how to get your puppy the right vaccinations

8/3/2019 How to Get Your Puppy the Right Vaccinations

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All About Puppy Vaccinations

Why should I get my puppy vaccinated?

Your puppy is an object of love and source of joy for all the family. Youd definitely want

to keep it safe from disease. But you may have questions about vaccinations. Surelyyour puppy isnt at risk in your clean, safe home?

Unfortunately, however much you protect your pet, you cant keep it safe from the risk ofdisease without vaccinations. Veterinarians agree that if your puppy isnt vaccinated, itrisks developing a number of severe and possibly fatal diseases. Vaccination is the onlysafe way to provide immunity against these diseases. Be sure to get your puppy thevaccinations it needs. This article gives you the key information about puppyvaccinations and shows which ones to get and when.

Whats the first vaccination I should get my puppy?

The first vaccination your puppy needs is called DHPP. This is a combination shot offour different vaccines that protects against four specific viruses - Distemper, Hepatitis,Para-influenza, and Parvovirus.

Distemperis a respiratory disease which can also affect the central nervous system. Ifleft untreated, distemper can lead to encephalitis, epilepsy, and chorea (musclespasms). Encephalitis can cause seizures, blindness, behavior changes, depressionand circling. It can also cause imbalance, head tilt, tremors and facial paralysis.

Hepatitisis a systemic infection of the liver which can be fatal. Para-influenza, like

distemper, is a respiratory infection and exhibits symptoms such as nasal discharge anda harsh cough. Finally, Parvovirusis the most serious of these four diseases. It affectsthe intestinal tract, resulting in severe vomiting and diarrhea. Parvovirus is alsoextremely contagious and can kill your puppy. But parvovirus can be easily preventedwith the proper vaccinations.

Puppies who do not receive the proper vaccinations are highly susceptible to all four ofthese viruses. The DHPP shot needs to be first given at 6-7 weeks of age. This is thetime when most puppies are weaned and lose the protection of the antiviruses in theirmothers milk. The course of shots can be started a week or so later - ask yourveterinarian. Booster shots should be given every three weeks until the puppy is 16weeks old.

Ideally, your puppy should get at least two booster shots between the ages of 6-16weeks to help build enough antibodies to resist the DHPP viruses. This time frame isregarded by veterinarians as critical for your puppy to develop its own immunity. Oneshot should be given at 9-10 weeks and another at 12-13 weeks. Following its finalDHPP shot at 16 weeks, your puppy should receive its first adult DHPP vaccination one


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year later. Finally, after this first adult shot, veterinarians recommend vaccinating yourdog every three years for DHPP.

Deworming

The Centers for Disease Control, together with the American Association of VeterinaryParasitologists, suggest routine and repeated deworming of all puppies to help preventthe spread of internal parasites from our pets to our families. This is true even if thebowel movements look normal and no worms are seen. These parasites can causevision impairment, skin rashes, abdominal pain and possibly birth defects to the unbornbabies of exposed pregnant women. A pet used for breeding should be dewormedbefore and after the pregnancy. Along with its DHPP shots your puppy should bedewormed at 6-7weeks and at 9-10 weeks. Finally, at 12-13 weeks, your puppy shouldhave a fecal exam from a veterinarian. Adult pets should be given dewormingmedications at least 4 times a year.

Bordetella

Infectious trachea-bronchitis or canine cough is an infection of trachea (windpipe) andbronchi and is caused by one or more of bordetella bacteria, para-influenza virus, andadenovirus type 2. Bordetella is a highly contagious infection spread much like thecommon cold and is prevalent in kennels. Clinical signs include a continual gaggingcough, swelling in the neck, and fever which, if left untreated, can lead to pneumonia.Veterinarians recommend annual vaccination for canine cough for any dog who will bekenneled, groomed, or hospitalized for any length of time. The first vaccination can begiven at 12-13 weeks. Thereafter annual boosters are advised.

Spay or Neuter surgery

Unless you own a purebred puppy for breeding, you are recommended to have it

spayed or neutered to prevent the birth of unwanted litters. Spaying or neutering may

also improve the behavior and longevity of your pet.

Spaying a female dog involves surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. It reduces

the risk of uterine infection, reproductive tumors, false pregnancies, and conditions

related to hormone imbalances. Neutering a male dog involves surgical removal of the

testicles. It reduces the risk of some types of reproductive tumors and prostate

diseases.

Spaying or neutering usually follows a 5-step procedure:

1. A pre-anesthesia blood test. This alerts your veterinarian to the presence of any

abnormalities in a puppy that might otherwise appear to be healthy.

2. Pre-anesthesia medication


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3. Administration of IV catheter and support fluids. Having IV catheter and fluid support

during surgery helps maintain your puppys organ functions and also allows your

veterinarian to administer any necessary medications

4. Post-operative anti-inflammatory medication for pain prevention

5. Overnight stay for monitoring. Its very important for your puppy to remain as inactive

as possible overnight. An overnight stay provides a calm and quiet environment forrecovery. Your veterinarian will examine your puppy first thing next morning to ensure it

is comfortable and any pain is relieved.

Veterinarians will carry out spaying/neutering from 4 months of age.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this procedure, dont hesitate to

discuss them with your veterinarian.

Rabies

Rabies is a serious almost always fatal disease of the muscles and brain. It istransmittable to all land mammals, includinghumans, through bite wounds from infectedanimals. The most common carriers and transmitters of rabies are bats, raccoons,skunks and foxes. Vaccination is usually administered on your puppy's last office visit ator around the age of 16 weeks. Rabies vaccinations are effective for between 1-3 yearsdepending on the vaccine used by the veterinarian. Puppies which have not beenpreviously vaccinated against rabies need to be given a shot once, followed one yearlater by a booster.

The law about rabies vaccinations varies from state to state. In California all importedpuppies older than 4 months must be vaccinated against rabies prior to entry. A certified

health certificate is not required for entry, although puppies must be in goodhealth. Check with your local city or county animal control agency for licensing andvaccination requirements.

Canine Heartworm Disease

Canine heartworm disease, known scientifically as dirofilariasis, is a serious diseasethat is potentially fatal to your puppy. Veterinarians consider it the number oneinfectious health threat among puppies. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoesduring warm weather. Large white worms, ranging in length from 6 to 14 inches, migrateinto the right side of a dog's heart and adjacent blood vessels. The worms cause

congestion and impede the flow of blood and can eventually lead to death. Heartwormdisease is treatable if diagnosed in time, but the treatment can be very expensive. Thedisease is easily prevented using any one of a number of heartworm preventativesavailable from veterinarians.


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Testing for Canine Heartworm Disease

A puppy should be tested for heartworm disease at age 6 months. Even so, puppiesunder seven months of age can be started on heartworm preventives without first beingtested. The reason is that it can take up to six and one half months after being bitten by

infected mosquitoes before a puppy will test positive. The puppy should be tested fourto seven months after starting heartworm preventive to detect any infection acquiredduring the first few months of life. The most commonly used test is an antigen test,which requires a blood sample. Your veterinarian will advise on the right testingschedule for your puppy, perhaps monthly. The American Heartworm Society statesthat every dog should be tested annually and receive a monthly preventative shot Junethrough November.

Flea and tick treatment

External parasites commonly affect puppies. These parasites live off your puppys

blood, skin and fur. The most common external parasites that might affect your puppyare fleas, ticks, mites and lice. All of these cause reactions such as itching and inflamedskin, a dull coat, and bald spots, and in bad cases anemia. In addition, many parasitesconvey other parasites such as tapeworm. Ticks can cause serious problems likeLymes disease.

Fleas are the most common external parasite affecting puppies. A puppy with a fleainfestation will scratch almost constantly, often at the ears, the base of the tail, the belly,and the stifle (the webbing of soft skin between the thigh and the abdomen). The puppymay thus develop areas of sore, inflamed, flaking, bleeding, and infected skin.

Fleas on your puppy can be detected from what looks like ground pepper on the skin. Ifyou groom the puppy with a flea comb red blotches may show up when you wipe it on apaper towel.

Your veterinarian can prescribe a broad-spectrum treatment to kill the fleas on yourpuppy and in your home (including outside). Off-the-shelf treatments are notrecommended because different puppies require different strengths depending on theirsize, age and activity level. Also veterinarians no longer recommend flea collars as theyare highly toxic. Most prescribed flea treatments are also designed to prevent otherparasites such as mites, tics and heartworm.

Intestinal parasites

Intestinal parasites, as the name suggests, are worms that live in the intestines of dogs.Your puppy may have intestinal parasites without you knowing. These parasites robyour pet of essential nutrients.

The most common intestinal parasites are roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and

whipworms. The eggs of these worms, and even adult worms, are excreted in your


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puppys stool. The worms and eggs can then be ingested by other animals and can

even be transmitted to humans. Some eggs have been shown to live for up to 20 years.

Transmission of worms can be prevented by picking up your pet's stool every day.

Intestinal parasites are invisible to the naked eye. The best way to detect them is to

have your pets stool examined under a microscope. Veterinarians recommend testingall puppies twice during their scheduled visits. It is best to collect a fresh sample of yourpuppy s stool and take it along. Testing should take place annually during your dogsadult life.

Boosters

There has recently been discussion in the media about whether annualvaccinations are really necessary. Its true that some vaccinations last for 3 years. Butothers last for only one year, leaving your pet vulnerable. The yearly booster is also anopportunity for you to have the veterinary surgeon fully examine your pet and discuss

with you any concerns or problems you may have.

Conclusion

The risks to your puppys health, and the signs of infestation by parasites, may notalways be apparent but they are a real and significant threat to your puppy andsometimes to your familys health as well. As a responsible owner you need to bevigilant and seek veterinary advice from the first 6 to 8 we eks of your puppys life. Mostdiseases and infestations affecting puppies can be easily prevented or cured, whilesome, if left untreated, can kill. A scheduled program of vaccinations and booster shotscan do much to ensure your puppy lives a long and healthy life. It can also save you

considerable expense. Further advice can be obtained from organizations such as theAmerican Animal Hospital Association or any veterinarian.

By Michael Collins

how to get your puppy the right vaccinations

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