Vale, who had failed to score more than twice in any home league game this season, rattled in four before the break, including a brace for the previously out of touch Justin Richards.
Dodds opened the floodgates with a 16-yard shot in the 17th minute before Marc Richards registered his 20th of the campaign with a lob over Barry Roche four minutes later.
Phil Jevons buried a 20-yard shot to pull one back in the 32nd minute, but hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Justin Richards raced clear to round Roche in the 41st minute and then fired in a rising shot in stoppage time. Vale continued to attack at will in the second-half and some comical defending led to Dodds rattling in his second in the 58th minute.
Dodds curled in a terrific left-foot shot to complete his hat-trick after picking up a short corner from Morsy in the 70th minute to inflict more woe on Morecambe.
Shrimps substitute James Spencer poked in a consolation strike from close range 12 minutes from time, but Justin Richards side-footed his third in added time.
Source: PA
Source: PA