Any dogs that are kept, used by the school or visit the school must be regularly vaccinated and be treated for both internal and external parasites. For any dog that is kept by the school, the names, dosage and dates of any chemicals administered should be documented in the animal care records.

The principal or animal welfare liaison officer can request to sight a current vaccination certificate for any dog that visits the school.

Vaccination regimes for dogs include geographically defined “core” vaccines and individually defined “non-core” vaccine recommendations. Vaccination programs must be managed in consultation with a veterinarian and administered by a veterinarian.

Core vaccinations, i.e. C3 vaccines

• Canine parvovirus: fatal bloody diarrhoea
• Canine distemper virus: coughing, diarrhoea, seizure, loss of balance, blindness
• Canine adenovirus: vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, liver failure
• Rabies: (non-core in Australia).

Examples of non-core vaccinations

These vaccines are recommended to be given if regionally present or traveling into endemic regions

• Parainfluenza virus
• Bordetella bronchiseptica
• Rabies
• Leptospira etc.

Vaccination regimes for core vaccines

• Puppies: Start at 8 – 9 weeks of age, then 11 – 12 weeks, then 14 – 16 weeks
• For adult dogs: ALL dogs should receive a 12 month booster after which it is recommended three yearly vaccinations

If the dog has never been vaccinated or missed a booster vaccine by more than six months, then two doses 2 – 3 weeks apart must be administered.