Puppy vaccination schedule
It is recommended that you regularly vaccinate your dog against many important infectious and life threatening diseases. All dogs should be routinely vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus and rabies in some countries. Additionally, dogs can be vaccinated to help prevent Kennel Cough. This vaccine is really important for dogs regularly attending shows or going into boarding kennels.
Mothers Protection.
As I’m sure your aware you need to get your puppy vaccinated for a reason as he will not be immune from diseases from birth. The mother does pass on some immunity through the blood via the placenta and in its first milk (better known as colostrum’s). But beware this immunity fades pretty quickly (6-8 weeks!) . For this reason it is best to get your puppy it first vaccination from 8 weeks of age. Also be aware that the mother will not pass on antibodies that she is not vaccinated for herself. So double check the mother has all her shots up to date!
What age should I get my puppy vaccinated?
It is recommended to get your puppy his first set of vaccinations at the age of 6 weeks. Now this can vary in some litters but most of the time 6 weeks he will be good to go. Best thing to do is ring your vet and tell him what type of dog you have and he can give you a more detailed puppy vaccination schedule.
Puppy vaccination schedule
Puppy vaccination schedules vary from city to city and country to country but from the age of
- 6-8 weeks – distemper, measles and parainfluenza
- 10-12 weeks – DHPP (vaccinations for distemper, adenvirus (hepatitis), parainfluenza and parvovirus
- 12-24 weeks – Rabies
- 14-16 weeks – DHPP
Your vet will probably advise to get another rabies & DHPP shot at the age of 12-16 months then a rabies shot every 1-3 years there after.
Things to remember
It is important to keep your puppy indoors and away from other dogs until one week after his last injection. This is to avoid infection and until he is fully protected against the bold outdoors.
Your vet will give you a vaccination record book/sheet of all your puppies injections to date and will also have dates for future boosters/vaccinations etc. If he doesn’t, make sure you ask him for it as its an important document especially if you are planning on insuring or breeding your dog down the line!
All of the diseases mentioned above share the same initial symptoms of depression, a high temperature and a loss of appetite, so if you think your dog is acting strange or unwell especially before these vaccinations get him to the vet immediately.
Some breeds of dogs require a different puppy vaccination schedule, my Rottweiler Macy needed to have extra parvo vaccinations, there breed is obviously more susceptible to that particular virus. Your vet will advise you on any special requirements your puppy may need.
Your dog may not need to get yearly boosters as some dogs are less prone to catching diseases, your vet can advise you on this. But if you plan on breeding your dog you may need to get him special vaccinations, again your vet can advise you on these matters.
I highly recommend reading this book as it has helped me with my two dogs.