Core Dog Vaccinations

Your dog relies on you to protect its health, and one of the best ways to do that is to make sure you keep your dog’s core vaccinations up-to-date. At Trinity Pet Hospital, we have years of experience providing Laguna Hills Pet owners with pet vaccination services. Read on to learn about what distinguishes core vaccines from non-core vaccines and the importance of vaccinating your dog.

What are Core Vaccinations?

Core vaccinations are ones that all dogs should get regardless of their age or lifestyle. The American Animal Hospital Association provides guidelines classifying vaccines as either core or noncore, which are sometimes also called lifestyle vaccines. Lifestyle vaccines are typically considered optional, although your veterinarian may recommend them depending on what you do with your dog and where you live.

Core Vaccinations

Core vaccines are recommended for virtually every dog. One of the most important is rabies. Rabies is unusual in that it can be transmitted from dogs to humans, and it's also incurable. California law, as well as the law in most other states, also requires all dogs to have a current rabies vaccination. Other vaccinations aren't required by law but are still considered core vaccines because they protect your dog from potentially fatal conditions, including canine distemper virus, parvovirus, adenovirus, and canine parainfluenza.

When Should You Get Your Dog Vaccinated?

Our veterinarian will help you determine the right vaccine schedule for your dog. Generally, it's recommended that puppies start their vaccine schedules at around 10 weeks of age. This is important because several diseases that core vaccinations protect against more dangerous for puppies. IF your adult dog has not been vaccinated, you may simply bring them in as soon as possible or have them vaccinated before spay and neuter surgery.

Animal Hospital in Laguna Hills

From designing an appropriate vaccination plan to handling spay and neuter surgeries, our skilled and compassionate staff can make sure your dog has the necessary care to live a happy and healthy life. For more information or to schedule an appointment with our veterinarian, call us at (949) 768-1314.