Health
Vaccination
We believe in vaccinating puppies and we are pleased in your interest in the subject. To help you make your decision easier and let you know what is ahead for this little one, we have done our best to put together some answers to some common questions about puppy shots. This is not exhaustive, but it should give you a glimpse into what is recommended for your puppy.
Puppy Vaccinations:
We give our puppies a distemper shots between 6 and 7 weeks. It is suggested to continue the distemper vaccination schedule at 12 and 16 weeks, too.
All puppies, regardless of gender and breed receive the same vaccination, in the same amount. So, that means a yorkie doesn’t get less than a lab. The vaccines generally come in a 1 cc dose that is slipped under the skin. It is described as feeling like a “large mosquito bite”. It is more of an annoying feeling to the puppy than a feeling of pain.
Our basic puppy vaccinations include:
Canine Distemper
Adenovirus Type 2: this protects against cough and hepatitis
Parainfluenza (Kennel Cough)
Parvovirus
Puppy Vaccinations:
We give our puppies a distemper shots between 6 and 7 weeks. It is suggested to continue the distemper vaccination schedule at 12 and 16 weeks, too.
All puppies, regardless of gender and breed receive the same vaccination, in the same amount. So, that means a yorkie doesn’t get less than a lab. The vaccines generally come in a 1 cc dose that is slipped under the skin. It is described as feeling like a “large mosquito bite”. It is more of an annoying feeling to the puppy than a feeling of pain.
Our basic puppy vaccinations include:
Canine Distemper
Adenovirus Type 2: this protects against cough and hepatitis
Parainfluenza (Kennel Cough)
Parvovirus
Natural Boost
When puppies are born, they receive antibodies from their mom. Within the first 24-36 hours of being born, the puppies will have had a high dose of colostrum in their mom’s milk. Colostrum is rich in various nutrients such as proteins, fats, and minerals. It also has antibodies to help ward off infections and viruses until they have received puppy shots or their own immunity kicks in.
These antibodies get absorbed in the small intestine, where there are the largest amount of nerves and blood vessels nearby. Because they are so close in proximity, the blood absorbs the proteins efficiently in order to protect the puppy from viruses and bacteria. Their immune system takes a few days to get started. The first puppy vaccinations are given at the time when the colostrum effects are beginning to wane. The exact time when the colostrum is at its least varies from puppy to puppy, so successive shots are necessary. The most critical puppy shot is given at week 16. |
Additional Vaccinations
Depending on your lifestyle and comfort level, there are other puppy vaccinations that can be given to your puppy as she grows:
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Pet Reference Sheet
This is a great resource for you to fill in and print out, and have handy in case of emergencies.
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