What Shots Do Puppies Need

Important Shots That Your Dog Needs

Our dogs are just as susceptible to diseases and sicknesses as humans. Veterinarians and researchers have developed vaccinations and shots that are designed to prevent canines and other pets from contracting diseases which are sometimes specific to dogs or animals. Other pets are included in some shots because sometimes some diseases can be passed from one specie to another. A vaccine is a weakened version of the original disease; it is strong enough for the puppy’s immune system to recognize as the enemy but not strong enough for a full out invasion. Once the immune system has experienced the virus or disease, even in this weak form, it will have immunity to it in the future. Some vaccinations need to be regularly applied or injected.

A puppy initially has some immunity from some common diseases due to his mother’s milk. The first precious milk that comes out of the mother dog is called colostrum. This kind of milk is a powerhouse of nutrition and carries with it whatever immunity the mother has. This fact showcases just how important it is to be updated with your adult dog’s shots because a missed shot may weaken the immunity of the mother and this weakness could be passed along to her puppies.

It is important to note that many of the diseases and viruses that veterinarians have developed vaccines to can be lethal or debilitating to dogs and other pets. Some breeds may also be more prone to sicknesses compared to others so you will need to ask your vet what shots do puppies need for your specific breed of dog. In some areas of the world, dogs may be exposed to other viruses or diseases which are not common in other countries. The schedule of vaccination and the kind of vaccines may vary because of this.

Some vaccinations for dogs usually start about a month after its birth and others continue for life. Some breeders who are confident about their dog’s health might expect the buyers to be the ones to shoulder the vaccination cost for the puppy that they get. Other breeders are more cautious and will give their puppies their vaccinations, whether or not the puppies are to be sold or kept. If you get a puppy from a breeder or a shelter, ask for it health book or certificate to see what shots it has been given. For those who want to know what shots do puppies need; read on and find out which are commonly given, which are mandatory and whether there are other options to the kind of vaccinations that vets give. The age of the puppies when the shots are given follows a wide range.

From Birth

Newborn puppies will not need shots yet because they carry with them antibodies that they got from their mother. There are times, though, that puppies are abandoned or found randomly without any knowledge about their mother’s health and vaccinations. Vets may be forced to give only what is necessary since newborn pups may not be able to handle even weakened diseases or viruses in the form of vaccines. Some vets like to be on the safe side; if there is no information regarding vaccinations, they will want to give the vaccines starting from very beginning of the schedule.

Five Weeks

The Parvovirus vaccine may be given early to your puppy because some breeds are susceptible to it or because the Parvovirus is common in your area. Your vet should know if this kind of virus is common to your area and will recommend early administration. Puppies in particular are susceptible to this and some dog breeds have a higher chance or contracting it even as adults, including but not limited to, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Pitbulls, Doberman Pinschers and Labradors.

Six Weeks

At this age, your puppy should be given vaccinations for distemper, parainfluenza, hepatitis, adenovirus and parvovirus. There are combination vaccines with all five in just one dose. Many pet owners prefer these because it causes less stress on the puppies and actually cost less compared to five individual shots. Some vets might also recommend another combination vaccine which might include any of the following; coronavirus, leptospirosis and measles.

If you have a choice in the matter, opt for a shot that contains the vaccine Adenovirus-2 instead of Adenovirus-1. The former has a lower risk of your dog having adverse reactions to it compared to the latter. The standard five combination shot given now usually comes in three installments for the vaccines to work properly. Your vet will give you a schedule which you should follow as closely as possible. 

Nine to Ten Weeks

This is the time when the second dose of the combination shot may be given. If your dog is missing a vaccination from the ones listed above, you should alert your veterinarian about this so he can correct this oversight. Your puppy should have had vaccines against parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus and parainlfuenza by this age.

Optional shots for this age may be the ones for the coronavirus and Lyme Disease, if these were not given yet. The Bordatella vaccine is commonly administered in drops via the nose of the puppy. It comes in a plastic applicator with a soft tip.

Twelve Weeks

This is around the time when puppies are usually given to their new owners. Either the breeder or the new owner should make sure that the puppy will get his rabies shot at this age. Vets in most places will insist on giving the rabies shot to your puppy because it is mandatory in some areas.

Before the rabies vaccine is given to your puppy, you must make sure that the distemper vaccine administration has passed two weeks. Most vaccines are usually administered with a space of a couple of weeks to ensure that any side effects from the previous shots will have died down already or have manifested already. This is one reason why combination shots are preferred by most vets.

Fourteen to Sixteen Weeks

The last installment for the initial shot or shots should be given at this time. The vaccines for distemper, parainfluenza, hepatitis, adenovirus and parvovirus needs this final shot for your dog to have immunity from these. It is also recommended to be the final administration of vaccines for Bordatella and coronavirus. The vaccine for Lyme Disease may also be given initially at this stage if you think your puppy might be exposed to it or if your vet recommends it.

One Year Old

The rabies booster should be given at this age. Other boosters that may be due around this time include, but are not limited to, hepatitis, parvovirus, distemper and parainfluenza. The combination vaccine has a combination booster shot as well, which is administered at this time.

Booster shots are additional shots of the same vaccine which are administered to your puppy to ensure that he is exposed to the immunizing antigen. Although, similar to the vaccine, it may be weaker than the shots given in installments. These are a necessary precaution.

Yearly

The rabies vaccine is given every year to make sure that your dog will not succumb to it. Aside from this, the Lyme Disease vaccine may also need a booster if your vet thinks it is necessary. This may be because your dog is constantly exposed to the outdoors near wildlife or there has been a sudden flare up of the disease in your area.

Vaccine Dosage

There has been some debate regarding the dosage of a vaccine depending on the size of the dog it is given to. Manufacturers of the vaccines will recommend giving the full dosage to the dog or puppy no matter the size of the animal. This will guarantee that the right amount of the weakened virus will be present in your dog. Giving half or less of the full dose may compromise the presence of the virus in your dog and may not trigger the immune system.

Extra shots of specific vaccines may be necessary for dogs that are constantly exposed to other dogs such as in shows or those that are usually put in kennels or boarded. If you plan to move to another area, you should find out if your dog needs other vaccinations or a booster shot.

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