Dog vaccinations are an important part of your dog's care. You should make sure you follow the dog vaccination scheduleicon your vet recommends to help keep your dog healthy and protect him from serious contagious diseases.
When you bring your new eight week old puppy home, he should already have received a DHPP vaccine. This shot is a combination of four vaccines that protect your dog from deadly diseases. Some vets give a five-way shot, which is called a DHPP-L for short.
If your dog did not receive a five-way vaccine, you will need to ask your vet about a Lepto vaccine during your puppy's next visit. Make sure you schedule your puppy's visit within the first forty eight hours after you bring him home. If your puppy's last vet visit was when he was about six weeks old, the veterinarian will probably want to give him a vaccine at that time. Don't refuse to get the vaccine.
Remember that your vet isn't trying to make extra money. He has probably seen countless puppies that were supposed to have received their DHPP-L die of Distemper or Parvovirus since he began his veterinary practice. Veterinarians have found that just because you received a paper that says your puppy has received shots, this doesn't mean that the vaccinations actually took place. Other puppies just didn't build immunity to these lethal diseases with their first set of shots.
You will also need to continue to vaccinate your puppy with DHPP or DHPP-L booster shots at twelve weeks and sixteen weeks. Once your puppy is at least three months old, he will need his first Rabies shot.
One optional vaccination for your dog is the Bordatella vaccine. You will need to ask the vet for a Bordatella vaccine if you walk your puppy outside or take him to public areas. Although Bordatella, or Kennel Cough, is more annoying than fatal, it is better to vaccinate your puppy than to let him get sick when the virus can be easily prevented.
With all of the reasons for vaccinating dogs, there is still one reason you may not be able to vaccinate your puppy. Some puppies have severe reactions to vaccinations. Usually, the veterinarian can give the puppy an injection to reduce the severe swelling that is caused by the vaccine reaction. Sometimes, the puppy's reaction is so severe that another dose of the vaccine could trigger a fatal reaction and the veterinarian will recommend against giving that vaccine. Often, the vaccine sensitive puppy will just have to stay in the veterinary clinic for a few hours after each vaccine to be sure he is not going to have a reaction.
Finally, be sure you take your puppy back to the veterinarian for a DHLL-P booster shot and a Rabies vaccine that will be good for a year on his first birthday. After the first year, your veterinarian will recommend a vaccination schedule that is right for your dog. Dogs in different parts of the country will have different needs.
When you bring your new eight week old puppy home, he should already have received a DHPP vaccine. This shot is a combination of four vaccines that protect your dog from deadly diseases. Some vets give a five-way shot, which is called a DHPP-L for short.
If your dog did not receive a five-way vaccine, you will need to ask your vet about a Lepto vaccine during your puppy's next visit. Make sure you schedule your puppy's visit within the first forty eight hours after you bring him home. If your puppy's last vet visit was when he was about six weeks old, the veterinarian will probably want to give him a vaccine at that time. Don't refuse to get the vaccine.
Remember that your vet isn't trying to make extra money. He has probably seen countless puppies that were supposed to have received their DHPP-L die of Distemper or Parvovirus since he began his veterinary practice. Veterinarians have found that just because you received a paper that says your puppy has received shots, this doesn't mean that the vaccinations actually took place. Other puppies just didn't build immunity to these lethal diseases with their first set of shots.
You will also need to continue to vaccinate your puppy with DHPP or DHPP-L booster shots at twelve weeks and sixteen weeks. Once your puppy is at least three months old, he will need his first Rabies shot.
One optional vaccination for your dog is the Bordatella vaccine. You will need to ask the vet for a Bordatella vaccine if you walk your puppy outside or take him to public areas. Although Bordatella, or Kennel Cough, is more annoying than fatal, it is better to vaccinate your puppy than to let him get sick when the virus can be easily prevented.
With all of the reasons for vaccinating dogs, there is still one reason you may not be able to vaccinate your puppy. Some puppies have severe reactions to vaccinations. Usually, the veterinarian can give the puppy an injection to reduce the severe swelling that is caused by the vaccine reaction. Sometimes, the puppy's reaction is so severe that another dose of the vaccine could trigger a fatal reaction and the veterinarian will recommend against giving that vaccine. Often, the vaccine sensitive puppy will just have to stay in the veterinary clinic for a few hours after each vaccine to be sure he is not going to have a reaction.
Finally, be sure you take your puppy back to the veterinarian for a DHLL-P booster shot and a Rabies vaccine that will be good for a year on his first birthday. After the first year, your veterinarian will recommend a vaccination schedule that is right for your dog. Dogs in different parts of the country will have different needs.