Common Vaccinations for Your New Puppy

Puppies are prone to diseases and other health problems, which is why it’s important to know the vaccinations they need in order to grow into healthy, happy dogs. The decisions you make for the pup while it’s still young can affect it for the rest of its life.

When to Get the Vaccinations

As soon as you get a new puppy that has not had vaccinations yet or if your dog has given birth to a litter of puppies, you need to take them to the veterinarian for examination. If you buy from a breeder or adopt a rescued dog from a shelter in Singapore, make sure that the puppy vaccinations are all updated. How soon a puppy can get the vaccinations will depend on the age of the puppy and the protocols of the veterinarian. Puppies should not be given vaccinations when the maternal antibodies can still counter the vaccine.

First Puppy Vaccinations

The period at which the puppy can be effectively immunized by taking into consideration the effects of the maternal antibodies from mother’s milk is called the window of susceptibility. This is why the veterinarian has to check the puppy first before recommending any vaccinations. Some puppies can be vaccinated at 6 weeks or 9 weeks of age, but must not be given later than 16 weeks of age to be effective. The combination of the vaccines and the interval of the boosters will depend on the veterinarian’s policies. Puppies older than 16 weeks that have not been vaccinated can still get protection, however, it increases their risk of contracting a disease while still young.

Core Vaccines for Puppies

The core vaccines for puppies are very important because some of the diseases can be fatal. You must remember, however, that there will be puppies that cannot respond to the vaccines while some may have already contracted a disease even after the vaccination. The core vaccines for puppies include the following: parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, adenovirus, parainfluenza, leptospirosis and lyme disease, rabies, heartworm, coronavirus, giardia, kennel cough and bordetella. Some of these may not be included in the vaccinations, so ask your veterinarian about what can be included during the check-up.

Vaccine Doses for Puppies

All puppies regardless of breed, size, sex, and weight should receive the same vaccine dose. The vaccine will usually take effect within 14 days to allow the immune system to develop a response to the diseases. Some puppies will need additional vaccinations or boosters to achieve maximum protection. If, however, the puppy still developed the disease, such as parvovirus, even after the vaccination, it’s likely caused by the body’s failure to respond to the vaccine due to the maternal antibodies, the puppy’s immune system, genes, or even the vaccines. You will know if the vaccines are working if the puppy experiences some minor side-effects.