Puppy Vaccines
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When should my puppy be vaccinated?
Puppies should be vaccinated for the first time between five and seven weeks of age! They have fragile immune systems when they are young, and ideally we would like to ensure that they are protected as soon as possible. What should my puppy be vaccinated against? We recommend a full set of vaccinations for all of our puppy patients to ensure that their fragile immune systems are protected throughout their development and to ensure that all of our patients have the best possible chance to grow and thrive. What does D.A2.P.P. stand for? The D.A2.P.P. vaccine that we offer contains distemper virus, hepatitis and respiratory adenovirus, parvo virus, and parainfluenza virus. What does the D.A2.P.P. vaccine protect against? Distemper and parvo are the two major components of the D.A2.P.P. vaccine. Distemper is a respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system virus that is a threat to all dogs, but especially those under four months of age. The distemper virus can be spread from dog to dog, mother to puppy, and from wildlife to dog. Distemper also has a high mortality rate, so it is extremely important to ensure that your dog is properly vaccinated. Parvo is an extremely contagious viral disease that affects the bone marrow and gastrointestinal system. It is estimated that nearly 100% of dogs that are exposed to the parvovirus will contract the disease. For unvaccinated puppies, this can often be fatal. What does the bordatella vaccine protect against? Bordetellosis is a bacterial respiratory disease that is commonly referred to as "kennel cough". This common name leads to the misconception that dogs are only vulnerable to bordetella bacteria if they are being boarded. In reality all dogs that interact with other animals are at risk for this disease. What does the leptospira vaccine protect against? Leptospira is a bacterial disease that is found in contaminated water and soil. It is especially important to vaccinate against leptospira because it is one of the canine diseases that can also spread to humans and causes meningitis and respiratory failure among other things. Does my puppy have to get a rabies vaccine? Yes, under Florida law all cats and dogs three months and older must be vaccinated against the rabies virus. When can my puppy get a 3 year rabies vaccine? Florida law requires two consecutive 1 year rabies vaccinations before a 3 year vaccine can be administered. This means that the first three shots must be kept on a strict yearly schedule in order for your pet to qualify for a 3 year vaccine! Will the vaccines make my puppy sick? Most puppies show no symptoms at all after vaccination, though sometimes they are sleepy and run a mild fever. These things are normal and nothing to be concerned about. If you suspect that your puppy is having a more severe reaction following vaccination we recommend that you contact our office immediately. Why should my puppy be dewormed? More than half of the dogs in the southern United States have at least one intestinal parasite, so it makes sense to keep our puppies protected! Intestinal worms can delay your dog's development and cause illness. Simple, inexpensive deworming is an easy fix and is recommended at all puppy visits. Why are nail trims included as part of all puppy appointments? Nail trimming is something that we include free of charge in all of our puppy appointments to build both confidence in tolerance in our young patients so that nail trims are stress-free and easy when they are adults. When will my puppy need vaccinations again after the puppy series is complete? Your puppy will need Rabies and D.A2.P.P. vaccine boosters one year after the first rabies vaccine and the completion of the D.A2.P.P. puppy series. If you keep to a strict time schedule on the Rabies and D.A2.P.P. vaccines we can transition to a 3 year schedule for those vaccines after a few initial boosters. The Bordatella and Leptospira vaccines are for bacterial diseases and immunity against these do not last as long. Boosters are required every six months following the completion of the puppy series to keep your puppy protected. |
Puppy Vaccine Schedule:
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