House training, socializing and medical care

Puppy vaccination guide

Q: When Should I Get My Puppy Vaccinated?

Vaccines for puppies should be given when they are is 6-8 weeks old.

Q: Do Puppies Need 3 Vaccinations?

Puppies have to be taken for their regular immunizations from the time they are 6-8 weeks old until they become 12-16 weeks old. These vaccines are scheduled for every 3-4 weeks.

What are vaccinations?

Taking care of a puppy does not only include feeding it healthy food, playing with it or buying it new toys. Getting your puppy vaccinated and being aware of your puppy’s vaccination schedule is also extremely important. Vaccinations provide acquired immunity to puppies to fight off infectious diseases. The vaccines for puppies contain antigens that resemble the disease-causing bacteria or virus but do not cause the disease.

Why do puppies need vaccines?

You need to immunize your puppy to give its body the power to fight diseases. Puppy vaccinations are important in building your puppy’s immunity to prevent them from contracting diseases later in life. The vaccinations stimulate the body to recognize the disease germs or viruses so that when the dog contracts the disease, the immune system recognizes the foreign body and fights it to reduce its ill effects.

Vaccinations protect your dog against diseases, some of which are life threatening and can be easily spread to other dogs. Your puppy’s first vaccination will normally be at about eight weeks of age, with a second dose at 10-12 weeks. Your puppy won’t have full protection until two weeks after the second vaccination takes effect. After that, annual booster vaccinations are needed to maintain your dog’s immunity. The kennel cough vaccination is also recommended for any dogs staying in boarding kennels, or who are going be in contact with lots of other dogs, for example at training classes or dog shows.

Protect your puppy

Puppies are vulnerable to unpleasant infections, including distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, parvovirus and rabies. While puppies are still with their mother they get temporary protection, delivered through her milk. Once your puppy is weaned, they can’t mix with other dogs – or play anywhere other dogs might have been – until after their second vaccination. Your puppy’s first vaccinations should take place at six weeks. This needs to be followed by a second vaccination two to four weeks later. So when you bring your puppy home, make sure you also get details of their vaccinations – what they’ve had so far and what they still need.

Try to register your puppy with a vet as soon as you can and book an appointment well ahead. Vets can help with all kinds of health and care questions, so don’t worry about turning up with a list.

Annual boosters for all dogs

To keep your dog healthy, they’ll need a booster jab every year.

Puppy vaccination charts

Puppy vaccinations should be given to your pet when they are six to eight weeks old. It is also advisable to keep in touch with your dog’s vet for a vaccination schedule that is tailored fit to your dog. Take a look at the table issued by the WSAVA Organization below that provides detailed information about your puppy’s vaccination schedule:

Vaccination	Puppy’s age
Canine Parvovirus-2, Canine Distemper Virus, Recombinant Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Adenovirus-2, CPV-2, Canine Adenovirus-1	Administer at 6 — 8 weeks, then to be given every 2-4 weeks until the dog turns 16 weeks or older
Rabies	One dose at 12 weeks of age. If first shot is given before 12 weeks, then the puppy should be revaccinated again at 12 weeks.
Parainfluenza Virus	Administer at 6 — 8 weeks, then to be given every 2-4 weeks until the dog turns 16 weeks or older
Bordetella bronchiseptica, B. bronchiseptica + CPiV intranasal, B. bronchiseptica +CPiV (MLV) +CAV-2 (MLV) intranasal	First single dose to be administered at as early as 3 weeks of age
B. bronchiseptica	Can be given at 8 weeks of age
Bordetella bronchiseptica, Bordetella bronchiseptica	First dose to be administered at 6–8 weeks and one dose at 10–12 weeks of age
Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme borreliosis; killed whole bacterin, parenteral), Borrelia burgdorferi (rLyme borreliosis) (recombinant-Outer surface protein A [OspA], parenteral)	First dose at 12 weeks or older of age. Second dose is given 2-4 weeks later
Leptospira interrogans	First dose at 8 weeks or older of age. Second dose is given 2-4 weeks later
Canine influenza virus Canine Coronavirus	Two doses 2–4 weeks apart with initial dose at >6 weeks of age.
Vaccinations for puppies at shelter homes
CDV + CAV-2 + CPV-2 rCDV + CAV-2 + CPV-2 with or without CPiV Parenteral	To be administered immediately upon admission in the shelter at 4 weeks of age. To be repeated every 2 weeks until the dog is 20 weeks old and still at the shelter
Bordetella bronchiseptica, B. bronchiseptica + CPiV, B. bronchiseptica +CPiV, B. bronchiseptica	To be administered as early as 3 weeks of age. If the first dose is given at 6 weeks, then an additional dose to be given after 6 weeks
Bordetella bronchiseptica	One dose at the time of admission at 6-8 weeks of age and 2^nd dose 2 weeks later
Rabies	Single dose to be administered at the time of discharge from the facility

Boosters are given to adult dogs and they are usually administered every year. If you are unsure whether your dog requires a booster shot, you can also get a titer test to determine the same. This test checks your dog’s immunity levels and can help you determine whether your dog needs any vaccination or what type of vaccination to be administered. The test does not apply to the rabies vaccine. You will have to administer a rabies shot to your dog as per the normal puppy vaccination schedule assigned by the vet.

Dos and Don’ts Before and After the Vaccination:

Here are some tips on how you can prepare your puppy for the vaccination appointment:

As a puppy owner, your little furry friend relies on you and looks up to you. So, if you start panicking or stressing out before the vaccination appointment, your puppy may also reflect the same negative behavior. So, you should remain calm and talk to your pup in a soft voice to make sure it remains relaxed.
You may have to get your puppy accustomed to vehicular rides before the scheduled date of vaccination. Make sure you add a carrier in your vehicle for the puppy to remain comfortable throughout the ride to the vet.
Avoid feeding your puppy a heavy meal before the vaccination. You may feed your puppy treats and encourage calm and good behavior on the way as well.
You may also use calming synthetic pheromones to make sure your puppy is relaxed throughout the way.
Talk to the vet to know more about how you can ease your puppy before a vaccination. The vet will issue proper guidelines for the same.

Here are some tips on how you can nurse your dog post the vaccination :

Provide your puppy with a cozy and warm place to rest. You can also allow them to choose a place they feel comfortable at to rest.
Give your puppy access to water and its favourite food but do not worry if it does not feel very hungry.
It is advisable to not pat your puppy head or try to cuddle it post-vaccination. It might like being alone for a while and it is normal.
Keep checking on your puppy multiple times a day but avoid disturbing it.

Vaccines for puppies also cause some short-term side effects like they do in humans. Here are some of the commonly noted symptoms post the vaccination that can be noticed in your puppy :

Difficulty in breathing.
Small, red, raised, itchy bumps over its body.
Persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
Collapse or fainting.
Severe coughing.

Cost of Vaccines:

The CPV-DHLP vaccine, also called the 5-in-1 vaccine, costs Php 400 or more. The CPV-DHLP vaccine provides immunity against distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Your dog should receive this vaccine between the age of 10-12 weeks. The rabies vaccine, on the other hand, costs around Php 250. It can be given once your dog turns 16 weeks old and administered every 1-3 years (as required by law).

Frequently Asked Questions on Puppy Vaccinations

What Vaccinations Will a Puppy Need?

Your puppy should receive the following core vaccines: Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus and Rabies. Your puppy’s Vet, however, may add additional vaccines like Parainfluenza and Leptospirosis.