What Vaccines Do Dogs Need For Grooming?

Let’s face it, the most important things we worry about as dog owners revolve around seeing our dogs healthy and happy. And any experienced dog parent would agree that vaccinations play a massive role in this. So, if you’ve ever thought about what vaccines dogs need for grooming, we’ll discuss the most common vaccines required for dog grooming, especially for dogs that are frequently groomed, as they may be more susceptible to certain illnesses.

While you’re worrying about putting everything in place for grooming, from your dog groomer shoes to all of the other dog grooming kits you’ll need, we’ll discuss what vaccinations should look like for your dogs to keep them happy and healthy.

Vaccines needed for Dog Grooming

We’ll group dog vaccinations into 2 categories – core and non-core vaccines.

For core vaccines, we mean vaccinations for conditions like rabies, parvovirus, and distemper. Having these vaccinations as and when due helps protect your dogs from all of these life-threatening conditions.

Then there are the non-core vaccinations for dogs.

In this group, we have vaccinations for canine parainfluenza, canine influenza H3N8 and H3N2, leptospirosis, and the bordetella vaccine, also known as the kennel cough vaccine. Non-core vaccinations are very important, especially with regard to the question of what vaccines dogs need for grooming. If you groom your dog regularly or feel your dog might be at risk of exposure to some of these conditions, having your dog vaccinations up to date is almost always your safest bet.

Required Vaccinations for Grooming

We’ve mentioned some of the most important vaccines your dog will require for grooming. These include;

1. Bordetella vaccine for dogs

The Bordetella vaccine is very effective for protecting your dog against kennel cough, a highly contagious disease that can be spread easily among dogs, even if they are being kept away from each other.

2. Leptospirosis vaccine for dogs

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can cause serious damage to the liver and kidney. It can be transmitted when your dog comes in contact with urine, fecal matter, or puddles of water containing the bacteria. This bacteria is found everywhere in the United States. Worse still, canine leptospirosis can be spread to humans. Luckily, getting the leptospirosis vaccine will easily help keep your dog protected against this disease, even with frequent visits to the groomer’s.

3. Canine parainfluenza vaccine

Canine parainfluenza can cause serious damage to your dog’s respiratory system. But vaccinating your dog against this will keep fido safe and healthily protected.

4. H3N8 and H3N2 vaccine

The canine influenza virus (CIV) is a combo of the H3N8 and H3N2 strains – both of which come from avian origin. This strain of influenza virus is now becoming more widespread among dogs but the H3N8 and H3N2 vaccines will easily help keep your dog protected.

Why you might need kennel cough vaccine before getting your dog groomed

If you’re wondering whether the kennel cough vaccine is necessary – YES, it is!

Kennel cough is spread among dogs in a similar way to the common cold among humans. That means dogs can get it through not just contaminated materials but also airborne particles. The rapid rate at which this infection spreads makes it a necessity for every dog to be vaccinated. The infection can make dogs sick for weeks and can even be transmitted to humans, especially people with underlying health conditions.

So, if your dog ever gets to leave your house whether it’s because of a visit to the grooming salon, a walk in the neighborhood, or visits to parks and boarding facilities, then they are at risk of catching the kennel cough. The Bordetella vaccine, also known as the kennel cough vaccine, will, however, protect them against this infection.

Grooming a Puppy for the first time

So, you’re preparing your puppy for grooming for the first time? Such a great move!

Whether you’re doing this to get rid of fleas, ticks, and shedding or just to have your dog looking cute (which is a highly defensible position!)It’s important to ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date.

Keeping your dog well-vaccinated ahead of grooming will help ensure grooming goes smoothly without your dog catching unwanted diseases in the process. The groomer’s salon will play host to dogs of different kinds and you never can tell what any dog can carry. But vaccines, from bordetella to leptospirosis, H3N8 and H3N2, and parainfluenza vaccines, will offer a much-needed first line of defense for your dogs against any of these common diseases and infections they are most likely to be exposed to in the process of getting them to and from the dog grooming salon.

Most Common Dog Vaccination Requirements

Regardless of whether dog grooming or not, common requirements and schedules with regard to vaccinations tend to follow a schedule. In most cases, these can include;

• Parvovirus and distemper vaccines are required 6 to 8 weeks after birth.
• DHPP shot – a 5-in-1 vaccine combo containing different vaccines from parvovirus to distemper parainfluenza, and adenovirus. This is required anytime from 10 to 12 weeks after birth. Your dog may be able to visit the groomer after they get this shot.
• DHPP vaccine booster and rabies vaccine are required 16 to 18 weeks after.
• DHPP and rabies boosters are required 12-16 months after.
• DHPP booster required every 1 to 2 years
• Rabies booster required every 1 to 3 years

Common rules for Dog Grooming and Vaccination

There are a few rules and guidelines with regard to dog grooming and dog vaccination. Generally, this can include;

• Following the groomer’s guidelines for bringing your dog to the salon.
• Avoiding bringing your dogs to the grooming salon until at least 2 days after vaccination. Your dog might still be uncomfortable and irritable after vaccination. The window period offers enough time to observe their behavior for any adverse effects of reactions after vaccination.
• Ensuring access and availability while your dog is being groomed. If you can’t be there physically, at least, be available over the phone to answer questions, issues, or concerns the groomer might have while working on your dog.
• Never hesitate to seek professional help if you are unsure about any aspect of dog grooming or dog vaccination.

Conclusion: Get a shot at keeping your dog healthy!

From every indication, we can conclude that vaccines are an important aspect of keeping your dogs healthy and happy.

And while you now know almost everything you need to know about what vaccines dogs need for grooming to keep them safe and healthy at the groomer’s, it’s also important to keep in mind that this is not just a one-time event. While the need for vaccination will depend on the age, health status, lifestyle, and risk of exposure of your dog to certain illnesses, your dog will need to be revaccinated at regular intervals to ensure that they remain protected against these diseases.