Mothers protection.
As I’m sure your aware you need to get your dog vaccinated for a reason as he won't be immune from diseases from birth. The mother does give some immunity from the blood via the placenta as well as 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's first vaccination from 8 weeks old. Also know that the mother is not going to pass on antibodies that she is not vaccinated for herself. So check the mother has all her shots up-to-date!
What age should i get my puppy vaccinated?
It is advised to get your puppy his first group of vaccinations at the age of 6 weeks. Now this could vary in certain litters but a majority of the time 6 weeks he'll be good to go. Best thing to do is ring your vet and tell him what type of dog you have got 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 through 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 most likely advise to obtain another rabies & DHPP shot at the age of 12-sixteen months then a rabies shot every 1-3 years there after.
Things to keep in mind
It is important to keep your puppy indoors and free from other dogs until 1 week after his last injection. This is generally to avoid infection and until he or she is fully protected up against the big bad world!
Your vet will give you a vaccination record book/sheet of all your puppies injections up to now and it'll have dates for future boosters/vaccinations etc. If he doesn’t, be sure you ask him for it as its a very important document especially if you are planning on insuring or breeding your pet down the line!
All of the diseases mentioned above share the same initial signs and symptoms of depression, a high temperature and a loss in 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 need a different puppy vaccination schedule, my Rottweiler Macy was required to have extra parvo vaccinations, there obviously weaker to that particular virus. Your vet will advise you on any special requirements your dog might need.
Your puppy may not need to get annual boosters as some dogs are less prone to getting diseases, a veterinarian can advise you on this. But if you plan on breeding your dog you may need to get him or her special vaccinations, again your vet can advise you on these issues.
Check out Puppy Vaccination Schedule .org for more information and puppy tips & tricks
