Puppy Shots- your guide to puppy vaccinationsDid you know that keeping those puppy shots up to date is one of your most important tasks now that you're a puppy parent?
Well, they really are! And if you're wondering just why they're so important, the answer is simple......... puppy vaccinations save the lives of puppies just like yours every single day. Quick Links: The bottom line is this..... Fifi needs her shots to protect her from getting sick, and they're not an optional part of puppy care but are absolutely essential.. About Puppy VaccinationsThere are several common (but very serious, and potentially fatal), dog illnesses that you simply MUST protect your puppy from - and that's where vaccinations come in!Did you know that if Fifi catches Canine Parvovirus (Parvo) she only has a 20% chance of surviving if it's left untreated?. Scary isn't it? Of course, you'd get the best treatment possible for her if she got sick, but there's no cure for Canine Parvovirus, or many other similar diseases such as Distemper. If she receives supportive care (the only option available), she has somewhere between a 30% and 50% chance of survival. But that's still not good enough in my book! On this page you'll find a puppy immunization schedule showing a list of essential shots for a puppy, as well as a few that are optional. It'll help you figure out what shots you need to get for your puppy, and when her next vaccination is due. Remember, giving your furchild her puppy immunizations is a very important part of being a good puppy parent! What puppy shots does she need, and when?Little puppies have a certain amount of natural immunity that they get from their mothers milk, but that wears off somewhere between 5 and 8 weeks of age.After that they are at serious risk of contracting serious, and often potentially fatal, canine disease such as Parvo. Depending on the country, or even region that you live in, vaccination regulations may vary a little. This puppy shots timeline shows the general recommendations for essential puppy vaccinations in the USA: 6 - 8 weeks DHLPP + Corona 9 - 11 weeks DHLPP + Corona 12 - 14 weeks DHLPP + Corona 16 weeks - Rabies Once your little one has had her three sets of combination vaccinations plus the Rabies shot she will need to have them repeated on an annual basis. The DHLPP puppy shot is a combination vaccine that protects against 5 separate diseases :
You can find lots of information on the symptoms, method of transmission, and treatment of these diseases on my Dog Illnesses page. There are additional puppy shots that your veterinarian may recommend. These include vaccinations for Bordatella (commonly known as Kennel Cough), Giardia and Lyme Disease. Whether or not little Fifi needs these particular puppy shots will depend on variable such as what state you live in and whether or not she will be spending a lot of time at puppy day care etc. Some dog breeds are particularly sensitive to the Parvovirus and require a 4th Parvo vaccination, usually given at around 16 weeks of age. These include, but are not limited to, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pitbulls and American Bulldogs. If you own one of these dogs be sure to discuss this additional puppy vaccination with your veterinarian. It could make all the difference.
Allergic reactions can happenAlthough many puppies seem to barely notice when their puppy shots are given, and show no ill effects afterwards, it's not unusual for a pup to have an allergic reaction of some sort.Most of the time these reactions to puppy vaccinations are mild, and last only a day or two. But occasionally they can be severe enough to need veterinary attention. Being aware of the potential problems is helpful. These sort of reactions can be:
There seems to be a higher incidence of allergic reaction to the vaccines for Rabies, Parvo and Leptosirosis. There are some dog breeds that are more prone to these kind of reactions than others. They include, but aren't limited to, Miniature Dachshunds, West Highland White Terriers, Old English Sheepdogs, Akitas, Portuguese Water Dogs, Weimaraners, and Harlequin Great Danes. The bottom line is that you need to watch your puppy closely for the first day or so after he's had his puppy shots. Any major reaction is most likely to occur within 24 hours (often much sooner). An allergic reaction of any sort is unlikely to happen after the first shot though, it's subsequent ones that you should pay particular attention to. Although it's necessary to be aware of what could happen, don't panic about this! Thousands of puppies are vaccinated every day with no ill-effects, or only a very mild reaction. Protecting your puppy from illness and disease is vitally important, and that's exactly what these puppy shots do.
Let's recap......
You wouldn't dream of refusing to get your child vaccinated would you? Of course not, because you know how important it is to protect her from disease. Now you know that it's important to make sure your fur-child is similarly protected, so go ahead and take little Fifi to your veterinarian just as soon as you can. Need help choosing a vet? Then click here! Making sure that she keeps up to date with all her needles, and is on a puppy immunization schedule, helps to ensure that little Fifi has the chance to grow up into that happy, healthy dog of your dreams. Got questions about your puppy's shots? ... or any other puppy issues? Get the answer fast by using our new Puppy Questions Page Or, to get an answer to your puppy health question from a professional veterinarian, just use the box below! You'll get an answer within a few hours (often much sooner), and for an average cost of only $12 it's a very cost effective way to get veterinary help. Puppy Health
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