Vaccination Recommendations and Schedule for Puppies

Following a proper vaccination schedule for puppies (puppy shots) is one of the crucial steps in assuring that a puppy stays healthy and free of preventable diseases. However, a vaccination schedule does not follow a one size fits all approach. Consult with a veterinarian to determine which vaccines are appropriate for your puppy based upon their anticipated lifestyle.

Maternal Antibody Protection

To better understand how vaccine work and the need for boosters, it is important to understand how the puppy is protected from disease the first few weeks of its life.

A newborn puppy is not naturally immune to diseases. Around the time of birth, a mother produces an antibody-rich milk called colostrum. Through this colostrum, a puppy receives antibodies from its mother that are absorbed in the intestines, providing the foundation for its immune system. After a 12 to 24 hour period, the intestines are no longer able to absorb these protective antibodies.

The antibodies that a puppy receives from its mother are referred to as maternal antibodies. These antibodies It is important to note that the puppy only receives antibodies against diseases that its mother has developed either from an infection with a virus or recent vaccination. For example, a mother that has not been vaccinated against parvovirus will not pass antibodies to her puppies that would provide some protection against parvovirus.

When Should Puppies Be Vaccinated?

Puppies should begin a series of vaccinations between six and eight weeks of age, with boosters given every three to four weeks until the puppy is at least 16 weeks old. The rabies vaccine is given as early as 12 to 16 weeks of age, depending on different state’s laws.

The maternal antibodies generally circulate in the newborn puppy's blood for a number of weeks. There is a period of time from several days to several weeks in which the maternal antibodies are too low to provide protection against the disease, but too high to allow a vaccine to work. This period is called the window of susceptibility when despite being vaccinated, a puppy could still contract disease. Due to individual variation, the window of susceptibility is slightly different for each individual puppy. Therefore, continuing the puppy vaccine series until at least sixteen weeks of age is critically important, to allow time for a puppy to form their own protective antibodies after the window of susceptibility has passed.

Which Vaccines Are Given?

The vaccines given to dogs are considered to be either “core” or “noncore” vaccines. Core vaccines are given to every dog due to the highly contagious and serious nature of the diseases that the vaccines are preventing. Noncore vaccines are given to some dogs based upon their risk factors for acquiring certain diseases. Discuss your puppy’s expected lifestyle as an adult dog with your veterinarian to determine which vaccines are necessary.

Core vaccines for dogs include a rabies vaccine and combination vaccine that includes distemper virus, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus-2 and often parainfluenza virus. The combination vaccine is often abbreviated DAPP, DAP, DHPP or DA2PP.

Noncore vaccines include leptospirosis, Borrelia burgdorferi (causes Lyme disease), Bordetella bronchiseptica (one of the causes of 'kennel cough') and canine influenza virus. Consult with your veterinarian to select the proper vaccines for your puppy.

Vaccine Dose

It is NOT true that a small breed of puppy should receive a smaller vaccine dose than puppies of larger breeds. All puppies regardless of age, body weight, breed and gender have the same type of immune system and must be given the same vaccine dose in order for it to be effective. Administering a smaller amount of the vaccines typically results in insufficient immunity against disease. Most vaccines are administered in one milliliter doses, but some vaccines are more concentrated to small half milliliter doses. Most vaccines are given as subcutaneous injections under the skin, but some vaccines can be given in the nose or mouth. A veterinarian will follow the vaccine manufacturer’s guidelines to be sure that your puppy is vaccinated in the appropriate manner.

When Are Vaccines Effective?

Vaccines do not stimulate immunity immediately after they are administered. Once a vaccine is administered, the antigens must be recognized, responded to and remembered by the immune system. Full protection from a vaccine usually takes up to fourteen days. In most instances, two or more vaccinations must be given several weeks apart in order for the immune system to generate protective antibodies.

It is particularly important to remember for puppies that there is a delay between the administration of the vaccine and the formation of protective antibodies. For this reason, most veterinarians recommend that puppy owners avoid dog parks or walks around the neighborhood for at least two weeks after their last vaccine. The goal is to allow a puppy adequate time to fully develop antibodies against these viruses, because parvovirus, for example, can remain infectious in the soil for many years and there is no way of determining which areas may be infectious.

Why Do Some Vaccinated Animals Still Acquire These Diseases?

It is a fact that in the USA today, literally hundreds and perhaps thousands of dogs are still contracting diseases that they were vaccinated against. Some term this 'vaccine failure,' although it is more likely a failure of the immune system to respond than a problem with the vaccine itself.

Parvovirus is a serious case in point. How can a puppy get the disease and possibly die if it was vaccinated? Unfortunately, for some reason the vaccine did not stimulate the immune system enough to protect the puppy from disease. The reason may be due to an incomplete vaccine series, exposure to the virus before antibodies were formed after vaccination, interference from maternal antibodies, an ineffective vaccine, the dog's own immune system or genetics. By far, the most common reason in puppies is interference from maternal antibodies. In order to minimize vaccine failure from maternal antibody interference, a puppy vaccination series should continue until at least 16 weeks of age, but 20 weeks may be recommended for puppies at a higher risk.

Source: petcoach.co