
#Puppy vet visits schedule series#
So it's safest to do it a week or two after they've finished their entire vaccine series for a particular disease. It's not like we give the shot and we have immediate immunity. Because we give the shot and that stimulates the immune system to say, "Okay, we need to build defenses." And it's not quite convinced until the second shot, in most cases, and then it takes a while for the body to actually build up immunity.
#Puppy vet visits schedule plus#
Regardless, however, there is a certain amount of risk associated with doing that until the series is done plus a week or two. If the dogs are not ill, that's a huge advantage. It is best for your dog to adhere to the vaccine schedule to guarantee 100 percent efficacy.Ĭan I bring my puppy around other pets before they are fully vaccinated?


For example, if your dog had its first vaccine at 8 weeks and then there was no proof of a vaccine after 8 weeks and your puppy is now 15 weeks, the vet will give one right away, and then another vaccine in 3-4 weeks when your puppy is about 18 weeks. So if it's been a long time, your veterinarian will determine the age and week when the dog received each of the vaccines and they will then determine the new series for your dog. The manufacturer's recommendation says it should be given within a certain period of time. What if my puppy misses a vaccine in the series? Some of those affect man and some don't affect man, but they all affect dogs. The most commonly used lepto vaccine has 4 strains of it in it, and there are probably 6 varieties that are relatively commonly diagnosed. Although most consider lepto to be a non-core vaccine, many cats are exposed to these kinds of animals, whether in the city or in more rural areas, so it's highly advised. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that's transmitted in urine from rats, squirrels, possums, raccoons, cattle, pigs, sheep, and other domestic species. If a vaccine is considered to be "noncore", why does my puppy need that?Ī good vet will ask the pup owner, "If you owned a boat, would you want boat insurance?" The answer to that question is or at least should be a resounding, "Yes!" So if you don't have exposure to those diseases, then, of course, they're not essential. The non-core vaccines in the dog depend on the area in which you live. It's not a disease called distemper, but we loosely use the term feline viral rhinotracheitis calicivirus and panleukopenia vaccine as distemper in the cat. And of course in the cat, there's not a distemper vaccine. What is the difference between the core and non-core vaccines?Ĭore vaccines are considered to be cat and dog rabies and distemper. After that, it is given every three years, although some municipalities require it to be an annual vaccine. The rabies vaccine is a little bit different, as it will be given once, and that vaccine is good for a year. And that second vaccine says, "Okay guys, this is a real threat, so we're actually going to really protect you." And that's called an anamnestic response. The reason to vaccinate more frequently when dogs are young is that the mother-given immunity against distemper, parvo, adenovirus, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and other diseases tends to fall off really precipitously around 10 weeks of age.įor any immunity to be rendered with most of the vaccines, it's an initial series which sensitizes the body, and then a second vaccine that actually turns on the immune system. The main rule to adhere to is that they should be given 3-4 weeks apart (4 weeks is the maximum), and the last should be given at or after 15-16 weeks. Some vets give them at 8, 12, and 16 while others choose 6, 12, and 16. And then, three weeks later, at 15 weeks. In general, distemper shots are given at 8, 10, and 12 weeks. When do puppies start their vaccinations? We've taken the chance to explore some of the most frequently asked questions about puppy vaccinations and shared them below.

One of the key parts of getting your pup on a path to wellness is dog vaccinations and, if you are new to the puppy game, you might have questions. But if you've recently adopted one, you hopefully realize that there is more to dog wellness than a steady flow of kisses from your family members (although those are good, too). From their super soft fur and sleep barking to their smelly breath and, yes, even their razor-sharp biting teeth, puppies are just the cutest.
