If you have a new puppy, getting it properly vaccinated is an important first step to helping develop its immune system. Immunizations can keep a puppy healthy much like they do babies. Vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system and prevent future infection by producing antibodies. If you’re wondering exactly when to get Puppy vaccinated, just keep reading.
When to Get Puppy Vaccinated
Your puppy should first get vaccinated at the first visit to the veterinarian. During the first visit, the veterinarian will give your puppy a DHPP, or combination vaccine that protects your puppy from canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus infection. These are four important vaccines that each puppy generally gets in their early weeks, usually when they are 6 to 8 weeks old.
At the second visit, after about 10 weeks, your puppy needs to get a second DHPP vaccine and vaccines against other diseases that they may be at risk of. These vaccines are against coronavirus infection, Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and kennel cough.
During the next visit, your puppy will get her their first rabies shot, along with another DHPP shot, and possibly some boosters. Also, if your veterinarian recommends something else, it is advisable to take the vaccinations they recommend. Once your puppy has all of these vaccinations, he should be ready to go.
There are some ongoing vaccinations as well, as booster shots will need to be administered every year to ensure the vaccine remains effective. Also, every one to three years, your puppy will also need to get a booster shot for rabies.
The risk of side effects remains, but they are uncommon. Any vaccine reactions or side effects are usually mild, and not something to worry about. However, on the rare occasion your puppy has a bad reaction to the vaccine, be sure to contact your vet immediately.
Find Vaccinations for Your Puppy
If you need to get your puppy vaccinated, consider using TalkLocal to find a veterinarian for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, veterinarians in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.
