What Is the DHPLLC Booster for Dogs?

DHPLLC is the seven-shot mixture available for dog vaccinations. There is some debate over this booster being given annually or every three years. This booster shot protects against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptovirus, Lyme Disease, and Coronavirus. Many veterinarians offer only the mixed dosages for these vaccinations because it requires the dog to stand still for less time than poking them seven times with seven different needles.

  1. Distemper

    • Distemper is a frequently fatal virus that affects a dog's brain and respiratory system. Distemper shows up with relatively benign symptoms such as sneezing or lethargy to begin with but quickly progresses to seizures or death. In puppies and unvaccinated elderly dogs, this virus not only moves at an incredibly quick pace, but it is also highly contagious and will spread amongst unvaccinated dogs very quickly. Both indoor and outdoor areas occupied by dogs that have been diagnosed with distemper must be bleached before they can be used again.

    Hepatitis

    • Hepatitis affects many systems in a dog's body, though like human hepatitis, the organ worst affected is the liver. Symptoms include fever, yellowing of the gums or the pink areas of the ears which is called jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. Hepatitis is often fatal in young dogs.

    Parvovirus

    • Parvovirus is better known simply as Parvo. It is most commonly associated with puppies and often kills them very quickly when they are infected. Parvo attacks the lining of the small intestine and the stomach, stopping the body from absorbing necessary nutrients and moisture. This virus causes dehydration through this process, which then kills the dog affected if the dog is not being pumped full of fluids. Even when fed fluids intravenously, infected dogs may still die. Classic symptoms include bloody stool, severe vomiting and loss of appetite. Like Distemper, the affected area must be bleached and all canine feces removed from the area.

    Parainfluenza

    • Parainfluenza is the precursor to one type of kennel cough. The symptoms for this disease are coughing and sneezing. This is rarely fatal, but it can spread in boarding kennels, at dog parks and at home like wildfire, and there is always a chance that Parainfluenza will soften your dog's immune system up for worse viruses.

    Leptospirosis

    • Leptospirosis, also known as Lepto, affects the kidney and liver. Its vaccine is made mainly for dogs that will be in unsanitary outdoor areas such as stagnate ponds or hunting small prey animals into their filthy dens. Symptoms are wide ranging, from anorexia to multiple organ failure.

    Lyme Disease

    • Lyme disease is spread by ticks. Most vaccines for it state on the box that they are not 100% effective, but very few vaccines are in canine medicine. Having your pet on a topical flea and tick control will also help the dog avoid tick bites, but again, nothing is 100% effective for lyme disease. Symtpoms include lameness, anorexia and lethargy.

    Coronavirus

    • Canine Coronavirus is the milder cousin of Parvovirus. Though this does not attack the lining of the stomach and small intestine, the results are very much the same. The health of the dog at the time of infection will greatly impact its ability to withstand a coronavirus bout. Symptoms include extreme diarrhea and vomiting in the worse cases.