List the four core canine vaccines and briefly state why they are considered core.

• A. Canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus (hepatitis), rabies; core due to severe disease potential, widespread exposure risk, and public health considerations
• B. Canine coronavirus, leptospirosis, Bordetella, canine influenza; core due to widespread exposure
• C. Canine parainfluenza, Giardia, Lyme; core due to severe disease
• D. Rabies, leptospirosis, bunyavirus; core due to public health concerns

Answer: (A)

Core vaccines are given to all dogs because they protect against diseases that are highly contagious and cause severe illness or death, and some also have public health implications. The four core vaccines cover distemper virus, parvovirus, adenovirus (the one that causes infectious hepatitis), and rabies. Distemper and parvovirus are widespread and often devastating in unvaccinated dogs, with parvovirus being especially hardy in the environment and highly deadly in puppies. The adenovirus vaccine protects against infectious hepatitis, which can be severe and life-threatening. Rabies is almost universally fatal once symptoms appear and poses a serious public health risk, so preventing exposure through vaccination is essential and, in many places, legally required. The other diseases listed have more variable exposure risk or typically milder disease, so their vaccines aren’t considered universally recommended for all dogs.