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To keep your puppies alive and healthy, it’s important to vaccinate them as early as 6-8 weeks after birth. Puppy vaccination will protect your pup from infections and other maladies that plague puppies at an early age and onward into adulthood. Some vaccinations are essentially a must in the sense that your pet cannot survive for long without them, while other types are non-essential. If you’d love to learn more about puppy vaccination, then this post will be a helpful one for you in this regard.
Granted, it might seem a little too much the first time you bring a pup home. And it is, your pup needs everything from you, time, food, vaccination, toys, training, etc. For puppy vaccinations, knowing where to start from is important.
We have discussed why vaccinations for puppies are important, when to take them, puppy vaccination costs and the ideal vaccination schedule to follow for your young pups.
Getting Started with Puppy Vaccination
Vaccinations are crucial for keeping your dog in good health. The plethora of diseases that can be prevented due to proper vaccinations are listed below:
- Canine distemper
- Canine Parainfluenza
- Bordetella
- Rabies
- Leptospirosis
- Heartworm disease
- Canine Coronavirus
- Parvovirus
- Kennel cough
- Lyme disease
A good number of these diseases are fatal and not so easy to treat. Therefore, the most effective way to combat them is puppy vaccinations right from the start when your puppy is still tender.
Vaccinations Needed by Your Furry Child
As tender animals, puppies lack enough immunity to combat certain diseases. Vaccinations provide a shield against opportunistic infections in dogs. These vaccinations are in 2 categories – Core vaccinations and Non-core vaccinations.
- Core Vaccinations
These are vaccinations recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association for the prevention of specific canine diseases.
- Distemper Shot aka DHPP – This vaccination covers Parvovirus, Parainfluenza virus, Canine Distemper virus and Adenovirus 2. It’s a combination vaccination tackling 4 diseases at a go.
- Rabies Shot – This is the most common vaccination shot given to dogs to prevent rabies which is deadly once contracted.
- Non-Core Vaccinations
These are vaccinations that are not mandatory but are important for your dog’s health care.
- Leptospirosis shot
- Lyme disease shot
- Bordetella bronchiseptica shot
- Canine influenza virus shot
When to Introduce the First Vaccination Shots
The ideal time to introduce vaccination shots to your pet is pegged at between 6-8 weeks old. At this time, your pup can receive the core vaccination shots first then subsequently at 3 months old or thereabout, the non-core vaccinations can be administered as well.
If you’re getting an old pup, ensure to check through its records to know which vaccinations it’s already had before visiting the veterinary clinic. You can also decide to have your puppy vaccinations at home if you can afford the cost of having your vet specialist come to your place. Check what works for you and go with it.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule for Pet Owners
In your puppy’s first year of life with you, a vaccination schedule can guide you to ensure no shots are missed. Below is a brief outline of a general schedule that works for most dogs. Exceptions might exist due to the nature of your area, your veterinary center’s preferences, etc.
- Age 6-8 weeks
Core Vaccination – 1st DHPP
Non-Core Vaccination – Canine Influenza, Bordetella
- Age 9-11 weeks
Core Vaccination – 2nd DHPP
Non-Core Vaccination – Lyme disease, Leptospirosis and Canine Influenza
- Age 12-15 weeks
Core Vaccination – 3rd DHPP
Non-Core Vaccination – Lyme disease, Leptospirosis
- Age 16-20 weeks
Core Vaccination – 4th DHPP, Rabies
Non-Core Vaccination – Leptospirosis, Kennel cough if applicable
- Age 12-16 months
Core Vaccination – DHPP, Rabies
Non-Core Vaccination – Canine Influenza, Bordetella, Coronavirus
- Age 1-3 years
Core Vaccination – Rabies shot yearly or every 2 years
Non-Core Vaccination – None
What’s the Cost of Puppy Vaccination?
Cost of puppy vaccination will vary depending on several factors like location, branding and the type of vaccinations needed. On average, these are puppy vaccination costs to bear in mind when looking to get your dog those essential shots.
- Rabies shot – $25 – $30
- DHPP shots – $30 – $40
- Leptospirosis -$30 – $40
- Bordetella – $25 – $30
- Lyme disease – $25 – $40
Vaccinations are essential to protect your pup against preventable diseases. If inexperienced on how to go about protecting your dog, it’s ideal to speak with a vet specialist. Safari Veterinary Care Centers offers a world-class veterinary care service designed to protect your pet throughout its lifetime.
Connect with us to speak with an experienced vet on how we can care for your pup, giving it the vaccination shots it needs to live a long, happy and healthy life
Learn more about Safari Veterinary Care Centers here – https://www.safarivet.com/care-topics/dogs-and-cats/puppy-rap/puppy-vaccinations/
