A Complete Vaccination Guide for Your New Puppy

Taking your puppy for its first veterinary check-up is the perfect opportunity to start an ongoing health record. This record will be used to track various aspects of their health and development to ensure that they grow into a healthy adult dog. Routine puppy vaccinations will be recorded to ensure their health and to remind you when any boosters are due.

What Are Puppy Vaccinations and Why Are They So Important?

Pet bodies are just as fragile as our own, and unfortunately, this means that they are equally as likely to get sick. There are many different diseases and viruses that may risk the health of your new puppy. Their low immunity means that the effects of any illness are more likely to be severe and could even have long-term consequences for their health and wellbeing.

When you choose to vaccinate your puppy, you are ensuring that they’re completely protected from some of the most dangerous and deadly canine diseases. Not only are they themselves safe, but in most cases, they are also unable to carry and transmit them to other animals and humans that they encounter. Diseases passed between animals and humans are referred to as zoonotic diseases.  

Your vet will discuss the importance of vaccinations with you at your puppy’s first check-up. They will provide you with a vaccination schedule to know what vaccinations your furry friend has already had, what is outstanding, and when each vaccination is due.

How Do Puppy Vaccinations Work?

Puppy vaccinations work in the same way as they do for humans - by imitating the infectious disease that they are designed to protect against. Although harmless, they will trigger your pup’s body to have an autoimmune response and create antibodies to fight it. This protection means that in most instances, defenses will be set off against a disease before your pet even shows any sign of having been in contact with it. Although you can’t see them working, vaccines are crucial preventative tools to keep your dog safe. Vaccines also have a limited lifespan and must be re-administered on a schedule for your pet to remain completely protected.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Every puppy is unique, and this means that their preventative care must be tailored to their individual needs. Nevertheless, veterinarians tend to adhere to the following vaccination schedule wherever possible.

The DA2PP vaccine refers to a combination vaccine that protects against canine distemper, canine adenovirus, canine parvovirus, and canine parainfluenza.

6 to 8 weeks of age
DA2PP core vaccine and Intranasal Bordetella/Kennel Cough vaccine if recommended by your vet.

10 weeks of age
DA2PP booster and Lyme Disease and Leptospirosis if recommended by your vet.

13 weeks of age
DA2PP booster and boosters for Lyme Disease and Leptospirosis if vaccine previously given.

16 weeks of age
DA2PP booster and Rabies core vaccine.

12 months from their last juvenile vaccination, your pup will need to start receiving annual boosters of core and other recommended vaccinations. Your vet will work with you to establish a vaccination schedule that will ensure their continued protection against diseases.

For more on new puppy vaccinations visit Village Veterinary Clinic at our office in Grayslake, Illinois. You can call at 847-223-5593 to schedule an appointment today.