Vaccinations for Puppy: What You Need To Know
Owning a little cute puppy is exceptionally exciting experience. Often, your bonding with your puppy makes them feel like your family members; hence you do everything you can to keep him/her happy and healthy. This is natural. However, pet ownership is not just about giving a lot of love, care, well-balanced diet and regular exercise. Did you know that keeping your puppy healthy is starts with early healthcare, including vaccinations? Obviously, just like everything else that we do, a series of vaccinations is a cornerstone of healthy pets. Vaccinations considerably reduce the risk of many dangerous diseases like parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus, leptospirosis, rabies and parainfluenza, just to name a few. There are different vaccines for different diseases and all have different vaccination schedules according to the specific dog’s risk factors. And sometimes require a booster to keep them effective over the years. With so many vaccine types, it is very important for dog owners to determine which vaccines are important for your dog, and how often he should have them. After all, your puppy’s life depends on it!
How pet vaccinations work? Basically, vaccinations are best way to manage your pet’s health. They stimulate puppy’s immune system to fight against disease-causing organisms and reduce the severity of the illness.
And, whenever you go for vaccinations, it is important to ask your vet about vaccination protocol that right for your puppy; as the vaccinations are decided on basis of pet age, medical history, environment, travel habits and your pet’s lifestyle. There are two types of puppy vaccines: core vaccines and non-core vaccines.
Core vaccines are recommended for all dog breeds, in accordance with exposure risk to a certain disease that are easily transferred and fatal. These diseases include parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus, and rabies. This is essential for your puppy’s wellness, longevity, as well as important for public safety.
Non-core vaccines are given to protect your puppy against diseases that spread due to environmental exposure or lifestyle. These include Bordetella (Kennel Cough), leptospirosis and canine parainfluenza.
But if you have decided to give your dog any of these vaccines or you already have, to know which vaccines is proper for your dog and when to get them is also very important for pet owner.
Necessary Vaccinations: At age of 6 - 9 weeks:
1st dose of DA2PP (a combo vaccination that protects against Distemper, Adenovirus type 1 canine hepatitis, Adenovirus type 2 - kennel cough, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus) Dose of Bordetella, if Bordetella is high concern in your area 1st Dose of Canine influenza
At age of 12 - 16 weeks:
2nd dose of DA2PP
1st dose of Rabies
1st dose of Leptospirosis, where leptospirosis is a big concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs.
1st dose of Lyme, where the Lyme disease is a concern
1st dose of Bordetella
1st Dose of Canine influenza
At age of 15-16 weeks:
3rd dose of DA2PP
2nd dose of Leptospirosis and Lyme
At age of one year:
Booster dose of Rabies
Booster dose of Dose of DA2PP
Booster dose of Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease as required
Annually
Booster dose of Leptospirosis, Lyme disease as required
Booster dose of Canine influenza
Every 3 years
Booster dose of DA2PP
Booster dose of Rabies, as required by law
These all vaccines are important for all puppies to get as much protection as possible against the most serious and prevalent infectious diseases. While regularly vaccinated adult dogs need yearly booster of most vaccines. The schedules of vaccines depend on dog’s age, overall health, vaccination type, state regulations and risk of exposure. The overdose of the vaccines can be harmful to your dog. So, be careful about that.
Few things you to consider about Vaccinations There are few important things that you have to consider to help protect your fur companion from the adverse effects of over-vaccination.
Consult your vet for the vaccines, as he/she can be more specific about the vaccines requirements based on your individual dog, area in which you live, and specific risk factors.
Avoid unnecessary vaccines.
You may also opt for titer test before administering annual vaccinations to measure a dog’s immunity levels.
Begin the vaccination to puppy after 6 to 8 weeks of age when the immune system can response to antigenic challenge.
Pay your particular attention to the puppy’s behavior and overall health following the administration of the vaccine.
Avoid re-vaccination to puppy that has already experienced a significant adverse reaction.
And it’s all worth it. For your admirable care and effort towards your puppy will lavish you with abundant lifelong love in return. The first year of his life is exciting and enjoyable time for both of you. To make this enjoying time long lasting, you have to schedule a series of vaccinations in first year of his life and protect him against most dangerous diseases. As your puppy grows physically stronger and healthier, the stronger your bond will grow, too.