Puppies require a series of vaccines to protect their health.
Vaccinations provide puppies with immunity against many contagious and catastrophic diseases. Some vaccines, such as the rabies vaccine, are required by law. While all vaccinations can pose a potential for risks, these risks should be weighed against the benefit of protecting your puppy's health.
Newborn Puppy Immunity
Newborn puppies receive maternal antibodies from their mother's milk. These antibodies provide them with some protection against canine diseases.
Puppy Vaccination Schedule
Puppies are given a series of vaccinations from the ages of 6 to 16 weeks of age. At this time the maternal antibodies begin disappearing, so the series of booster shots serve to protect puppies from gaps in immune protection.
Puppy Core Vaccines
The most important vaccinations your puppy should receive include the Rabies, Parvovirus, Distemper and Adenovirus-2 vaccines.
Puppy Noncore Vaccines
Based on your puppy's lifestyle and geographical location, your veterinarian may also recommend your puppy be vaccinated against the Distemper-Measles virus, Parainfluenza, Bordetella, Leptospira and Lyme disease.
Vaccine Risks
Most vaccine risks are mild and include swelling at the injection site, fever and sluggishness. Signs of allergic reaction, such as facial or leg swelling, vomiting or diarrhea, itchiness, and difficulty breathing, seizure or collapse should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.
Tags: your puppy, maternal antibodies, Puppy Vaccination, your veterinarian