Canine | DHP
This is a combination vaccination including Canine Distemper virus, Adenovirus type 1 (infectious canine hepatitis), and Parvovirus. Fortunately, Distemper is very rare due to the effectiveness of vaccinations. Likewise, infectious canine hepatitis is not common, but is a high-risk factor, particularly for younger dogs. The most common disease we do see in clinical practice is canine parvoviral enteritis. This is a severely contagious and fatal disease, mostly seen in puppies less than 8 months of age due to a lack of vaccination protection combined with a low transferred maternal immunity state. Symptoms may develop 6-10 days after exposure to the virus, producing profuse bloody diarrhea, weakness, dehydration, anorexia, weight loss and fever.
The vaccine can be given to puppies from 6 weeks of age, but the last vaccination must be given after 10 weeks of age. We recommend to have two vaccines followed by a titre test at 14 weeks or more of age to ensure your puppy has responded to the vaccine properly. Alternatively, you may opt for a third vaccine instead. The onset of immunity is 1 week following the final vaccination date. Titre testing is available as an alternative to vaccination at 3 yearly intervals if under 10 years of age or 2 yearly if over the age of 10 years.