What Vaccines Do Puppies Get At 8 Weeks

Can I Bring My Puppy Around Other Pets Before They Are Fully Vaccinated

If the dogs are not ill, that’s a huge advantage. Regardless, however, there is a certain amount of risk associated with doing that until the series is done plus a week or two. Because we give the shot and that stimulates the immune system to say, “Okay, we need to build defenses.” And it’s not quite convinced until the second shot, in most cases, and then it takes a while for the body to actually build up immunity. It’s not like we give the shot and we have immediate immunity. So it’s safest to do it a week or two after they’ve finished their entire vaccine series for a particular disease. Of course, we also understand that puppies are social beings and that you will likely want to get them into training classes, too, so if you’re going to bring your puppy around other dogs before being fully vaccinated, just make sure the other dogs are vaccinated and that you’re doing so in a safe environment that’s not frequented by other dogs.

Keep in mind that body mass is also a factor. If you come in with a two-pound Chihuahua, we’re not going to give distemper and rabies and parvo and lepto and Lyme and influenzawe can’t go ahead and give all of those vaccines because it’s just going to be too much and it will overwhelm for the immune system. In cases like that, we’ll have you bring your pet back more frequently to stagger the vaccinations, giving them once every 2 weeks instead of every 4 weeks. It may take longer, but it’s safest for your tiny pet this way!

Calculating The Adult Weight Of A Small Breed Puppy

Another option to determine his adult weight, if you don’t mind a bit of math, is to find your puppy’s growth rate and times that by 52. His growth rate is how much weight he gains in one week and is calculated as his current weight divided by his age in weeks. For example, if you have a puppy that weighs 4lbs at 14 weeks old the math would be 4/14 = 0.29 X 52 = 14.86 lbs as his adult weight.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule Australia

Puppies should follow an immunisation schedule devised by a veterinarian as it depends on where you live in Australia and other risk factors.

Below is the generally accepted guideline of puppy vaccination schedule in Australia during the first year.

The adult vaccination cycle will pick up at this point. When your puppy grows up, she should have an annual Kennel Cough vaccination and a C3 vaccination every three years. Your veterinarian may recommend a C5 vaccination annually as well.

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Rabies Virus 1st Year

The rabies vaccine is required by law in most areas. Rabies attacks the central nervous system, causing symptoms of headache, anxiety, excessive drooling, hallucinations, and fear of water. Rabies is most often transmitted from an animal who already has the virus. This is a deadly disease that is easily transmitted to humans.

The Amount Of Time Each Vaccination Is Effective Is As Follows:

• DA2PP – 3 years

• Pain or swelling around the injection site
• Collapse, difficulty breathing, and seizures

Just as with human vaccines, mild symptoms can be ignored and are a sign of immune response. The majority of reactions are mild and short lived. If you suspect a more severe reaction to puppy vaccines or dog vaccines, such as facial swelling, vomiting or lethargy, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

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Jacks Racoon Wrestling Adventure

One sunny morning, Jack, one of JKs dogs, was itching to get outside. It didnt take long to see why. There was a raccoon in the yard.

Jack and the raccoon wrestled. Jack came back indoors with a scratch on his nose. JK quickly looked up distemper symptoms. This raccoon had them all. Glassy eyes, nasal discharge, confused, unstable footing. He stumbled drunkenly right up to the patio doors, oblivious to 3 barking dogs.

Distemper is spread through direct contact as well as airborne exposure. Later JK saw diarrhea on the driveway. She had no doubt the raccoon had distemper. And it had almost certainly exchanged fluids with Jack in their scuffle.

Her 2 dogs had been vaccinated long ago but had no shots in the 6 years shed had them. The other dog was a two-year-old whod had puppy vaccines. She didnt report the incident for fear shed be forced to vaccinate the dogs.

And this incident shows they were protected by those long-ago vaccines, especially Jack. Nobody got sick, and 4 years later, all 3 dogs are alive and well.

Do Puppies Need Vaccines

Yes! While theres debate around this in the media, any qualified veterinary professional will tell you that puppies absolutely need to be vaccinated. They should be given an initial course of vaccines, and then booster injections throughout their lifespan to ensure they stay protected.

Vaccinations are effective at keeping puppies and adult dogs protected against a range of infectious diseases, some of which – like Leptospirosis and Infectious Canine Hepatitis – can be fatal.

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What Are The Core Dog Vaccinations

Core puppy vaccinations and dog vaccinations are considered vital to all canines based on a universal risk of exposure, the severity of disease, and the risk of transmission to other dogs, as well as other animal species including human beings.

The American Animal Hospital Association’s Canine Task Force considers the following dog vaccinations to be core:

• Canine Parvovirus

• Lyme vaccine
• Leptospirosis

Although these vaccines are not considered Core, they are very important for most dogs who may be exposed to these infectious diseases. At your dog’s next appointment, we will be happy to review which of the above make the most sense for your dog and make the appropriate recommendations.

Rabies vaccinations are required by law in most states, including NY. Owners must periodically have their dogs and puppies vaccinated against rabies, but the specific time frames for puppy vaccinations and dog vaccinations vary by state. In NY, puppy rabies vaccine is generally given at 14-16 weeks , and the rabies vaccination is good for one year. For adult dogs, the rabies vaccination is good for three years and should be addressed at the time of the first visit for new patients. For example, a puppy would receive the rabies vaccine at 14 weeks, 1 year and then again at age 4.

At What Age Should I Bring In My Puppy For Their Vaccinations

At 8 weeks of age, your puppy will receive their first dose of the distemper complex, which includes vaccines for distemper, adenovirus , parainfluenza, parvo and leptospirosis. This vaccine is usually given by the breeder or rescue before you adopt your new puppy.

At 12 weeks of age, your puppy will receive a booster of the original distemper complex in order to boost their immunity to these dangerous diseases. They will also get their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at this time. This is usually your puppys first time meeting your own veterinarian and will be an exciting visit for everyone.

Lastly, at 16 weeks of age, your puppy will receive their last booster of the original distemper complex, their second dose of the coronavirus, and will now get the rabies vaccine. During this visit, you may also opt to get your puppy the Bordetella and Lyme vaccines as well, based on the puppys lifestyle and exposure risk. This decision will be based on a discussion with your veterinarian during your appointment.

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When Can I Take My Puppy For A Walk

Its always best to ask your vet and take their advice, but generally speaking, you will be able to take your puppy out for a walk 2 weeks after their second jab.

Unvaccinated puppies are susceptible to picking up viruses and infectious diseases, such as parvo and distemper, because they will spend lots of time sniffing and licking as they explore their surroundings.

When you have waited for the amount of time that your vet has advised, your fully vaccinated puppy can go outside and start socialising with other dogs. It’s best to start with short trips, gradually building up to long walks.

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Dry Vs Wet Puppy Food

Although dry kibble is a popular choice, its not the only option. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy foods.

This can make it harder to decide what to feed your puppy. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence.

You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option.

According to Purina Nutritionist, Allison Millican, PhD, If youre feeding your puppy a combination of wet and dry food, it is extremely important to ensure the total caloric value does not fall short or exceed their daily energy requirement. Use the calories reported on the package to understand how much wet food will replace the dry and vice versa. This allows you to calculate the amount of each product needed to meet your puppys nutritional requirements.

For example, Millican explains, one thirteen-ounce can of wet puppy food may contain four hundred and seventy-five kilocalories and replace approximately one cup of a dry puppy formula with a similar value of kilocalories per cup. In this scenario, you could substitute a thirteen-ounce can of wet food for one cup of the daily dry food recommendation.

The brand websites and your veterinarian are great resources and can help you develop a feeding plan specifically for your puppys needs.

When To Let Your Puppy Outside

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When can puppies go outside? Letting a puppy outside for the first time can be frightening. Your pup’s small and delicate frame combined with his helplessness, curiosity and penchant for getting into mischief seems like a recipe for disaster. But going outside is an important part of a puppy’s development. Follow these tips on the best time to start taking your little guy outside and introducing him to the world.

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What Do Vaccinations Protect Against

Dogs need to be protected against the below serious and sometime fatal diseases:

Canine Distemper

• Canine distemper is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease that can affect any dog, especially young puppies and unvaccinated dogs. This virus affects a dogs respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. Symptoms of Canine Distemper are sneezing, coughing and thick discharge from the eyes and nose, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea. Canine Distemper is closely related to the human measles virus, many years ago this infectious disease was a leading cause of deaths in canines, but due to the development of effective vaccines it is rarely seen by vets today.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis

• Infectious Canine Hepatitis – Adenoviruses are a family of viruses two forms of these viruses can cause serious disease in dogs Canine adenovirus type 1, causes Infectious Canine Hepatitis and Canine adenovirus type 2, can be a part of Infectious tracheo-bronchitis .Infectious canine hepatitis is a highly contagious and can affect the liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and eyes. Symptoms can include: Vomiting, Coughing, Drinking and urinating a lot, Loss of appetite, Jaundice, Abdominal pain, Weight loss, Pale tongue, gums, and nose.

Parvovirus

Parainfluenza virus or Infectious tracheo-bronchitis

Leptospirosis

Canine Coronavirus

What Are The Side Effects And Adverse Reactions To Vaccines

Some owners choose not to vaccinate their puppies because they believe the dog may suffer adverse reactions of dangerous side effects. While it is possible for puppies and dogs to react after a vaccination, it rarely results in damage or death. Most post-vaccination reactions are minor and typically occur within a few hours of the injection. Those reactions may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Breathing difficulties
• Sensitivity in the vaccinated area

Unusual reactions a puppy may have after vaccination are haemolytic anemia and reproductive system issues. In rare cases, granulomas may form in the body. These kinds of reactions are unlikely to happen to your dog, and even if they do, these side effects are mild in comparison to potentially exposing your puppy to dangerous and deadly diseases.

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The Timing Of Puppy Shots Is Important

Very young puppies have a certain amount of natural immunity that they get from their mothers milk, but that begins to diminish somewhere between 5 and 8 weeks of age.

If a puppy is vaccinated while he still has a significant level of maternal antibodies in his bloodstream, the vaccine won’t be effective.

Some studies have indicated that at 6 weeks old only 25% of puppies vaccinated respond to a vaccine by producing antibodies.

Can You Administer Puppy Vaccinations At Home

In most cases, youll need to bring your puppy to the vets. That way, theyll be safe and you can rest assured the vaccine is being administered by a trained professional.

In some cases, your vet may visit you to administer your puppys vaccine at home. If you have any queries, dont hesitate to contact your local vet. Theyll be more than happy to advise further.

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Why Should I Vaccinate My Puppy

Vaccinations are essential in order for your puppy to live a happy and healthy life. Avoid serious health issues that may compromise the life of your dog in the future by boosting their immune system now.

Your puppy can be exposed to many common but preventable diseases that exist in the environment and that pass between dogs. While some of these diseases can be treated, many are very serious and potentially fatal. It is necessary to build your dogs immunity when they are young.

Calculating The Adult Weight Of A Large Breed Puppy

Here are a couple of alternative methods to determine your large breed puppy’s adult weight.

Method 1

Here are a couple of alternative methods to determine your large breed puppy’s adult weight.

Use the below formula based on his growth rate which is:

Formula: Current weight at 20 wks divided by his current age in weeks multiplied by 52

For a large breed puppy, it’s best to use this formula based on his weight at 20 weeks old.

For example, a puppy that weighs 33lbs at 20 weeks old, you would do the following:

x 52 which is 33/20 = 1.65 x 52 = Adult weight of 85.8

Method 2

You can also calculate the adult weight of a large breed puppy by merely doubling his weight at six months old!

So, a dog that weighs 29.3 lbs at 6-months old would weight about 58.6 lbs as an adult.

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Puppies Need Time To Switch From Milk To Solid Food

Puppies typically go through the weaning process at anywhere from three to five weeks old. This important transition time ensures that puppies receive all the appropriate nutrition from their mother. This will support the long term health of the puppy.

Additionally, interrupting the weaning process too early has behavioral side effects for young dogs. Suckling, even past the need for milk can be a source of comfort while a puppy grows accustomed to eating only solid foods. When pups arent given adequate time to make the transition themselves, theyre more likely to develop insecurities and anxiety.

Vaccinations For Adult Dogs

Adult dogs must by law receive dog ‘booster’ vaccinations for Rabies.

There is also a booster recommendation for the other CORE vaccines.

If you prefer not to vaccinate without knowing whether or not your dog NEEDS another shot, your vet can check the antibody ‘titers’ and vaccinate only if they are too low.

This can help to prevent over-vaccinating your dog, which may lead to auto-immune problems and other illnesses. BUT these tests do cost extra money.

Current AAHA guidelines recommend booster shots be given every three years .

However, these are only guidelines and many vets continue to want to vaccinate annually.

Rabies 1 yr shot v Rabies 3 yr shot

The first Rabies vaccination a pup gets is good for one year and state laws mandate that a booster is given one year later.

From that point on you have the choice to give your dog a 1-year Rabies shot or a 3-year Rabies shot … providing you’re in a state which allows for this and your veterinarian offers the 3-year option.

What makes this interesting is that the 1-year and 3-year vaccines contain the same drug, in the same concentration/amount!

The only thing which changes are the state laws regarding Rabies vaccines so many, many dogs are being needlessly vaccinated every year.

Current research shows that the protection provided by one Rabies shot is between 5 and 7 years, and potentially more.

He/she will need two rounds of these vaccines, given 3 weeks apart.

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