Vaccinating your puppy is one of the most important things to do in your first few weeks as a dog owner. Regular vaccinations help puppies grow into healthy dogs who remain free of infectious diseases and prevent them from passing nasty diseases on to other animals.
Puppies get some immunity from their mother when they are born, but this is only temporary. It declines steadily over the first few weeks of life and is largely gone by twelve weeks, which is why your puppy should receive 3 vaccinations from 6-16 weeks of age.
The first core vaccine should be given at 6-8 weeks of age, then a booster vaccine given every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. The final vaccination should not be given any earlier than 16 weeks of age.
A booster vaccine is recommended at 6 months of age to ensure that a protective immune response develops in any dog that may not have responded to any of the first three vaccines.
Different vaccines last for different lengths of time, as immunity can weaken. Your vet will provide you with a vaccination record, which you'll need to keep in a safe place.
The most common vaccinations that puppies receive are:
- Canine distemper
- Canine hepatitis
- Canine parvovirus
- Parainfluenza virus
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
Your vet may also recommend additional vaccines. Always speak to your vet, who will be able to advise which vaccines are suitable for your pup and when they should have them.
Source: rspca.org.au
