Vaccination Protocol

For many years canine vaccinations have been debated. On one side are vaccine manufacturers recommending annual boosters and there are others who believe that we are over vaccinating out dogs. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) was convened in order to develop guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats that have global application. The first version of these guidelines was published in 2007. A survey of WSAVA member nations has indicated the important role these guidelines have played globally. They have been adopted as national policy in some countries where such guidelines did not previously exist, and have been used by other countries as a basis for development of national guidelines. The present document provides an updated and expanded version of these international guidelines for the vaccination of small companion animals.

The VGG has defined core vaccines which ALL dogs and cats, regardless of circumstances, should receive. Core vaccines protect animals from severe, life-threatening diseases that have global distribution. Core vaccines for dogs are those that protect from

canine distemper virus (CDV),

canine adenovirus (CAV) and

canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). Core
In areas of the world where rabies virus infection is endemic, vaccination against this agent should be considered core even if there is no legal requirement for routine vaccination.

'We should aim to vaccinate every animal with core vaccines, and to vaccinate each individual less frequently by only giving non-core vaccines that are necessary for that animal'

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