Everyone knows that most puppies get vaccinations, but many don't know when. The problem is, vaccination schedules are constantly changing, and can vary by vet and breeder. The two main vaccination schedules in use today are the traditional schedule, which starts your puppy off younger and includes more shots, and the vaccination protocol based on Dr. Dodds' guidelines, which may be safer for your puppy's long-term health. Read on to learn more about at what age you should vaccinate your puppy.
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Traditional Vaccination Schedule
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The traditional vaccination schedule is still followed by many vets, and dictates starting your puppy on vaccinations at 6 weeks old. The typical vaccination given at this age is the Parvo/Distemper/Hepatitis/Leptospirosis/Parainfluenza and Coronavirus shot (DHLPP-C for short). However, the vaccination will only take in about 25 percent of puppies due to circulating maternal antibodies. The shots are given again at 9 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. Also, in the traditional vaccination schedule, the rabies shot may be given to your puppy at 16 weeks.
Newer Vaccination Schedule
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In recent times, the potential for over-vaccinating puppies has come under scrutiny. Many vets these days, including Hemopet founder Dr. Jean Dodds, advocate caution when vaccinating puppies. Since puppies may not get any benefit from early vaccinations due to circulating maternal antibodies, Dr. Dodds suggests waiting until your puppy is 9 to 10 weeks old before getting the first set of shots. If you are concerned about your puppy's inherited risk for autoimmune disease, it is further suggested that you skip the DHLPP-C combo shot and administer just distemper and parvo (the modified live virus version). In this schedule, an additional set of distemper and parvo shots is administered at 14 weeks, with a third set being optional at 16 to 18 weeks. In this guideline, it's suggested you wait until your puppy is 20 weeks or older to give the rabies vaccination.
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