Vaccine for Dogs: DHPP Review by Dr. Catherine Barnette, DVM, with Emily Oliver, CVT offering updates on March 6, 2025. Sharing options available on Facebook, Twitter, email, and print.
Protecting Your Dog: The Importance of the DHPP Vaccine
The DHPP vaccine, also known as the DAPP or DA2PP vaccine, is a crucial tool in safeguarding your dog's health. This combination vaccine protects against four viral illnesses that pose significant threats to canines: distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parvovirus, and parainfluenza.
Distemper (D): This component of the DHPP vaccine shields your dog from Canine Distemper Virus, a highly contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Symptoms include fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.
Hepatitis (H): The hepatitis component typically targets Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) or type 2 (CAV-2). The vaccine helps protect dogs from infectious canine hepatitis, a viral disease causing liver damage and other systemic effects. Importantly, the vaccine using CAV-2 also confers protection against CAV-1.
Parvovirus (P): The parvovirus component of the DHPP vaccine protects against Canine Parvovirus, a highly contagious and potentially fatal virus primarily affecting the intestines and immune system. Symptoms include severe vomiting and diarrhea, often bloody.
Parainfluenza (P): This component protects against Canine Parainfluenza virus, a respiratory virus contributing to kennel cough complex. It prevents respiratory illness.
The DHPP vaccine contains small amounts of modified distemper virus, CAV-2, parvovirus, and parainfluenza virus. These stimulate the dog’s immune system to produce immunity without causing the disease. For example, the Nobivac Canine 1-DAPPv vaccine has a high antigenic mass and low passage parvovirus vaccine which helps overcome maternal antibodies in puppies, ensuring effective immunization.
Dogs should receive their first DHPP vaccines as puppies, starting at the first puppy visit, as early as 6 weeks of age. The vaccine series is typically repeated every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is 16-20 weeks old. After the initial series, the dog is protected against all four viruses for one full year. A booster should be administered one year after the last vaccine in the puppy series, and then every three years after that.
It's important to note that while the DHPP vaccine is generally safe, in rare cases, an allergic reaction may occur after the vaccine, characterized by hives, facial swelling, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, or collapse. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe signs of an allergic reaction after the DHPP vaccine.
The DHPP vaccine is considered a core vaccine, meaning all dogs should receive it, regardless of lifestyle or individual risk. The ULTRA Duramune vaccine from Elanco is unique in that it is half the volume of other DHPP vaccines, intended to minimize discomfort and the risk of vaccine reactions.
Canine parvovirus attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing vomiting and diarrhea that can be fatal, even with aggressive treatment. It is most common in puppies but can affect dogs of any age. Distemper virus, CAV-2, parvovirus, and parainfluenza are severe health threats, with distemper virus and parvovirus being highly contagious and potentially fatal.
The cost of the DHPP vaccine varies based on location and veterinarian, typically ranging from $25-$50, and is often administered in conjunction with a physical exam costing approximately $50-$80. The administration of multiple vaccines in a single visit is associated with an increased risk of vaccine reactions, especially in small dogs. Corticosteroids (such as prednisone) should be avoided at the time of DHPP vaccination, as they may decrease the likelihood of an appropriate immune response.
In conclusion, the DHPP vaccine is a vital tool in protecting your dog from serious, contagious, and potentially life-threatening diseases. By priming their immune systems to recognize and fight these pathogens if exposed, the DHPP vaccine is key in ensuring your dog's health and well-being.
- Understanding the science behind pet health, the DHPP vaccine, a core vaccine, plays a significant role in combating four detrimental viruses, including distemper, hepatitis (CAV-1 and CAV-2), parvovirus, and parainfluenza, all of which pose severe threats to a dog's health and wellness.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness for pets, the DHPP vaccine stands as a critical pillar, offering protection against life-threatening illnesses such as distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza by stimulating the dog's immune system to fend off these viruses.
