What vaccines Does A Puppy Need?

 Puppies are similar to human babies. They need tender care and they are very subtle creatures. Caring for puppies need is no different from caring human babies. In this article we will take a look at the best way to vaccinate puppies. Even puppies that begin receiving their vaccinations at a tender age and have a couple of shots can get deadly diseases such as parvo. It's rally important to ensure that you discuss with your vet to determine the right series of vaccinations for your puppy. The following are the current shots your puppy needs.

Puppies get some natural immunity to most diseases from their mothers as soon as they start nursing. This immunity is passed to them through colostrum found in the mother's milk in the first 48 hours after birth. This immunity lasts for the first 5-6 weeks of a puppy's life. Different puppies get different amounts of colostrum and varying amounts of immunity. This early immunity wears off at different times for different puppies, even in the same litter.

This is why it's important to start vaccinating your puppy against diseases at this age. Some puppies will still be immune to diseases like , parvo, and others at this age because of the immunity they received from their mother. This means that the early vaccine they get won't give them any more immunity. For other puppies, this early immunity has already worn off and they require the protection of these shots to keep them from getting sick. That's also why it's important to give your puppy several shots for the same vaccinations, several weeks apart, to make sure that they are totally immunized against these diseases.

There are some "core" vaccines that every puppy should receive: distemper, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis and respiratory disease) canine parvovirus-2 and rabies. Other vaccinations are considered "non-core" but they are often given: leptospirosis, coronavirus, canine parinfluenza, bordetella, and a vaccine for Lyme disease. Not all of these shots are appropriate for every puppy and some of them are not considered very effective. For instance, the shot for Lyme disease is not always given, depending on what area of the country you live in. Coronavirus is usually only given to very young puppies since older puppies are not very susceptible to this virus.

There is also debate about the best ages at which to vaccinate puppies. Some people begin as early as 5 weeks. Others start as late as 9 weeks. One possible schedule would vaccinate puppies for parvo at 5 weeks (if the puppies are at high risk for parvo); then vaccinate at 6 and 9 weeks; vaccinate again between 12 and 16 weeks. Then give your puppy his rabies shot between 12 and 16 weeks. Most people wait to give the rabies shot last since it is very taxing to the immune system. It's usually best to give it separately from the other vaccines instead of giving your puppy too many shots at one time.

Your puppy will be due for his booster shots a year later. Check with your vet to see which shots should be given annually, every two years, or every three years. There is no need to give all shots every year. Manufacturers do not suggest this for their vaccines and the vaccinations usually provide more than one year's worth of immunity. There is no need to give your dog unnecessary shots. Too many vaccinations can be as bad as no vaccinations, especially in light of the fact that many dogs suffer from immune system problems.

Naturally, you should discuss vaccinations with your vet. However, if your veterinarian is not open to talking about your puppy or dog's vaccination schedule or which shots your pet needs, you always have the option of choosing a different veterinarian who is more willing to listen