When to Vaccinate a Dog With Duramune

Duramune, or "the puppy shot," is one of the most common vaccinations veterinarians recommend to dog owners. It's actually a combination vaccine that protects dogs against a variety of deadly diseases and is given on a specific schedule.

  1. The Vaccine

    • Duramune protects dogs against distemper, hepatitis, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza, caronavirus and parvo. Some of the viruses in the vaccine are modified but still alive and some are killed. By taking these viruses into their bodies, dogs become naturally able to fight off the same diseases if they come in contact with them later in life.
      Some veterinarians don't recommend Duramune because it is a combination vaccine. Most dogs will never come in contact with some of the viruses contained in the vaccine. For example, parainfluenza and caronavirus are diseases that only dogs in shelters, kennels, dog shows and large groups need be vaccinated against.
      Some veterinarians feel that systematically vaccinating all dogs with viruses they may never come in contact with is more dangerous than necessary, but most veterinarians agree that dogs with healthy immune systems can handle the vaccine, and it's better to over-vaccinate than under-vaccinate.
      You do, however, have the option of choosing to vaccinate against only the diseases your dog is most likely to come in contact with.
      Veterinarians use Duramune because it's cheaper and more time-efficient than vaccinating dogs with one vaccine at a time. If you do choose to vaccinate your dog with Duramune, you won't have to come into the clinic as often as you would if you chose to vaccinate your dog with non-combination vaccines.

    Shot Schedule

    • Puppies can start the Duramune series at six weeks of age. At this time, they receive the first Duramune shot in the series, then they receive Duramune vaccinations about every three weeks until they reach 12 weeks of age. This initial series insures that puppies are protected from all the diseases in the vaccination. If a puppy doesn't complete this schedule of vaccinations, it is not guaranteed that it will be protected against the diseases.
      After the initial series, veterinarians usually recommend that dogs receive a Duramune booster every year, although according to Vetinfo.com, dogs may be safe going for a Duramune booster every two to three years.