11/18/2025
Let's talk about vaccines in rescue! Rehabbers and rescuers use different vaccines for different species at different times, but the big one we use is a DHPP vaccine or a DHLPP vaccine. These are combo vaccines that are made for both dogs and cats. They protect our furry best friends against distemper, (lepto), hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus!
But what are WE using them for?? Good question! Rehabbers vaccinate raccoons as they grow up to help protect them from these diseases, and mostly distemper, which there is no cure for. It's important to remember that these vaccines aren't made for raccoons, so while this is likely giving them a boost in immunity and some protection against these viruses, they aren't a fool proof protector. With numbers of distemper cases rising every year, we are doing everything we can to combat it.
So the more the better, right? Nope! According to manufacturer instructions, these vaccines are meant to be given on a specific schedule, and *up to* 4 times. After 12 weeks old however, only 2 are recommended. Using any medication against the manufacturer guidelines can be dangerous and lead to resistance in diseases and lower efficacy.
So why am I telling you this? Because I think it's important for our followers to know as much as they can about what we do, and I enjoy talking about topics of which I'm passionate about! So thank you for reading, and remember to make sure your furry family is vaccinated to protect them and keep them safe and with you for as long as possible ❤️🦝🐾
