Skipping Puppy Shots?

Question

I recently got a 6 month old black lab from his previous owner who said he could not afford to care for the dog properly. he said the dog recieved the 1st set of shots but that was it. I was wondering if I need to get him the missed sets or if I can just jump the most recent. I believe within the 1st year a puppy is supposed to have 3 main sets of shots then rabies. The dog seems to be in good health eats well and has lots of energy. I live out in the contry and can buy the shots at the local feed store but need to know what to buy.

Answer 1

Shots are given from 8ish until 16 wks every 3 weeks because the mothers immunity can interfere. The dog should have a full series after 16 wks, it wont need the missed shots. Your vet will give him the same as he would have for the 16wk shot unless he feels there is something like kennel cough that may not take on the first shot regardless of how old he is. The kennel cough nasal is better, offers faster immunity and site immunity and does not have to be repeated.

The whole idea of shots every 3wks is to protect from the time the mothers antibodies stop working until the dogs immune system is developed so that the shots provide immunity.

If the vet has any doubts he can run a titer count to determine immunity. Parvo for example is said to be worse with black and tan breeds.

I wouldnt trust vaccines from a farm ranch store if they have EVER been warm they wont work. Too many chances the shots have gotten warm at some point. If you simply can not afford to have the vet do the shots (your going to have to on rabies anyway) buy the shot from the vet and give it to the dog in the parking lot, do not let it get warm.

Answer 2

I'm sorry, I don't understand your question at all. Are you saying that your vet is giving you the option between....what exactly? Before receiving any shot of any kind your veterinarian will HAVE to do an exam to make sure that your dog is healthy enough for a shot. So the exam will not be optional no matter what vet you go to. Rabies is required by law, so there's no getting around that one either. DHLPPC is a combination vaccine that protects your dog against Distemper, Hepititis, Leptospirosis, Parvo virus, Parainfluenza, and Corona virus, the most common contagious diseases in dogs. Lepto is in the environment and both dogs and humans can get it by drinking or swimming in infected water or coming into contact with urine from infected animals. Distemper is a deadly virus and while it is no longer an epidemic disease in dogs it IS still out there (we had a ferret test positive for canine distemper earlier this year) and can be carried by several species other than dogs including wildlife that is common even in urban areas. Parvo virus is still VERY common and possibly the number one killer of puppies that are not vaccinated. No responsible vet would ever recommend not vaccinating against parvo. Lyme and bordatella should both be decided based on your dog's risk factors. Bordatella is highly recommended if your dog has any chance of coming into nose-to-nose contact with other dogs and will probably be required if your dog is going to be boarded, groomed, or go to training classes. Bordatella is commonly called kennel cough and is probably the most common contagious diseases in dogs. Lyme vaccine is recommended if your dog goes camping, travels in areas where lyme disease is endemic, or goes walking in areas where ticks are common. Otherwise, your dog's risk factors for this disease are pretty limited and the vaccine isn't really necessary. A fecal is highly advised for all puppies since not all parasites respond to the most commonly used deworming medications and they can pick up these parasites anywhere. Because intestinal parasites shed eggs intermittently, it is possible for an infested dog to not have any signs of parasites in the feces. Because of this, most vets recommend seeing three negative fecals when you first bring a dog home (puppy or adult) and then annually thereafter. However, if your dog is on year-round heartworm preventative some vets don't really insist on the yearly fecal because most heartworm preventatives also protect against the most common intestinal parasites as well. I have no idea what a "combo" is. As I already stated, the DHLPPC is a combo shot, since it protects against a combination of diseases. Beyond that I couldn't even guess what it might be. Honestly, if you're only going to do one or two vaccines, it should be rabies (as required by law) and the DHLPPC. But if your dog is at risk for the other diseases, then you should also get the other vaccines as well.

Answer 3

You'll be fine with just with one distemper combo which should include parvo, most are 7 way vaccines, and a rabies vaccine.

The reason puppies are given a series of shots is because you can't tell for sure when antibodies from its mother have worn off. If mom's antibodies are still present at the time of the vaccine, the vaccine is ineffective.

At 6 months old there will be no maternal antibodies left so one vaccine will do just fine.

Answer 4

Parvo shots, Parvo is VERY contagious in dogs, and they can get it just walking outside.. if a dog that had the disease walked through your yard. Also Parvo is spread through rain run off.. and once your puppy gets parvo, its a 50/50 chance if they live or not. The Vet really stressed the parvo shots with me when I got my puppy.. she just went to the vet for the first time friday, she is an 8 Week yellow lab.

Answer 5

Okay... The reason puppies are given a series of shots is because their immunity is still based upon the stuff passed on from their mother's. Their mother's immunity messes with the ability of the shots to work, so they give them multiple times. You should be able to give the one set and then not worry about giving anymore for at least 3 years or more.

Look up overvaccination. Most vets are overvaccinating our pets.

Here is one website with information about how frequently to vaccinate your dog:

http://www.critteradvocacy.org/K9%20Principles%20Recommend%20&%20Not.htm

Good luck.

Answer 6

skipping puppy shots

Answer 7

here is a list of the required vaccinations:
Good for you for being responsible

VACCINATION SCHEDULE

Necessary Vaccinations for Dogs & Puppies

7-8 weeks: DHPPC*-Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Coronavirus
12 weeks: DHPPC Booster
16 weeks: DHPPC Booster
6 months: Rabies (1-year vaccination)
14 months: DHPPC, administered yearly from this date
18 months: Rabies (3-year vaccination), administered every 3 years from this date
* The DHPPC vaccination requires the two booster injections to build up maximum immunity in the dog

Other Vaccinations

These vaccinations are for canine diseases that are not a threat to most dogs in their everyday life surroundings
Bordetella(Canine Cough Complex or Kennel Cough)
•Administered in drops via the dogs nose
•Recommended for dogs that are kept in confined areas with many other dogs
•Usually required for boarding, kenneling, commercial travel, and international travel
•Booster: yearly
Lyme Disease
•Administered as an injection
•Recommended for dogs residing in, or that will travel through areas with high frequencies of Lyme Disease Cases

Answer 8

Your vet can do a blood test called a titre test to determine if your puppy has immunity or not. If your puppy already has immunity you won't need to vaccinate him. A large percentage of dogs have full immunity and do not even need the vaccinations. Definitely ask for the titre test.

Answer 9

Being that he is still a puppy, I would go ahead and finish his shots, esp. for parvo, corona, and rabies.
it all depends in your area, though, the rest of the shots he would need. it is wonderful that they have combo shots.
I would definitely check with the vet, though for a professional opinion. I would not want to play with your pup's health!

Parvo is devastating, in that your pup can be playful one day, and totally sick the next. I just lost a pup recently, and it was so painful. I have lost pups before to parvo, before their vaccinations were completed, because other animals would wander into our property, or the pup would pull a houdini, dig or wiggle their way, (before I catch them), and walk around the block, thus picking this up, and bring it in to the rest. it is the worst to see them suffering, and not be able to do anything about it to help them. please be sure to get your pup his shots...

and don't trust shots you can purchase at the local store. if the shots were not properly kept, cool, and dry, they can go bad, and your pup could get sick. please do take him to the vet, esp because you don't know his history, it could be detrimental to his health and life if you don't do this for him.

good luck!

Answer 10

You should consult a vet. You need to make up the lost shots or the dog could get very sick.