Background to mandatory vaccinations for greyhounds
The mandatory vaccinations are in two parts:
- C3 vaccines (injectable), which covers parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis; and
- Kennel Cough vaccines, which covers Bordetella (BB) and Parainfluenza (Pi2).
A Kennel Cough (KC) vaccination can be administered via injection, intranasal (nose) or orally (mouth). Research shows that the intranasal and oral vaccine can be more effective and requires a single dose compared to the injectable vaccine, which requires two doses approximately a month apart. It is for this reason GAP requires the BB component to be intranasal or oral (more information below).
A C5 vaccination is effectively a C3 plus Kennel Cough vaccine, although some veterinarians use an injectable C4 vaccine (which is a C3 and Pi2), with the BB component being given orally to achieve C5 vaccination.
NOTE: There are other vaccinations that your veterinarian may recommend when deemed appropriate, such as canine coronavirus and leptospirosis, but as they are not mandatory, they are not discussed here.
Mandatory vaccinations for greyhounds
GAR 25 in the National Rules (effective 1 May 2022) and the Victorian Government’s Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds (the Code) (effective 1 January 2020) stipulate the requirements for puppy vaccinations (that are required for litter registration) and require that all adult greyhounds must have a current C5 vaccination.
In summary, this means greyhounds require at a minimum:
- C3 at 6-8 weeks and C5 at 10-16 weeks (together = litter registration); plus
- C5 vaccination at 12-16 months of age; plus
- KC vaccination every subsequent year; plus
- C3 vaccination every third year.
For the purposes of the rules and the Code, GRV deems that the C3 component of the C5 given at 12-16 months (and older) remains effective for a period of three years (more information is provided below).
Therefore, by providing your greyhound with the yearly KC vaccination (GRV recommends the intranasal type), which includes protection against BB and Pi2, you are ensuring that your greyhound meets the minimum requirement of a current C5 vaccination status on an ongoing basis. A full C5 vaccination will need to be given at 4 years and 7 years of age.
Additional information:
Timing of puppy vaccinations: Your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccinations based on the individual circumstances of your kennel or the characteristics of the vaccine brand used. In general, it is best practice that the puppy vaccinations are administered every 2-4 weeks starting as early as 6 weeks of age, with the last vaccination no earlier than 16 weeks of age. For example, the vaccinations could be administered at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age; or 6, 9, 12 and 16 weeks of age). If the second litter registration vaccination is administered earlier than 16 weeks of age, it is recommended that the puppy receives another C5 booster 3-4 weeks later or at 6-12 months of age.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Guidelines discuss ‘core’ vaccines and ‘non-core’ vaccines. Core vaccines are to protect against significant and fatal diseases within a C3 vaccine. Non-core vaccines include those that protect against those diseases less likely to be fatal. Given greyhound racing involves housing greyhounds in kennels and extensive travel and exposure to many other greyhounds across the state and country, use of non-core vaccines such as Kennel Cough are important to reduce the risk and severity of disease and protect the available racing population.
Frequency of adult “core vaccine” (i.e. C3) boosters: Traditionally core vaccines had a label claim for a minimum of one-year duration of protection, hence yearly vaccination boosters have been the standard recommendation for many years. But there are now some core vaccines with a label claim for a minimum of three-year duration of protection. The WSAVA conducted an extensive review and published Guidelines that recommend core vaccines be administered every three years and non-core vaccinations be administered as required. This is supported by the Australia Veterinary Association (AVA) policy and there has been a move towards C3 boosters only every third year (‘triennial’), primarily driven by the aim to avoid over-vaccinating animals.
However, different veterinarians have differing views on the frequency of boosters, with some administering as per the label claims, while others support triennial boosters regardless of the brand of vaccine. This is further complicated by some boarding kennels not accepting vaccinations if they were administered more than 12 months prior to entry, even if the vaccine was one with a triennial label claim. For this reason, GAP now ensures every adopted greyhound has had a C5 booster less than 12 months prior to adoption.
Vaccination prior to rehoming: While it is mandatory under the Code for a greyhound being rehomed to have a current C5 vaccination, GRV encourages participants to get a full C5 vaccination administered within the few months shortly prior to rehoming to avoid confusion for new owners.
Based on the above, the following schedule offers the most effective and cost-effective vaccination program that complies with both the racing rules and the Code:
| Lifecycle stage | Minimum requirement | Comment |
| 6-8 weeks of age | C3 | |
| 10-16 weeks of age | C5 | Preferably C3 + intranasal KC |
| 12-16 months of age | C5 | Preferably C3 + intranasal KC |
| 2 years of age | KC only | Preferably intranasal |
| 3 years of age | KC only | Preferably intranasal |
| 4 years of age | C5 | Preferably C3 + intranasal KC |
| 5 years of age onwards | KC every year plus C3 every 3 years | Preferably KC is intranasal |
Naming and breeding registration (Pink Card or sire)
When applying for a name or breeding registration, a greyhound must have a current C5 vaccination recorded in FastTrack. All minimum annual vaccinations from 12 – 16 months of age, as per the table above, supports both the Naming and Breeding Registration vaccination requirements.
Nominations
GAR 25 allows a Controlling Body to refuse nominations for greyhounds that do not have a current C5 vaccination. This approach is fully supported, with it now standard practice in all other jurisdictions. For Victoria, once the required system changes are completed, GRV will also make it standard practice.
Timing of vaccinations will need to be planned, as GAR 25 also prohibits racing in the 5 days after a vaccination.
Vaccination certificates
While GRV has specific documentation requirements for litter registration vaccinations (at 6-8 weeks and 10-16 weeks of age), for vaccinations for adult greyhounds (12 months of age or older) your veterinarian will need to supply a vaccination certificate.
The vaccination certificate must clearly identify your greyhound (ideally microchip and ear brand), be signed by the veterinarian and include the vaccination date and vaccination type (preferably with the vaccine stickers attached and clearly readable).
When sending the certificate please ensure the photo or scan is as clear and high-resolution as possible so all details can be read easily.
Recording adult vaccinations
Participants must submit a vaccination certificate to GRV for the vaccination to be entered into the greyhound’s Health tab in FastTrack. This is to ensure that interstate systems can recognise it and allow you to race interstate. It is preferred that certificates are submitted by email to [email protected]. Vaccinations entered this way automatically update the Greyhound Record in FastTrack, so you won’t need to update this yourself.