Puppies need a great deal of attention and care. In order for them to live a happy, long life, they should receive vaccination shots which are of utmost importance for their development and growth.
Why do they need vaccinations? After their mother’s passive immunity wears off (usually 6 weeks after they are born), they are more prone to contracting different types of diseases for which they have not developed antigens yet. A vaccine helps them boost their immunity and opens the way to a healthy life.
All puppies need immunization against the canine distemper virus, hepatitis, measles, rabies and other prevalent animal diseases.
The first set of vaccinations begins when the puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old – they will get vaccinated against distemper, parainfluenza and measles, followed by DHHP (a multivalent vaccine against distemper, hepatitis, which affects the liver, parainfluenza, which affects the respiratory tract, and parvovirus). At 12 to 16 weeks of age, depending on the laws of the state you live in, they will have to get a second shot of the multivalent vaccine plus the vaccine against rabies and an optional Lyme disease vaccine. The Lyme vaccine will have to be repeated a couple of weeks later after the first dose. At 16 weeks, they will undergo the third DHHP combination vaccine, which will have to be redone every 1 to 2 years throughout your dog’s life. Every 1 to 3 years, the dog will also need to get vaccinated against rabies for contniud protection.
These are also optional vaccines against the Bortedella virus, the Coronavirus which affects the intestinal tract, and Leptospirosis, which affects the kidney and can also be transmitted to humans and other animals as well.
Depending on the area you live in and the type of breed your puppy is, the veterinarian may recommend other vaccines such as additional shots to protect against the Parvovirus, which most often affects breeds like the Doberman or Rottweiler.
If you believe your puppy could do without these vaccinations shots, think again. Same as with children, a puppy that has not been properly vaccinated will get ill more often and possibly get infected with a disease without a cure (such as that caused by the Canine Distemper virus) or one that is usually fatal for dogs (such as the illness caused by the Parvovirus, which affects the intestinal tract).
Why subject your dog to imminent danger and possibly even death, when you could easily prevent it from getting sick in the first place?
A responsible pet owner knows that respecting the puppy vaccination schedule is a must for a healthy dog. If, by chance the puppy develops adverse reactions to a vaccine, it should be brought in for an emergency check visit to your veterinarian.
There is no best time to introduce your new puppy to the word “healthy” – in fact, as soon as you have adopted it, the first stop on the way home should be at the vet’s – that way, your new little furry friend can be examined and treated for whatever health problem it may have already developed.
