I am constantly asked what a new puppy should receive for health care. I have summarized our protocol below....but do not forget the importance of the veterinarian's examination. Examining a new puppy every 3-4 weeks through 4-6 months of age is crucial. Just doing vaccines at the pet store or a vaccine clinic is just plain being cheap and risking your new family member's health.
Here is our vaccine protocol for new puppies:
First question? Was Mommy vaccinated? If yes, puppy doesn't need to start vaccine until 8 weeks of age. Maternal immunity should be fine until then AND often maternal immunity received from nursing will actually interfere with vaccines making them about as useful as an injection of saline.
Puppies with NO known history from mommy we will start as early as 6 weeks of age.
However, MOST puppies should start vaccines at 8 weeks of age.
By vaccines, we mean the core vaccines. The first, is the combination vaccine that is given to most puppies. DHPP- Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluence and Parvo combo vaccine. Bordetella and Rabies are the other CORE VACCINES.
The DHPP vaccine is given at 8 weeks and repeated every 3-4 weeks until the puppy reaches 16 weeks of age. Some breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobies should receive vaccines through 18 weeks of age. DHPP is then boostered at 1 year.
Next: Bordetella, the vaccine for kennel cough. We give the first one at 10-12 weeks. Usually we give the intranasal version as the first version and then repeat the injectable 6 months later. This vaccine does not last very long, so our recommendation is for it to be repeated every 6 months in San Diego. ALSO- dogs can still get "kennel cough" even though they have had this vaccine. The idea though, is to prevent a SEVERE CASE. Most dogs who get kennel cough when having had the vaccine have a mild dry cough for a few days and don't spread the disease as readily.
The last of our CORE vaccines is rabies. Rabies is given once anytime after 4 months of age. The County of San Diego is pretty strict about this vaccine being given after 4 calendar months of age. It is then boostered at 1 year.
OPTIONAL VACCINES:
CIV- Canine Influenca vaccine- we only recommend this vaccine for dogs who go to boarding facilities. It is given once then repeated 3-4 weeks later as a booster, then annually. We have not seen any cases in SD outside shelters or boarding facilities.....YET. If something changes, we'll let you know.
Leptospirosis- This used to be part of any standard vaccine protocol...it used to be part of the combination vaccine. However, since the incidence is very low in San Diego and since it has a higher rate of vaccine reaction, we have stopped using it unless people need or want it. Travel to Mexico warrants coverage. It could re-emerge as a necessary thing to vaccinate against....but currently few cases are seen. It is a zoonosis (meaning you can get it too!).
Lyme disease vaccine- Only recommended for dogs who see tons of outdoor hiking time and are constantly getting ticks. Very low to zero incidence in San Diego. Travelers to Appalachian regions should consider.
Corona- Unnecessary vaccine. All puppies likely are exposed to corona virus at 2-3 weeks of age and create all the immunity they need on their own. Don't let someone sell you on that one. Just not necessary in our opinion.
Giardia vaccine- Unnecessary vaccine. Off the market. At one point, there was a paper that came out that showed it was lousy as a preventative but worked as a treatment. I have used it as a treatment for bad giardia cases....but not for prevention. Now that you can't get the vaccine....not even much to discuss.
Other stuff:
Fecal testing 2-3 times during the first 16 weeks of age. Treatment for parasites as needed.
Starting flea control and heartworm control, done as early as 8-10 weeks of age!
Neuter and/or Spay at 4-6 months depending on breed. Smaller dogs I recommend waiting until 6 months because they often don't lose all their baby teeth. If they are still there at 6 months, we can do some simple extractions while they are out!
Best wishes on that new puppy!!!! We're available at Pacific Beach Veterinary Clinic if you have questions!
Cheers!
Dr. Hooli
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