What Shots Do Dogs Need in Washington County, Virginia?

Virginia state law requires that at the minimum, all dogs be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, rabies and parvovirus. However, the law also states that an animal should be vaccinated against any infectious disease considered appropriate for the animal's age and breed by a licensed veterinarian. In Washington County, there are more shots that veterinarians usually recommend for dogs. Your veterinarian will be able to make the best recommendations on the vaccines needed to keep your dog healthy.

  1. Rabies

    • By Virginia law, you must vaccinate your puppy against rabies before it reaches 4 months of age, and usually the best time to do so is at 12 weeks. Then it must receive a booster rabies shot in a year. After these first two vaccinations, you have the choice between a one-year or a three-year rabies booster.

    Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus

    • An all-in-one vaccination for distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus will be given to your puppy starting at 6 to 8 weeks. This vaccine should be repeated every 3 to 4 week until your puppy is at least 16 weeks of age and preferably 20 weeks of age. Thereafter, it is an annual vaccination. This vaccine is important because parvovirus is a leading killer of puppies. It is difficult to gain initial immunity to parvovirus, which is why puppies need so many repeat vaccinations.

    Kennel Cough

    • Kennel cough is an upper respiratory infection that is highly contagious. If you plan on boarding your dog at a kennel or entering in dog shows, then the kennel cough vaccine is a good idea. It is initially administered when your dog is 10 to 12 weeks old, and annually thereafter.

    Lyme Disease

    • If you live in a heavily wooded part of Washington County or your dog spends a lot of time outside, you might want to consider the Lyme disease vaccine. Your dog should get the vaccine as a puppy and receive annual boosters thereafter.

    Canine Coronavirus

    • Dogs get the canine coronavirus by ingesting the feces of another dog with the infection. The vaccine is recommended for show dogs and kennel dogs that are at a high risk for contracting the virus.