How many set of vaccines do puppies need??

Question

She just got her third one today and we also changed the vet. The first vet said after the 3rd set she can go out but the other vet said she has to have 4 sets to go out.

Answer 1

It all depends on the age of the dog when the vaccinations start, the area you live in and your dog's lifestyle. The usual minimum is two, three is common, four is not unheard of. Ask the vet why he/she feels another vaccination is necessary, and ask for a detailed explanation. I try to avoid overvaccinating my dogs, and suggest starting puppies with two sets of DHLPP, follow with rabies at four months, and every three years after the initial vaccines (in my geographic area). Many people vaccinate less often, and have the dogs' titered before administering vaccines...if you're uncomfortable about giving the 4th shot, you can request the vet perform the titer test for proof that it is needed.

Answer 2

Per the AAHA/AVMA and all 27 vet schools a puppy only needs 3 sets of vaccinations ...8, 12 & 16 weeks of age and a rabies vaccination at 20 weeks. So if your puppy has had all 3 of the distemper/parvo series she is all done for a year. In a year she wil lneed a booster and then not again for 3 years (possibly longer)

***puppies should never be vaccinated under 8 weeks of age, it interfers with natural immunity, supresses the immune system, leaves the puppy more suseptable to the very illness the vaccine is suppose to prevent and it can cause problems with future vacciantions*****

Answer 3

Only one of the previous writers knows what they're talking about.
There are 2 sets of vaccination protocols:
At 8, 12 and 16 weeks is the normal.
At 6, 9, 12 and 16 weeks is for when there is an extreme problem with parvovirus - which often happens at the end of summer.
NEVER vaccinate closer than 3 weeks - it usually results in the pup's passive immunity killing off the new shot before the attenuated viruses in it can "teach" the active immune system how to recognise and kill them.

See, pups take in passive immunity with the colostrum they suckle before the brood's ordinary milk "comes in", and that passive immunity fades out over the next 6-to-12 weeks, depending on how much they suckled and how much strength there was in their mother's own antibodies.

The only way to be CERTAIN of the right date to vaccinate is by taking titres from each pup each couple of days - expensive and time-consuming (each pup will be "ready" on a different day....). So we play "Russian Roulette" by vaccinating at intervals experience has shown are almost SURE to result in one of the shots arriving in that magic moment after the passive immunity has dropped to a level where it won't immediately kill the attenuated viruses but before it is so low that any "wild" viruses (those blowing around in the environment) can enter & kill the pup before its immature immune system can cope.

Most people regard Dr Jean Dodds as the leading expert on vaccination, so see:
http://www.giantschnauzerclubofamerica.com/Information/Articles/new_vaccine.htm
and
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-CHG-VACC-PROTOCOLS.HTM

Scientists being cautious, and some dogs being horribly inbred (which reduces the ability of the immune system to store information and to generate antibodies), she says the immune system isn't mature enough to permanently "remember" until given a booster at or after 6 months old.
I simply don't bother giving ANY vaccination after 16 weeks.
But owners have to remember that vaccinations need up to 2 weeks to take effect - many a vet has been blamed for "giving my pet parvovirus" when the actuality was that the passive immunity had dropped too low and the pup had been infected by "wild" virus and was incubating them at the time the vaccination was given.

I have the luxury of living in a rabies-free country. Those who live in other countries often have to obey a law requiring a rabies booster every 3 years.
Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly
"In GSDs" as of 1967

Answer 4

Your vet is right.
The puppy really only needs one set of shots, the only problem is that you will never know which one it was.

The reason for the series is that until the mothers immune system shuts down in the pup it will kill the shot just like any other virus. Since there is no way to tell when it will shut down we give the shots in the series in order to minimize the amount of time that the puppy would be exposed. So even tho' your pup might be fully protected right now, technically it is no more protected now than it was before it got the first shot.

Answer 5

Dogs never finish getting vaccinations, it begins with puppy shots and keeps going...they will get boosters every 6 mos and yearly shots also, do you have them on vitamins and Heartguard Plus yet...see your vet,,,,,this will prevent heartworms and hook worms

the vet will tell you when the next shots are due, just keep track of all meds, vaccinations, so one doesn't get missed and good luck with new puppy and Merry Christmas

Answer 6

One vet might stretch it out more then another. I had 4-5 visits.

Answer 7

It's usually four, to finish out .