RABIES

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Other vaccines are considered optional. When deciding whether to give them, you and your veterinarian should take into account the geographic distribution of the disease and your dog's risk of exposure. For instance, if your beagle is a show dog that never sets foot in field or forest, she's not at very high risk for Lyme disease.

The non-core vaccines are those against canine parainfluenza virus, Bordetella bronchiseptica (also known as kennel cough), leptospirosis, giardiasis, Lyme disease, coronavirus, distemper, and the measles. Again, check off those vaccines your dog has already received, and write down the date of vaccination in the space provided.

CANINE PARAINFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINATION

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BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA VACCINATION

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LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINATION

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GIARDIASIS VACCINATION

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LYME DISEASE VACCINATION

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CORONAVIRUS VACCINATION

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DISTEMPER/MEASLES COMBINATION

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According to the vaccination guidelines of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California at Davis, vaccination with these non-core vaccines is generally less effective in protecting against disease than vaccination with the core vaccines. Some of these diseases are not common in many areas of the country, so there's no reason to give them unless your dog is at risk. Your veterinarian can tell you which are necessary in your area.

Vaccination Progress

Puppies receive vaccinations against parvovirus, distemper, and adenovirus-2 (canine hepatitis) at six to eight weeks of age, again at nine to eleven weeks, and then a final series at twelve to sixteen weeks. Keep track of your pup's vaccination progress using the following lists. Check off the different progress points, and write the dates of vaccination and details in the spaces provided.

PARVOViRUS

SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS

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NINE TO ELEVEN WEEKS

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TWELVE TO SIXTEEN WEEKS

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DISTEMPER

SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS

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NINE TO ELEVEN WEEKS

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TWELVE TO SIXTEEN WEEKS

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APENOViRUS-2 (CANINE HEPATITIS)

SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS

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NINE TO ELEVEN WEEKS

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TWELVE TO SIXTEEN WEEKS

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A dog older than four months of age with an unknown vaccination history needs one dose of vaccine against these diseases. After a booster shot at one year, most authorities recommend revaccination every three years.

The first rabies vaccination is generally given at sixteen weeks (four months) of age. Boosters are usually given at three-year intervals, although a few states require annual rabies vaccination. Adult dogs with an unknown vaccination history need a rabies vaccination as well.

Important Details

Most vaccine labels recommend that the vaccine be administered annually. No scientific studies support this frequency of vaccination, however, and there's good evidence that the effects of vaccination last for much longer. While your dog still needs an annual exam, there's usually no reason for her to receive annual vaccinations.

Frequent vaccinations may be advisable under some circumstances, so be sure to speak to your vet. For example, the Bordetella vaccine (which is given nasally) does not appear to last very long. If you kennel your dog frequently, or if she often comes in contact with strange dogs at shows or dog parks, she may need this vaccine up to twice a year.

Here are some other important details and tips to remember when it comes to vaccinations:

• Reactions to vaccines are rare, but they can occur. Keep a close eye on your dog for the first few hours after she receives vaccinations to make sure she doesn't develop any serious allergic reactions.

• Keep Benadryl (diphenhydramine) on hand, and ask your veterinarian how much to give in case your dog develops hives, swelling, redness, or itchiness in response to a vaccination. The vaccines that are most commonly linked to reactions are those for leptospirosis, rabies, and parvovirus.

• Too-frequent vaccination has been associated with autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and many veterinarians and dog owners are concerned that overvaccination can have other ill effects that are not yet known or understood.

• Before you schedule your dog for revaccination against distemper, parvovirus, or adenovirus-2, you may want to have her titer levels tested. A titer is the concentration of an antibody in blood serum. If these levels are still high, she probably doesn't need to be revaccinated.