Puppies are sensitive and vulnerable to infections and diseases. To prevent this, vaccines or shots are administered to them. Vaccines form a core component of preventative wellness care in puppies. They prevent your puppies from fatal diseases and strengthen their immunity to fight against bacteria and viruses.
That’s why vaccinating them from time to time is indeed necessary.
Read on to know more about vaccines and vaccination schedules for puppies.
What Are Core Vaccines for Dogs?
Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs irrespective of breed. This includes:
DHPPI: Also known as the “Distemper vaccine”, it’s a combination vaccine that gives protection against Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Infectious Hepatitis. All these diseases are serious as well as highly infectious in nature.
Leptospirosis: It is a serious infectious disease that causes fever, lack of appetite and lethargy in dogs. If left untreated, it can be fatal to your dog’s life. That’s why administering a ‘lepto vaccine’ during infancy is recommended.
Rabies: Rabies is a deadly disease caused by the rabies virus and transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Although there is no proper treatment for this disease, vaccination plays a key role in preventing it.
What are Non-Core Vaccines for Dogs?
Non-core vaccines are those that are not recommended for all dogs. They are advised by your veterinarian based on your dog’s lifestyle. A few examples of the same are as follows:
Lyme Disease: It’s a bacterial disease caused by ticks that result in fever, painful joints, and at times, organ damage in dogs. Vaccines can help prevent this nasty disease.
Bordetella: Also known as ‘kennel cough’, it is a nasty respiratory disease that causes cough, sneezing, loss of appetite and runny nose in dogs. For dogs to stay at daycare or kennels, it’s a mandatory vaccine.
Canine Influenza Virus: Also known as ‘dog flu ‘, it’s a serious respiratory disease that causes fever, cough, lethargy, loss of appetite and nasal discharge in dogs. If your dog frequently meets fellow puppies, you must vaccinate him against this virus.
Crotalus Atrox: If your dog lives in a farmhouse, giving him a shot of this vaccine is necessary. Basically, it helps in protecting your dog against rattlesnake poisoning. It’s important to note that this vaccine may not offer complete immunity against rattlesnake poisoning. However, it can significantly help in reducing the clinical symptoms.
Vaccination Schedule For Puppies
It’s crucial to note that vaccination schedules differ from puppy to puppy. This may be due to geographical location, lifestyle, and more. However, here’s a reference vaccination schedule for puppies under one year of age.
8 Weeks:
- Bordetella vaccine (1 of 1)
- Dog flu vaccine (1 of 2)
- DHPPI (1 of 3)
- Lyme vaccine (1 of 2)
12 Weeks:
- Dog flu vaccine (2 of 2)
- Lyme disease vaccine (2 of 2)
- Rabies shot (1 of 1)
- DHPPI (2 of 3)
- Leptospirosis vaccine (1 of 2)
16 Weeks:
- Leptospirosis shot (2 of 2)
- DHPPI (3 of 3)
Vaccinating dogs is very crucial for both their and their owner’s safety. It also enables them to live a long, happy and healthy life. You can vaccinate your puppy in any pet clinic in your neighbourhood.
If you’re willing to adopt a puppy, make a point to check his medical records, especially the vaccines that have been administered to him. This will prevent any mishap resulting from administering extra doses of vaccines.
