Vaccinations
Your puppy will receive its first vaccinations before it leaves our home. First worming treatments occur at 2 weeks, and first vaccinations occur at six weeks. Your puppy will require additional vaccinations for its health and prior to it being boarded at any kennel facility. Protective immunity may not be completely established in all puppies vaccinated at less than 16 weeks of age because of maternal antibody interference.
Your puppy receives a 5-way vaccination, containing immunogenic, attenuated strains of Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2), Canine Parainfluenza, and Canine Parvovirus Type 2b, propagated in cell line tissue cultures. The CAV-2 fraction cross-protects against respiratory infection caused by infectious canine hepatitis (CAV-1).
Your puppy receives a 5-way vaccination, containing immunogenic, attenuated strains of Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus Type 2 (CAV-2), Canine Parainfluenza, and Canine Parvovirus Type 2b, propagated in cell line tissue cultures. The CAV-2 fraction cross-protects against respiratory infection caused by infectious canine hepatitis (CAV-1).
Vaccination Schedule
You will be provided with the vaccination record and you may take it to your veterinarian. Generally, vets recommend three sets of puppy shots, and we will have completed the first round of shots. The shots usually take place over two to three months, and many vets offer competitively-priced puppy packages. If you do not have a vet, I do not recommend you use the ones found in big-box retail pet stores. They are generally overpriced and are corporate-owned, and try to rope you into long-term contracts for expensive services your pet may not need.
General information on vaccination schedules:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=85
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/dog-vaccination-schedule-for-puppys-first-year.html
Rabies vaccine can be given as early as 12 weeks in Oklahoma. See this handout from the Oklahoma Department of Health Acute Disease Service for lots of information. Remember, your dog cannot be boarded without this vaccine. Also, do not use the three-year version of the vaccine for your dog's first rabies shot.
General information on vaccination schedules:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?aid=85
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/dog-vaccination-schedule-for-puppys-first-year.html
Rabies vaccine can be given as early as 12 weeks in Oklahoma. See this handout from the Oklahoma Department of Health Acute Disease Service for lots of information. Remember, your dog cannot be boarded without this vaccine. Also, do not use the three-year version of the vaccine for your dog's first rabies shot.
Complications and Controversy
As with human vaccinations (a la the false Autism correlation), there's been a movement to limit the number of dog vaccines in the holistic vet community. We do not subscribe to this schedule. Dr. Jean Dodds is a leader in the movement, and there is lots of information on ye old internet regarding limiting vaccinations. As her site says, "the schedule is one Dr. Dodds recommends and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It’s a matter of professional judgment and choice." Many of the sites rely on homeopathic remedies for canine diseases. Homeopathy is not rooted in strong science and I advise against using these remedies on your pet. Many people confuse naturopathy and homeopathy.
None of this is to say that your dog may not suffer some reactions from vaccination. There are countless stories on the internet regarding dogs who have suffered after vaccination. Certain breeds are susceptible to more side effects than others. In my own experience, our dog was given the ProHeart 6 injection, and was very ill and listless for three days afterwards. It was very concerning and we will not use it again. The best thing you can do is be educated about vaccination - call ahead to your vet, ask what injections they'll give and research them. In our case, it turns out that the prescribing information said the vaccination should not have been administered within 2 months of another vaccine our dog recently had. The information at this link gives an overview of vaccination reactions. In another case, one of our past puppies had a central nervous system disturbance, including tremors, proximate to vaccinations. The side effects have since lessened in severity, but it was problematic for a period of months and caused great worry to the owners.
It's also possible, that as in humans, vaccinated dogs can get diseases they were vaccinated against. A prime example of this is Bordatella (Kennel Cough). Our dog had his annual vaccinations yet contracted it twice when he was boarded.
None of this is to say that your dog may not suffer some reactions from vaccination. There are countless stories on the internet regarding dogs who have suffered after vaccination. Certain breeds are susceptible to more side effects than others. In my own experience, our dog was given the ProHeart 6 injection, and was very ill and listless for three days afterwards. It was very concerning and we will not use it again. The best thing you can do is be educated about vaccination - call ahead to your vet, ask what injections they'll give and research them. In our case, it turns out that the prescribing information said the vaccination should not have been administered within 2 months of another vaccine our dog recently had. The information at this link gives an overview of vaccination reactions. In another case, one of our past puppies had a central nervous system disturbance, including tremors, proximate to vaccinations. The side effects have since lessened in severity, but it was problematic for a period of months and caused great worry to the owners.
It's also possible, that as in humans, vaccinated dogs can get diseases they were vaccinated against. A prime example of this is Bordatella (Kennel Cough). Our dog had his annual vaccinations yet contracted it twice when he was boarded.