When and what vaccinations should puppies receive?

When and what vaccinations should puppies receive? The question of whether puppy vaccinations are necessary is a concern for many pet owners. Some owners' dogs can live a full, long life without any vaccinations, while others' one-year-old puppies suddenly die from an unknown disease. To determine whether your dog needs vaccinations, we recommend reading this article. We've prepared the most comprehensive vaccination schedule and chart for puppies, complete with detailed information. We'll also cover how to prepare your puppy for vaccinations, potential side effects, and what is and isn't allowed after each vaccine.

The immunity of dogs, like that of other warm-blooded animals, is usually divided into two types: hereditary or passive (caused by genetic factors) and acquired (active).

• Hereditary immunity is the most stable, as it develops naturally and is passed down from one generation to the next. Acquired immunity, on the other hand, can develop in a dog in two ways: through a natural infection or through artificial immunization—vaccination.
• Acquired Vaccinations in puppies can provide active immunity for anywhere from 15 days to several years. Therefore, if you vaccinate your puppy promptly, there will be no threat to its health from infections.

When should a puppy get his first vaccinations?

If circumstances permit, puppies up to 8 weeks of age are kept exclusively on breastfeeding. The puppy develops passive immunity with its mother's first milk (colostrum). Depending on the circumstances, this immunity can provide protection for 4 to 18 weeks—this determines when the puppy's first vaccinations can be given.

It is not recommended to vaccinate before the age of 8 weeks, since the puppy’s immune system is not yet fully formed. Between 8 and 12 weeks of age, a puppy's body experiences a period known as a "window of susceptibility," when the level of maternal antigens in the blood drops sharply, making the puppy highly susceptible to infectious diseases. This time is considered the most appropriate for the first vaccination.

Dog owners sometimes wonder when exactly they should vaccinate their puppies: before or after teething. Because some vaccines can cause permanent darkening of tooth enamel, breeders typically vaccinate puppies either before 3 months of age (before teething) or after 6 months of age (after teething). However, it's important to remember that in the first case, the young, fragile body may not be ready for vaccinations. The second option carries a risk of illness, as the peak age for infections of dangerous diseases such as canine distemper and parvovirus enteritis in puppies typically occurs at 4 months of age.

Vaccination schedule for puppies up to one year old

Before the first vaccination, make sure your puppy is completely healthy, as vaccinations in a weakened animal can cause additional complications. When visiting a veterinary clinic, your veterinarian should create an individualized plan. vaccination schedule, based on your puppy's specific needs. However, if there are no significant developmental or health issues, you can follow the general vaccination guidelines for puppies up to 1 year of age. Below you will find a detailed vaccination chart for puppies up to 1 year of age, with the schedule, names, due dates, and comments for each:

This is the most complete and effective vaccination schedule for puppies up to one year old.

Vaccines for dogs: which are the best?

Vaccines for dogs can be roughly divided into two groups: inactivated ("killed" vaccines) and attenuated ("live" vaccines). Attenuated vaccines contain weakened, modified live viruses that, when administered to a puppy, begin to actively replicate and stimulate the puppy to develop its own immunity. In essence, the puppy experiences a very mild form of the disease. The advantage of this vaccine is that it requires only a small number of viral cells, which will then naturally build up to the required number. Immunity from a "live" vaccine develops much faster and lasts longer. One such vaccine can induce immunity within one week and maintain it for over three years. Which vaccine for dogs is best?

The situation is slightly different with inactivated vaccines. A larger number of viral cells are required for administration, immunity develops much more slowly, and the vaccine's effectiveness is limited to several months. To develop lasting immunity, at least two inactivated vaccine shots are required, three weeks apart.

The only exception is the inactivated rabies vaccine, which, after just the second administration, provides lasting immunity to the disease for the dog's entire life.

What types of vaccines are there?

Different types of vaccines protect against different pathogens, and to ensure precise identification of the specific vaccine target, they are marked with specific symbols. Here's a brief overview of the main meanings:

• L - Leptospirosis = canine leptospirosis
• P — Parvovirus enteritis = canine parvovirus enteritis
• D — Distemper = canine distemper
• R — Rabies = rabies in dogs
• L. jcterohaemorrhagiae, L. canicola, L. pomona, L. Grippotiphosa
• H — Hepatitis infectiosa = Rubart's hepatitis
• PI2-Parainfluenza + Bordetella bronchiceptica = canine parainfluenza

What diseases do they protect against?

Today, veterinary medicine has made great strides and is capable of treating many ailments affecting our four-legged pets. However, there are some diseases that are effectively treated only through vaccination. Here's a sample list of such ailments:

• Distemper (or plague of carnivores);
• Rabies;
• Parainfluenza (as well as adenoviruses);
• Leptospirosis;
• Infectious hepatitis;
• Parvovirus enteritis;

If you don't vaccinate your puppy against these diseases in a timely manner, then, most likely, if infected with any of these pathogens, your dog will either die or become very seriously ill, which will cause enormous, sometimes irreparable, harm to the body.

Monovalent vaccines

Vaccines are also classified based on their composition as monovalent or combination vaccines. Monovalent vaccines, which build resistance to a specific disease in puppies, offer several advantages.

• Firstly, vaccination with such a drug reduces the load on the immune system and the entire body as a whole.
• Secondly, the quality of the immune response also improves, since viruses don't have to compete for a habitat. For example, parvovirus and coronavirus enteritis viruses will compete because they replicate in the same place. And the virus plague of carnivores is generally the most aggressive and can suppress any other vaccine.
• Third, with monovalent vaccines, your veterinarian can create a customized immunization schedule specifically for your puppy. From all the vaccines available, you can choose the best one for each specific disease.
• Fourthly, the solvent for monovalent vaccines is usually selected independently, and in this case it would be better to choose sterile water, while for complex vaccines the dry part of the vaccine is usually diluted in liquid.

Complex vaccines

Polyvalent or complex vaccines build immunity in puppies against several diseases simultaneously. These vaccines consist of a complex of antigens. They are much better tolerated by adult dogs, as they target previously acquired immunity, but in puppies they can cause a number of side effects. However, these vaccines have their advantage: a single injection can immunize a dog against several diseases, saving you and your pet from further trips to the clinic and stress. Currently, the quantitative limit for complex vaccines has been reached. Polyvalent vaccines must contain a maximum of 6-7 viral strains, as only this combination guarantees an effective immune response throughout the body.

Thus, virtually all vaccines have a prolonged effect and create long-term active immunity in puppies. Currently, there is a huge selection of monovalent and combination vaccines produced domestically and their foreign counterparts.

Domestic vaccines for dogs (table)

Imported vaccines for dogs (table)

As the table shows, a wide range of vaccines on the Russian market compete well with imported analogues. There's only one general rule for choosing a vaccine: carefully check the expiration date and storage conditions, as well as the transportation conditions (this applies to foreign vaccines). This is because, depending on the vaccine type, it may contain live antibodies, which are destroyed by improper transportation conditions. Nevertheless, consumers often place greater trust in foreign veterinary drugs, as their price is significantly higher, meaning their quality is expected to be higher.

But price should not always be the key factor when choosing a vaccine for a dog. For example, it is recommended to vaccinate puppies against canine distemper only with Russian-made vaccines (Vakchum, 668-KF, or EPM). There have been numerous cases of dogs contracting distemper in the country after being vaccinated with foreign-made vaccines.

In any case, before vaccination, it is essential to discuss all the details with a qualified veterinarian, who should explain all the advantages and disadvantages of available vaccines and adjust their prescription based on disease statistics in a specific area.

How to prepare a puppy for vaccination?

As mentioned above, vaccinations can only be administered to a completely healthy puppy. The vaccine is not a medicine and cannot help an already sick animal.

To best protect your pet from negative consequences after vaccination, you should follow a number of recommendations and prepare your puppy for the vaccination:

• Avoid contact of the puppy with other animals for 14 days from the date of vaccination.
• The puppy should be walked in the surrounding area, which is kept clean.
• During the week before vaccination, it is recommended to measure the puppy's body temperature and monitor the condition of the mucous membranes and stool.
• It is better to vaccinate on an empty stomach, and you can give the puppy plenty of fluids to drink. If the vaccination is planned for the evening, it is better to feed the puppy 3-4 hours before visiting the veterinarian.
• Trust vaccinations to only a trusted specialist.
• Choose a veterinary clinic carefully and try to familiarize yourself with the list of vaccines your puppy requires in advance. If possible, invite an experienced veterinarian to your home to minimize stress for your puppy.

Always remember that your puppy's condition may worsen during and after vaccinations, even if you follow all recommendations. A trip to the veterinarian and the vaccination itself are very stressful for your pet. During and after the procedure, your puppy needs your care and protection much more than usual.

Deworming

Deworm your puppy 2-3 weeks before or slightly earlier. Remember to deworm before each subsequent vaccination.It is important to consult a veterinarian about this beforehand!

If you choose a medication that targets both adult and larval parasites (such as Drontal or Milbemax), you should deworm your puppy once. However, if you choose an anthelmintic that requires two doses (such as Pyrantel, Praziquantel, and their analogs, which only target adult parasites), you should deworm your puppy as early as one month of age. Otherwise, you'll delay the preparation process, and your puppy will begin teething, which adds an additional risk to the vaccination process.

What should you pay attention to after vaccinating your puppy?

After vaccination, it is recommended to quarantine the puppy:

• isolate the puppy from other animals for 10-14 days;
• ensure normal sleep;
• provide adequate nutrition;
• give enough water;
• the puppy should be protected from drafts;
• Do not wash or bathe the puppy. Do not get the injection site wet for 3 days;
• do not overwork the puppy, do not expose him to increased physical activity;

It should be noted that any vaccination is an intervention in the puppy’s immune system., so immediately after vaccination, its immune system is significantly weakened. In the first 24 hours after vaccination, you may notice excessive drowsiness, lethargy, a slight increase in body temperature (up to 39°C), and sometimes vomiting. However, don't be alarmed, as this is a completely normal immune system response to the ingestion of a foreign substance. You should only become concerned if the above symptoms persist or even worsen in the following days. In this case, you should contact your veterinarian and discuss any abnormalities in your puppy's condition.

Possible adverse reactions

In rare cases, vaccinations in puppies can trigger an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Symptoms of an allergic reaction in this case may include:

• increase in body temperature above 39 °C;
• repeated vomiting and diarrhea;
• shortness of breath;
• profuse salivation;
• change in skin color;
• pallor of the mucous membranes;

In this situation, you need to immediately contact a veterinarian. As a first aid, you can use any antihistamine for people, after adjusting the dosage with your doctor.

It's not uncommon for puppies to develop a lump at the injection site after vaccination. This unpleasant phenomenon can occur if the injection site was chosen incorrectly or the vaccine was administered too quickly. This is nothing to worry about, as the lump usually resolves on its own within a week or a month. To speed healing, it's recommended to use anticoagulant ointments to improve blood flow to the injection site. However, if the swelling begins to grow or bother the puppy, consult a veterinarian, as it could be an abscess that will require surgical removal.

Restrictions on walking with a puppy before and after vaccination

Puppy vaccinations impose certain restrictions on walks. Today, we'll discuss when and after which vaccinations you can take your puppy for walks, as well as what rules you need to consider.

No vaccinations

Can I take a puppy for a walk without vaccinations? It's generally not recommended to take a puppy for a walk before its first vaccination, as the puppy's immune system is not fully developed until six weeks of age. Maternal antibodies provide only passive immunity, which is insufficient to provide adequate protection against dangerous and aggressive potential diseases. Dogs are very curious animals, and this can lead to accidental infection during a walk. Since most canine diseases are transmitted through secretions, saliva or urine from a sick animal can come into contact with your puppy's paws or nose during a walk, which almost certainly will lead to infection.

After the first vaccination

Things are a little different with walks after the first vaccination. As mentioned above, long-term active immunity in a puppy doesn't develop immediately, but rather over time. Therefore, puppies are usually vaccinated in two stages, as the first vaccination creates the body's primary immune response, while the second strengthens and stabilizes it. So, can a puppy go for a walk after the first vaccination?

During the first stage of vaccination, a certain number of weakened pathogens are introduced into the puppy's body, forcing its immune system to fight the dangerous virus on its own and produce antibodies to the disease. Depending on the dog's age and the type of vaccine, the process of immunity development can take anywhere from 2-3 days to 2-3 weeks. In puppies, the development of the primary immune response can continue for at least two weeks. During this time, the puppy's fragile body is extremely vulnerable to infection.

After the second vaccination

How long after the second vaccination can a puppy go for a walk? After the second (reinforcement) vaccination is administered 12-14 days later, full walks can begin as early as 10 days later. During this time, the puppy's immune system will fully adapt to protect against a specific disease.

After vaccination of an already adult dog

For adult dogs, these recommendations are rather conditional. For a week after vaccination, you can walk your pet on a leash, provided you don't expose them to excessive heat or excessive exercise. However, you should avoid allowing even an adult dog to interact with other animals for a week after vaccination.

Rules for walking a puppy after vaccination

Therefore, quarantine is required for 12-14 days after the puppy's first vaccination. Walks are not completely prohibited, but a few rules should be followed:

• Find a quiet and safe place to walk your puppy.
• Under no circumstances should you allow your puppy to come into contact with other animals while walking.
• It is advisable to always hold the puppy in your arms and not let it run on the ground.
• You shouldn't stay outside for a long time; 20-minute walks in the fresh air are enough.

You need to be especially careful during the autumn-winter period. Walking in frosty or rainy weather can lead to hypothermia. Therefore, choose warm, sunny days for walks. Short walks with your puppy in your own yard around your country house are ideal, but only if you are completely confident that the area around your home is clean and safe.

Walking is a source of endless joy for dogs. Dogs are explorers by nature, so don't deprive them of such simple joys as walks. You just need to limit walks for a short time before and after vaccinations. Once your pet's immune system is fully strengthened, you can walk and play outdoors with them for as long as possible—your puppy will definitely appreciate it.

In conclusion, it's important to ensure your pet is in good health and well-being before any vaccination. Be sure to monitor their appetite and behavior. Don't neglect small details, as they could cost your puppy's life. And remember, no vaccine alone provides 100% protection against disease. Only your competent and responsible care, combined with a balanced diet and the necessary vaccinations, will ensure a full and healthy life for your dog. Your pet's well-being depends solely on you. Trust only a trusted professional with vaccinations and don't skimp on your dog's health.

Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.

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