(with Expert Advice from Bernadine Cruz, DVM, American Kennel Club Spokesperson Lisa Peterson and Kevin Michalowski, dog trainer and author of 15 Minutes to a Great Puppy)

Immunizations are one the most important ways to protect your new puppy. Shots keep your puppy from developing common diseases and can even save your puppy’s life. However, veterinarians have several different philosophies about shots schedules. Some vets feel that your puppy should be immunized once every two weeks with a combination shot that protects your puppy from seven different diseases. Others feel that puppy should be immunized every four weeks. Still other veterinarians believe that puppies should not be given combination shots.

Dr Bernadine Cruz, DVM, says, “Which vaccines are needed by a puppy depends on their life style and the part of the United States in which they live. A puppy that is going to be very sheltered and not travel with the owner will need different vaccines than the one that goes hiking and biking with the owner. Vaccines are normally started around 6 to 8 weeks of age. They are usually repeated every 3 to 4 weeks until the pet is 4 months of age. There can be exceptions, so the final vaccine schedule should be determined by the attending veterinarian on a case by case basis.”

American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson has very similar advice for new puppy owners. “There are three major boosters, given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Based on where you live, your puppy may also need Lyme disease or corona vaccines. This is especially important in the northeast region of the United States . Your puppy will also need a Rabies shot after 16 weeks and before six months.”

Kevin Michalowski, author of the new book 15 MINUTES TO A GREAT PUPPY, explains why vaccines are so important. “While nursing, puppies receive valuable antibodies from their mother’s milk, but that natural immunity begins to disappear early on and may be completely gone by weaning. Consequently, by 8 to 10 weeks of age, puppies are susceptible to a number of diseases. It’s vital to take young dogs to the vet early for check-ups and initial shots.

Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for at what age you should vaccinate against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza, bordatella, Lyme disease and rabies. In some cases the vaccinations will require more than one visit to the vet.”

Finally, before you selected immunization schedule for your puppy, talk to your vet about the pros and cons of all the different immunization schedules. Some dog breeds are more sensitive to vaccinations than other dog breeds. You also may want to discuss leaving your puppy with your vet for a few hours when he receives his first immunizations in case he has a reaction.

In Lesson 4, you will learn about preventative medications that puppies should take.

Until then, don’t forget to give your puppy plenty of hugs and kisses,
Katelyn

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