Puppy Shots

Canine vaccines protect your little one from some of the most common, contagious, and often deadly, dog illnesses around, including Parvo, Distemper, Hepatitis and Rabies.

This protects against three of the most serious contagious canine diseases - Distemper, Adenovirus and Parvovirus.

Then a Rabies shot should be given at 16 weeks. Breeds that are especially at risk of catching Parvo (particularly Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pitbulls and American Bulldogs) should also get a fourth Parvo shot at this age.

Booster vaccinations should be given when a puppy reaches one year old, and annually after that (or every 2 or 3 years depending on the particular type of vaccine used).

Keeping your puppy's vaccination schedule up to date is one of the most important things you can do to keep your new family member happy and healthy and this page will answer all your questions about......

Which puppy vaccinations veterinarians recommend

The best puppy shots timeline to follow

Possible allergic reactions and much more.

If you're worried that vaccinations will hurt your pup, don't be! The discomfort is minimal and most puppies don't even notice the needle - honestly!

When your puppy gets his shots, he's given a tiny dose of the diseases he's being vaccinated against. Not enough to make him sick, but enough to prompt his body to produce anti-bodies that will fight off any attack/infection by these dog illnesses at a later date.

It's also important to remember to have your older pup/dog vaccinated annually (or every two or three years depending on the particular vaccines given) so that his protection stays high.

Canine Parvovirus-2 - highly contagious viral disease which generally affects the intestines, but there is a strain which affects the heart, causing sudden heart failure. Spread through bodily fluids, particularly feces.

Rabies - a deadly viral infection which affects the central nervous system. Usually transmitted through saliva as the result of being bitten by an affected animal.

The above core dog vaccines can be given as a 3-in-1 shot for the Distemper, Adenovirus and Parvo, or a 5-in-1 option is available which also includes protection against Leptospirosis and Canine Parainfluenza.

There's also a 7-in-1 puppy shot option which gives additional protection against other strains of Adenovirus and Leptopsirosis.

Additional, optional, puppy shots that your veterinarian might recommend (depending on the area you live in and your pups exposure to large numbers of other dogs) include vaccinations for Corona Virus (a viral disease affecting the intestines), Bordatella (commonly known as Kennel Cough, a bacterial illness which affects the upper respiratory system), Giardia (a internal parasitic disease) and Lyme Disease (a bacterial illness usually affecting joints, but can also spread to major organs).

If your pup will be boarded, kenneled, attend dog training classes or be 'out-and-about' a lot (which hopefully he/she will to get those valuable puppy socialization experiences ) you need to have the Bordatella vaccine given.

There are two options for administering the Bordatella vaccine - a 'shot' or nasal drops. Personally I prefer the nasal drop option as it works faster and doesn't need to be repeated in 4 weeks the way the shot does. If your dog isn't a hugely social animal, then annual boosters are enough. BUT if he travels a lot, goes to doggie day care, is boarded or at the dog park regularly then having the vaccine given twice a year is recommended.

You can find lots of useful information on the symptoms, transmission, and treatment of these diseases on my Dog Illnesses page. Being able to spot the danger signs quickly could save your pup's life.

If you feel comfortable using a syringe, and you don't own a dog from one of the more reaction-prone breeds (see below), you can actually give vaccinate your puppy yourself.

This can save quite a bit of money, and isn't difficult to do. But, it's very important to get the right vaccines, to administer them properly and at the right times.

If you're interested in doing this, you can learn how all about vaccinating a puppy yourself on my How To Give Puppy Shots At Home page.

Puppy Shots Timeline

Very young puppies have a certain amount of natural immunity that they get from their mothers milk, but that begins to diminish somewhere between 5 and 8 weeks of age. If a puppy is vaccinated while he still has a significant level of maternal antibodies in his bloodstream, the vaccine won't be effective.

Some studies have indicated that at 6 weeks old only 25% of puppies vaccinated respond to the vaccine by producing antibodies, whereas by 18 weeks that figure has risen to 95%.

The box below shows a 'puppy shots timeline' that covers the general recommendations for a puppy immunization schedule here in the USA:

Generally once your puppy has had three sets of the combination puppy shots, plus the Rabies shot, he will be protected for one year against the most common, serious canine illnesses.

Protection isn't immediate though, and I would recommend waiting at least a week after your pup has received his final set of puppy shots before venturing out into public areas.

There are also, sadly, no guarantees and even after three sets of combination vaccines occasionally puppies still get sick.

So always be careful to avoid dogs who might appear sick, or areas where stray dogs may roam.

Adult Dog Shots Timeline

A dog shot timeline will also often include annual 'boosters' for Distemper, Canine Parvovirus and Hepatitis. However many vets no longer recommend yearly dog vaccinations, preferring to leave a longer period between the shots (except for Rabies as mentioned above).

Your vet can check the antibody 'titers' (basically the level of antibodies in your dog's bloodstream to any particular disease) and vaccinate only if they are too low. These tests do cost money, but they can help to prevent over-vaccinating your dog, which may lead to auto-immune problems and other illnesses.

Some canine vaccines are only effective for somewhere betweeen 6 and 12 months. These include the vaccines against Bordatella (Kennel Cough), Leptospirosis and Lyme Disease. You'll need to have these redone annually.

The best advice I can give you is to ask your own veterinarian about this, and follow his/her advice and recommendations about canine vaccination procedure.

If you've adopted an older pup or adult dog and don't know their puppy shots history, then the minimum vaccinations you'll need to get them are against Distemper, Parvo and Hepatitis. They will need two rounds of shots, given 3 weeks apart.

Again though, individual areas (and each veterinarian) may have different recommendations, so talk to your own vet to find out what he/she thinks is best.

To get a fast and professional answer to your (non-urgent) puppy health question from a veterinarian, just use the box below.....

Allergic reactions to Canine Vaccines

Most of the time these reactions to puppy vaccinations are mild, and last only a day or two. But now and then they can be severe enough to warrant a trip to the veterinarian.

All puppy owners should be aware of the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction, because if your puppy does have a bad reaction, you need to know! Symptoms vary from mild or moderate to severe, and may include:

• Mild Reactions
  Luckily most reactions are mild, and symptoms can include a lump/swelling/knot at the site of the injection itself, a slight fever, lethargy or a depressed or sad looking little pup! Sometimes there will be some loss of appetite, and maybe even loose stools for a day or so. BUT, don't worry, in these cases your puppy is just feeling a little tired or 'off color' and the symptoms are short lived and don't usually need veterinary treatment.

  Note: Although these symptoms usually show up within a 3 - 24 hours of vaccination, they can appear much later, sometimes several days to a week after the puppy shots were given.



• Moderate Reactions
  Symptoms of a moderate allergic reaction to puppy immunizations usually involve swelling and/or hives. Often particularly noticeable around the mouth, eyes, face and neck, although welts can appear anywhere on your puppy's body.

  This kind or reaction usually occurs within a few hours of the vaccination. It can progress and become severe, so if you notice any swelling or hives appearing on your pup, take him back to the veterinarian's office right away.

  As an interim measure you can give your little guy/gal some Benadryl to help reduce this swelling - but do check this with your vet first. The correct dosage for a dog is 1/2mg per pound of body weight, given every four hours. I'd recommend using tablets rather than the liquid because liquid Benadryl contains alcohol which is bad for dogs. With very young pups or tiny breeds, even this dosage may not be safe... so again TALK TO YOUR VET FIRST! Veterinary treatment for this type of reaction may also include steroids and other anti-histamines.



• Severe Reactions
  The most serious allergic reaction to puppy shots is anaphylaxis. This is life-threatening and usually strikes within minutes of the vaccine being given. It may start out with vomiting/diarrhea and a loss of balance. It causes a sudden drop in your puppys' blood pressure, and generalized swelling which can result in breathing difficulties, seizures and even death.

  It's an emergency situation and if you have already left the veterinarian's office you need to get your pup back there immediately. He/she may need oxygen, IV fluids or other medical intervention, so don't waste any time.

IMPORTANT: If your puppy does have a bad reaction to his shots, it's important to remind your veterinarian about that at his next vaccination appointment. Some vets may want to give a puppy like this an antihistamine before giving the shots, and/or to monitor him for a while afterwards... just to be safe. It's also possible that your vet will recommend giving the vaccines separately rather than as a 'combo' vaccine to reduce the risks of a reaction.

Although a puppy or dog can react badly to any canine vaccine, there seems to be a higher incidence of allergic reaction to the vaccines for Rabies, Parvo and Leptosirosis.

Also, there are some dog breeds that are more likely to experience allergic reactions. They include, but aren't limited to:

Australian Shepherds

Miniature Dachshunds

West Highland White Terriers

Old English Sheepdogs

Akitas

Portuguese Water Dogs

Weimaraners

Harlequin Great Danes

Scottish Terriers

Shetland Sheepdogs

Also dogs who are mostly white in color, or have 'diulted' coat colors (such as blue or fawn, or blue-fawn) and merle or black/white color combinations seem to be more at risk.

So, 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.

Many, MANY more pups die from the diseases these canine vaccinations prevent, so protecting your puppy is vitally important.

How To Give Puppy Shots At Home

Puppy Health

Common Dog Health Problems

Canine Parvovirus

Lyme Disease in Dogs

Giardia in Dogs

Recognizing A Sick Puppy

Dog Illnesses

Choosing A Veterinarian

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