How to Keep Track of Your Puppy Vaccinations

Quick Summary

• The “core” puppy vaccinations include: parvovirus, canine distemper, rabies, canine adenovirus, leptospirosis or coronavirus.
• The “noncore” vaccines are those for parainfluenza, bordetella, and lyme disease.
• It is the veterinarian that can determine the ideal vaccination schedule for your puppy based on its age, health, geographic location or lifestyle, such as exposure to dog parks, visiting specific regions on vacations, participating in shows, and boarding.

Best vaccination schedule

It is important to keep track of your puppy’s vaccinations, as they are essential for their health and well-being. Bringing home a new puppy is exciting for everyone in the family. In addition to having a new playmate to bond with, there is a certain excitement that comes along with puppy preparation. Purchasing toys, selecting the perfect food bowls that match the kitchen, picking out a cozy bed, and trying to figure out which collar and leash set best suits his personality are fun details when it comes to bringing the baby home.

Then there’s the wellness side of the new puppy equation. Taking your puppy to the veterinarian for a checkup is an important first step. But many pet parents find puppy shot schedule a little puzzling. And it’s easy to see why. Although veterinarians agree that vaccinations are a necessary step in protecting puppies from contagious diseases, finding the perfect schedule for puppy shots isn’t as definite. It depends on each individual pup, geographical location and lifestyle. A consultation with your veterinarian can help determine your dog’s best puppy vaccination schedule.

Shots for puppies are given in a series, which is one of the reasons for the uncertainty. Why do they need to come in a series?

The answer comes from Mother Nature. Puppies receive antibodies, or proteins, from their mothers’ milk as they nurse called colostrum. Antibodies provide immunities to diseases, but these natural protections don’t last very long and they aren’t completely reliable in that there may be gaps in defense.

Dog’s immune system

In other words, antibodies can decrease and immune systems, which take time to develop, might not yet be ready to fend anything off.

Administering vaccinations in a series, therefore, is the safest route to ensuring continued protection. Generally, the first series of shots are given when a puppy is around 6 to 8 weeks of age.

American animal hospital association: Protect from Deadly disease

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), “the first dose of a vaccine serves to prime the pet’s immune system against the virus or bacteria while subsequent doses help to further stimulate the immune system to produce the antibodies needed to protect a pet from specific diseases.”

After that first dose, vaccines are typically scheduled for every three to four weeks until the pup is about 16 weeks of age unless the veterinarian determines the dog is at risk for something and adjusts the puppy vaccinations schedule. With so many vaccinations available, it can be difficult to determine which ones your puppy really needs. Fortunately, they are split into two categories

• Core
• Noncore

That help clarify which vaccinations puppies typically need.

Core vaccines

The “core” group refers to vaccines that most puppies should receive as standard care: parvovirus, canine distemper, rabies, canine adenovirus. Some veterinarians administer vaccines that combine these and possibly a couple or more, such as leptospirosis or coronavirus. A typical combination virus protects against distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and parainfluenza or DHPP for short.

Non core vaccines

The “noncore” vaccines include those for parainfluenza, canine influenza, bordetella, and lyme disease. Veterinarians typically determine if a dog needs these by the its age, health, geographic location or lifestyle, such as exposure to dog parks, visiting specific regions on vacations, participating in shows, and boarding.

Here is a puppy vaccination schedule and checklist for your puppy’s first year.

A typical schedule might look something like this:

• 6-8 weeks: Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Adenovirus, or DHPP

Based on veterinarian’s recommendations: Parainfluenza, Bordetella

• 10-12 weeks: Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Adenovirus (second round)

Based on veterinarian’s recommendations: Bordetella

• 12-16 weeks: Rabies
• 14-16 weeks Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Adenovirus (third round)

Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria

Did you know that puppies can get kennel cough? Yes, the Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria cause cough. This Cough could be highly contagious. Because it spreads easily from one dog to another through direct contact or via the air. That’s why it’s important to keep your puppy up-to-date on his vaccinations, including the kennel cough vaccine.

Rabies vaccination

The rabies vaccine is also a core vaccine and it’s required by law in most states. Puppies should receive their first rabies vaccine at 12 weeks of age and then a booster vaccinations at 16 weeks.

Once your veterinarian has set your pup’s vaccination schedule, be sure to stick to his or her recommendations. Not completing the vaccination series may result in incomplete immunization.

It’s also important to remember that once administered, vaccinations are not a 100 percent guarantee that a puppy will not contract infectious diseases. There are a couple of reasons puppy vaccinations might fail. One is not allowing enough time to pass after a pup gets his shots and exposing him to a high-risk situation. It generally takes a few days for a vaccine to begin working effectively. Other reasons may include a puppy’s immune system is not functioning properly or that the vaccines were not correctly administered.

Puppy vaccine schedule

If possible, schedule your veterinarian visits in advance and write your appointments down on a calendar to remember. There are also several great apps available for smart phones. It can help you keep track of appointments and other essential veterinary information. Once through the puppy stage, your veterinarian will let you know which adult vaccinations, or boosters, your dog will likely need during his annual physical examination to maintain optimal results. However, this does not mean all his vaccines require yearly boosters.

Working closely with your veterinarian and getting your puppy’s shots on time can greatly lower the risk of a youngster getting sick. With the proper vaccinations, healthy diet and exercise your new puppy will be by your side for many years to come!