Puppy Shots

[BAYOU]

Just got my new pup and have some questions regarding What he received and what he needs. I picked him up about 6 weeks and 5 days, while picking him up he received some liquid that was squirted down his throat and also a shot. Should have asked more questions but was just plain excited. I will be talking to the breeder again but was curious what he did recieve. What was in the shot and the squirt of liquid, I recall paul saying something about wormer and something else. in the future I want to give my own shots but need some direction on when and what to give. I will be going to the vet this week to get the 3rd series.

1. what shots are given and how often?
2. How many series for a puppy---adult?
3. What all do I need to vacinate for and how often

Thanks

[jeffn]

PUPPIES: Here is a general schedule to follow to give your puppy a healthy start.

6 WEEKS
Examination (for general health)
DHP-PV-CV (1st for distemper parvo/hepatitus/parainfluenza-parvo-carona)
Fecal Flotation (for parasites)
Heartworm Prevention
Flea & Tick Prevention

9 WEEKS
Examination
DHP-PV-CV (2nd)
Fecal Flotation
Heartworm Prevention
Flea & Tick Prevention

12 WEEKS
Examination
DHP-PV-CV (3rd)
Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
Fecal Flotation
Heartworm Prevention
Flea & Tick Prevention

15 WEEKS
Examination
Parvo Vaccine
Rabies - 1 Year (required for every pet in the state of Kentucky)
Heartworm Prevention
Flea & Tick Prevention

NOTES
Puppies can be spayed or neutered as early as 6 months old.
Rabies booster shots are one year later and every three years after that.
The DHP-PV-CV vaccination protects pups against upper respiratory and gastrointestinal viral diseases.

[Luvbeags]

Wowsers. I think Jeffn covered it...
Just besure to contact your local ag extension, or animal control officer. In some states a vet must administer your rabies vaccine in order for it to be "legal" and they can inform you for YOUR AREA how long a rabies shot is good for.
Almost all rabies shots are "good for" one year the first year given, and then every shot after that should be good for three years.
HOWEVER, because I work for a vet every year we get a book entitled the "rabies compendium" and it states how many cases of rabies were found, in which species, etc. The compendium then states HOW OFTEN rabies vaccines are required and it can vary not only state by state, but even county by county. Where I work rabies vaccines are only "good for" two years, while 100 yards away in the next state they are "good for" three years, and where my sister lives they are only "good for" one year.
It isn't the rabies shot that determines how long one it legal for, it is mandated by the state. (each state is different, and each have different amounts of reported rabies cases.)
The only other alteration on Jeff's schedule is we like to give another corona vaccine at 16 weeks, and start the Lyme vaccine then if people want it. Lyme vaccine isn't very effective (dogs that get the vaccine can still get lyme disease) and some dogs do get reactions to it. I do vaccinate for lyme, I've had one dog get it, and my husband has had it twice.
Then, most shots are boostered yearly.

I like sentinel for heartworm and flea prevention. I use it because it is 100% effective (comes with a guarantee) and it is easy. Expensive, yes, but we only have five dogs, so for us it isn't so bad.
I've used tick arrest and preventic collars when needed, but just this last year I tried frontline a few times. I was very pleased with it!

[DarrinG]

LuvBeags, I've read several articles written by veteranarians that have stated Coronavirus vaccines are questionable on their effectiveness. As a matter of fact, I've read a couple articles where the vet writing the article says it is NOT recommended due to the questionable ineffectiveness of the vaccine. Since you work in a vet's office, what say ye?

Here's one link:

http://www.dvmvac.com/CCrnaCom.html

[Luvbeags]

No vaccine is 100 percent effective and every vaccine can have side effects. We often choose the side effects over the actual disease because they usually aren't as bad as the original disease.
Why vaccinate for corona? Why vaccinate your kids for diptheria?? It makes them sick(just the vaccine) and when is the last time you saw a case of diptheria in a kid???

Hopefully, what we have is "herd immunity" which is achieved when a virus is lowered in a population because of vaccination. (In your kids, and your dogs!) I used to see about a case of parvo a month. Now We see maybe a case a year.

Our practice is very close to the city with large population of Rottweilers. These dogs are very prone to viral diarrhea, and many are carriers. Do they have corona? Who knows, most of them die because the owners can't even afford the vaccine let alone take the dogs to a vet!
Rotties and dobermans are most susceptible. I've never asked my boss how many cases of corona virus he has seen. I've been working for him eight years, and have never seen a case of corona.(THAT I KNEW was definately CORONA) BUT, I'm sure dogs do still die from it. If you don't want to vaccinate for it, don't.
For me, I figure it is like the flu vaccine. Even if you get the flu or something like the flu, it won't be as bad.
We give the last vaccine at 16 weeks, because we don't give the first one until the pup is 8 weeks old. Then we give the second at 12 weeks old. Then, we give them another at 16 weeks of age.
There are many reasons and arguments as to vaccination schedules and their effectiveness, which is why my boss attends conferences like the Penn Vet conference every year. I'm sure he is up to date on proper policies and techniques, but at the same time he has been practicing about 40 years and likes to do a lot of stuff his way. We also have several knowledgeable dog breeders, who, yes, we do listen to. Our main Doberman breeder insists on her corona virus, while a Golden Retriever breeder insists on not giving it. They each know their breed, so we give them advice and let them use it how they will.

As far as questionable vaccines, all vaccines are questionable. The most effective is rabies, the least effective is Lyme, at least that is the feeling at our clinic.
If you don't want to vaccinate every year you can have a titer performed on your pet to see if your dog has an acceptible antibody level to see when you should revaccinate.(Or, if the vaccine has even produced an acceptible titer in your dog. BUT, for me, even working for the vet I don't have the time or money to have my dog's blood drawn (sometimes every 6 months if you are using titers to determine when to vaccinate) and each titer for each virus/vaccine costs about $30 to $80 each.
But, again, we have some owners and breeders who don't vaccinate until the titer falls to the unsafe level. For me, I don't want to wait to let my dog's level go below safe, what if he comes into contact with an infected pet before I vaccinate again?
We usually go by the manufacturers directions, because they are the ones who have had safety and effectiveness testing performed, usually by an outside independent laboratory testing facility.
I'll ask my boss next week if there was any "stir" at the penn conference this year about the corona vaccine.
There is always a stir about something...

[Luvbeags]

No stir at the Penn conference about corona virus this year. Whatever vets were having problems with the vaccine didn't speak up this year at one of the largest veterinary conventions.
We still give it as recommended in the product literature.
We did switch a cat vaccine, but that is a post for another board...

[mike crabtree]

If I wait until 8 weeks old to give My pups Parvo shots, I wont be buying many shots, because 1/2 would die of Parvo.