What Shots Does My Pekingese-Mix Dog Need Yearly

Distemper Combo

• One of the most important vaccines given to your pekingese mix is the distemper combo. Along with protecting your pooch against the distemper virus, it can provide prevention against contracting the adenovirus, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza, states Dr. Holly Nash of Doctors Foster and Smith. Your pekingese mix should receive this vaccine yearly because the diseases are often transmitted from dog to dog. Pekingese are typically social dogs that like to interact with others. If your pekingese mix comes in contact with an affected dog, it can potentially become severely sick. In addition, parvovirus is a highly contagious illness that all dogs, but especially Rottweilers, are prone to contracting. If your pekingese is mixed with rottie, it is highly important it receives this vaccine yearly to protect it.

Bordetella

• Kennel cough, also called infectious tracheobronchitis, is prevented by the bordetella vaccine. Although this vaccine isn't what is known as a "core" vaccine, or one that is imperative to a dog's health, it is fairly important that pekingese mixes receive it yearly. Reason being, kennel cough is highly contagious and is spread through the air. The disease is often found in areas that contain lots of dogs, including grooming kennels. Most pekingese dogs are rather hairy and will require routine grooming. Therefore, if you take your pekingese mix to get groomed and it is not protected against kennel cough, it could get the illness if another dog has it. In addition, pekingese dogs have short faces that are pushed in. The construction of the face can cause the nose, sinuses and throat to be a bit abnormal in size and shape. Contracting a respiratory virus, such as kennel cough, can be extremely hazardous to a pekingese with these abnormalities.

Rabies

• Rabies shots are required by law in most states. However, the length in which they are good for varies by state. For instance, the first rabies vaccine ever administered to the dog is good for one year and each additional rabies vaccine is good for three years in the state of Maryland. Rabies is a fatal disease that can be prevented with the rabies vaccine. Check with your veterinarian as to how long the rabies shots are said to last in your state.

Lyme

• Lyme vaccines prevent against Lyme disease. The lyme shot is another vaccine this isn't considered to be "core;" however, pekingese mixes can greatly benefit from receiving the vaccine once a year. If your pekingese mix has a lot of hair, it can make detecting ticks--particularly the tiny species that cause Lyme disease--quite difficult. In addition, some topical flea medications may not work as well on a hairy dog because it may be difficult for the medication to reach the skin. If your pekingese receives the Lyme shot yearly, it can decrease its chances of catching the painful disease.