Which Vaccines are Obligatory for Your Dog?

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 22 December, 2022

It is important to look after your pet’s health and carry out regular checkups. You also need to follow a vaccine schedule to prevent illness. Some of these illnesses can even be fatal.

With vaccines we strengthen our best friend’s immune system as they grow.

Benefits of vaccines

Vaccines are antigens which produce antibodies, stimulating the immune system.

However, the effect is only temporary. As a result, you need to repeat them after a certain amount of time, and throughout the dog’s life.

Only a veterinary professional can give a vaccine. They will need to be given in line with a vaccination schedule, for maximum effect.

Illnesses you can prevent with vaccines

Although vaccines are important, you do not need to vaccinate your dog against everything. It all depends on the country you live in and the most common illnesses in your area.

The pet’s owner needs to be aware of the vaccines that they need to have for their animal.

In Spain

In Spain, if you do not have vaccines, this does not always incur a fine. However, vaccines are requested in almost all the autonomous regions, so we recommend that you consult the relevant authority.

• When your puppy is less than a month and a half old: parvovirus vaccination, canine distemper, and two polyvalent vaccines.
• Two months old: polyvalent vaccine.
• Three months old: booster polyvalent vaccine and rabies (normally also microchipped at this age).
• At one year old: polyvalent re-vaccination and rabies booster.
• Annually: polyvalent re-vaccination and rabies.

Important vaccines

In Spain, the most important vaccines are the hexavalent or octavalent vaccine and the rabies vaccine. The hexavalent and octavalent should be administered forty-five days after birth and at two, three, and four months old.

Give the first dose of rabies vaccine at six months.

Once the dog is no longer a puppy, apart from the first year of life, he will need to receive both vaccines each year, without exception.

This way, you protect him from illness.

But, what is a vaccine?

A vaccine is made from antigens to inject into your dog. It stimulates the immune system to create antibodies which eliminate the pathogen.

A vaccine is almost like the virus itself, but without doing harm to the patient.

Vaccines allow the dog to develop antibodies for the virus. This way, if their body ever comes into contact with the real virus, it will be ready to resist and defeat it.

The need for vaccines

A lack of vaccinations for a puppy or adult dog does not just increase the risk of potentially fatal illnesses. It also increases the risk of passing illness to other dogs.

Your pet could become the carrier and infect another dog who is currently going through the vaccination process. Or a dog who has a weakened immune system.

The consequence to not give your dog his vaccine is a potential and serious penalty. This can include your dog being taken away.

If your dog who has not had his vaccines, do not let him mix with other dogs or go out into the street.

Just the urine or another dog, cat, or infected rodent can infect your best friend and endanger their life.

Side-effects of vaccines

The symptoms and side-effects of a vaccine can range from pains and rashes, to inflammation, lumps. etc.

There may also be cases of flu, gastrointestinal, respiratory or skin conditions, and even cardiovascular problems.

As a result, vaccines are trialled and tested to find out what the side-effects could potentially be.

When a vaccine is included in the official vaccination schedule in Spain, it means that it passes strict quality controls to guarantee your dog’s health.

It also means that the vaccine will do a good job to protect your dog against illness.