If you have just purchased or adopted a new puppy, then you should know that there are some vaccinations that are essential for your puppy to receive. In regards to when puppies should be vaccinated, basically the length and timing of the window of susceptibility is different in every single litter, and this factor must be taken fully into consideration. However, almost all researchers basically agree that for puppies and kittens, you need to give at least three combination vaccines and then repeat these all once they are one year of age.
There are many diseases which your puppy will need to be vaccinated against, and this would include such things as: distemper, canine adenovirus-2, and canine parvovirus-2. As well, noncore vaccines would include that of leptospirosis, coronavirus, canine parainfluenza, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. Without being vaccinated against these conditions, your new pet is susceptible to either severe illness or death.
There is a basic timeline that you should follow in order to know when you should bring your puppy to the veterinarian for vaccination:
•5 Weeks
Parvovirus is the type of vaccination that is taken at this point in the puppy’s life, and for puppies that are at high risk of exposure to parvo, some veterinarians recommend having the puppy vaccinated at 5 weeks. Your veterinarian will inform you of the best time for your puppy to receive this shot.
•6-9 Weeks
This is the time frame when your puppy would get the combination vaccine with leptospirosis, and coronavirus, which only takes place in the cases where coronavirus is a concern.
•12 Weeks
This is the point in time in your puppy’s life where they will need to be given their first rabies shot. However make sure to speak with your veterinarian before your puppy is 12 weeks old, because the age at vaccination may vary according to your own specific local law or the breed of dog that you own.
•12-15 Weeks
Around this time in your puppy’s life, they will again be given a combination vaccine, and this includes Leptospirosis, as well as the Coronavirus vaccine and there is the Lyme vaccine as well. These shots should be given in a timely manner in order to ensure that your puppy stays healthy as he or she matures into adulthood.
•Adult
As your pet matures into adulthood, it is important that they are administered regular booster shots. Furthermore, it is important to know that at this period of early adulthood, they will receive a combination vaccine, which is also often referred to as a 5-way vaccine. This involves protection against adenovirus cough and hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Additionally, combination vaccines may also be given at this time, which include that of leptospirosis and or the coronavirus.
It is also important to realize that according to the American Veterinarian Medical Association, dogs at low risk of disease exposure may not need to receive booster shots yearly for most diseases. Therefore you should make sure to consult with your local veterinarian, so that you can determine the specific appropriate vaccination schedule for your dog. This way you will not miss or overdo any of the vaccinations, and this will ensure not only that your dog will stay as healthy as possible for the time being, but also that your dog will have a long and healthy life.
