Puppy Shots?

Question

Im taking my 7 wk old pomeranian to the vets on Friday. I want to know what shots are needed at the visit. I dont want him getting shots he doesnt need just so the vet can make extra money. If you can give me a list of what shots puppies should get and what ones arent really necessary, that would help out alot. There are so many websites that have conflicting information on vaccinations.

Answer 1

There's a nice little chart on the bottom of this webpage: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/schoolresources/communications/publications/bellwether/61/vaccine_guidelines.html

This represents the 2006 AAHA Vaccination Guidelines. At 6-8 weeks, your puppy should get distempter, adenovirus (hepatitis), parainfluenza, and parvo vaccines. This is usually given as one shot that is called DHPP. Repeat this at 10-12 weeks, and again at 13-16 weeks. At 16 weeks, administer a Rabies vaccination.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I only vaccinate for parvo and distemper (Rabies is not mandatory where I live). And I vaccinate separately, that way if there is a reaction you know exactly what they are reacting to. I also wouldn't vaccinate until at the earliest 8 weeks and 12 would be even better. Puppies do get antibodies through their mothers milk that will last for 8 - 14 weeks and maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine thus offering no further protection.

After that I run titers on my dogs yearly or bi yearly depending on the dog and the last results and I have never had to revaccinate. My dogs have a completely healthy immune system.

Over vaccinating is no healthy and most veterinary schools in North America are changing their curriculum to reflect this. You are right there is a LOT of information out there but keep at it and make a decision that is right for you and you dog. Once you have made an informed decision be open to information, but remember that most vets out there went through vet school 30 years ago. A LOT has changed in pet medicine in recent years!

Hope this helps. Try some of these websites:

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petvacc.htm
http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/vac.html
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/are-veterinarians-over-vaccinating/
www.newvaccinationprotocols.com
http://bccc.pair.com/vaccinat.htm

Answer 3

Here is the AVMA/AAHA guidelines (also the one being used by all 27 vet schools):

8-9 weeks distemper/parvo/canine hepatitis/adenovirus-2

12-14 weeks same

16 -18 weeks same

20 weeks or older rabies

one year form date of last vacciantion a booster then none again for 3 years

Some dogs may need lepto and parainfluenza depending on the area they are in and danger of exposure....toy breeds usually don't receive lepto and it is often not advised for them at all because of sensativity to that vaccine.

Bordatella (kennel cough) is not needed at this young age and also unless you are going ot be boarding or taking your puppy to doggie day care there is really no reason to have this vaccine at all.

vaccines NOT recommended:
Coronavirus, giardia, adenovirus-1.

I also suggest in addition to looking at the AAHA site you also check our Dr. Jean Dodds site and get a copy of the november 2006 Whole Dog Journal. It has an excellant article on vacciantions.

Answer 4

Defintely get the distemper parvo combo. It is the most important for the age. Some give the DHLPPC vaccine and some give the DHPPC vaccine. It depends on the vets preference. Here is what each stands for-distemper hepatitis lepto parvo parainfluenza and coronavirus. Some places dont use the vaccines with the lepto because some dogs have an allergic reaction to the lepto. Even in your dog does have a reaction it CAN be treated and then your dog will be pretreated before any future vaccines. One of my dogs has vaccine reactions. Usually you dont see any reactions until after the 2nd set of shots. You need to get what ever distemper parvo shot your vet has three times each a month apart before the dog is considered fully vaccinated. At 16 weeks you have to get the Rabies vaccine done (usually at the same time as final parvo shot). If you plan on taking your dog to the groomer you will probably need the nasal bordetella shot to protect it from kennel cough. It is like our flu shot and a lot of dogs get kennel cough at groomers or kennels. Depending on the area you live in they might offer/recommend the Lyme vaccine. It protects your dog from Lyme disease, BUT the shot also neutralizes the disease in the tick so if the tick bites your vaccinated dog and falls off and gets on you , it cant give you Lyme diesease either. This one is an optional one like the bordetella. On the first visit he should really only get one shot that day, unless you test him for worms and he has some then they might give a deworm injection. Hope this helps. If you have any questions email me.

Answer 5

At 7 weeks, he'll need Bordatella (usually the one that goes in the nose) and distemper. Also, if you got him from a breeder that did a dewormer twice, then the vet shouldn't do that. BUT!! If the breeder didn't give him two rounds of dewormer, then the vet will need to give it to him to prevent any internal parasites. They'll probably charge you an office visit, too, because the vet hasn't seen him before, but most likely you won't have to pay this for his booster shots in the next few weeks.

Also, when he gives him the Distemper, make sure it has the Corona vaccine as well because Corona is very common in puppies. He might also do a heartworm test and fecal test. The fecal test is to make sure he doesn't already have any parasites, but that will be the only one he needs until his yearly.

At 16-17 weeks, they'll give rabies and you should look into when you need to get him neutered (usually not until both testicles drop).

I hope the vet doesn't rip you off. And good luck with your new puppy!!!

Answer 6

At 7 weeks he'll need what's sometimes called a "combo" or "DHLPP" vaccination: it covers things like parvo, distemper, lepto, influenza, and other doggie diseases. You should also get him wormed at this time.

He will need another combo shot at 12 weeks, and a third one at 16 weeks.

When he's 16 weeks old he'll also need a rabies vaccination.

Once he has all of those shots, he won't need another one for 1 year.

You can get him a Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccination if he's going to be around other dogs, but otherwise it's not necessary.

Answer 7

Parvo would be my first shot I'd ever give my dog. Parvo lasts on a surface for 7 years and if it gets to your pup, it'll be sick and could die in 24 hours if not spotted quick. Ive had 4 dogs get parvo and only 1 dog made it cause I knew enough about it to spot it. Take the pup to hte vet and ask them to vaccinate the dog, it's only about 17 dollars so not much. Loads of pups get it, it's not a rare case so its hard to slip by. If you dont have the money just pray that inside doesnt have parvo on the carpet and youll have to paper train for a while until the pup is okay to go outside with its shots.

Answer 8

You have received a lot of answers on here. Not all of them are correct and some have omitted important items your pup should have done. My advice to you is to trust your Vet. If you do not trust him enough to give your pup the needed care throughout your dog's life, then find a new Vet. You have to trust your Vet in the same way you trust YOUR doctor.

One thing I didn't see mentioned was a fecal sample. You should take one with you on your first visit. It is the ONLY way the Vet can tell if your pup has worms. A good Vet does a fecal sample every year with the annual check up.

Answer 9

The Lyme's disease vaccination might be offered. My vet told me not to give my pup this vaccination because its not 100%, and if he does get Lyme's disease you will not know until it is too late. If you don't give him the vaccination you will see symptoms right away and be able to catch it. Although the chances of getting the disease without the vaccination are obviously higher. Some vets don't tell you that you can still get the disease, the vaccination just reduces your chances (so I was told).

Answer 10

DO NOT get lepto on a toy breed such as a pomeranian. It is a very dangerous vaccine for puppies. Be sure to get parvo, bordetella, influenza, hepatitis, and corona.