You’ve got a new puppy, now WHAT?
First of all CONGRATULATIONS on your new puppy!!!
Getting a new furry friend is always an exciting time from day one. But puppies need a lot more than just a loving home in order to be healthy. Chances are your puppy is about 8 weeks old at the time that you got him/her, as most breeders will keep them with mom until then.
Most breeders will vaccinate the puppy at around 6-7 weeks of age for their first DAPP (variations of this vaccine are DHPP/DAPPv/DA2PPv/DPv which depends on manufacturer), this vaccine is a combination shot which includes distemper/adenovirus/parvovirus/parainfluenza. Some breeders will bring the puppies to a vet check up with this initial vaccine, other breeders may choose to purchase the vaccine and administer it themselves. Along with the first DAPP vaccine puppies will often be dewormed , and the number of times that they are dewormed also vary from breeder to breeder, unfortunately there isn’t a standard approach to deworming schedules.
Now that you have your puppy, your duty as a pet owner’s responsibility is to make sure that your little furry friend is well taken care of, and to continue on with his/her puppy vaccines. When puppies are born they will have mom’s antibodies present on their system which helps to fight off viruses, but as they grow older, those maternal antibodies will not protect them any longer. One of the most common questions I get from pet owners is which vaccines does my puppy need and how often do they need them.
The vaccine timeline starts with the first dapp vaccine that the breeder has given.
If the first vaccine was given at 6 weeks old, your little one will need a second one at 8 weeks old, and then every 3-4 weeks until he/she reaches 16 weeks of age. Let me break it down for you:
6 weeks – 1st dapp
8 weeks – 2nd dapp
12 weeks – 3rd dapp
16 weeks – 4th dapp
This is the main vaccine that your puppy will receive and is important to continue with the boosters in order for your furry friend to develop its own immunity and response to them.
Of course there are other vaccines that your puppy will most likely need, and one of them it is the Rabies vaccine. This vaccine is required by most places in order to take your puppy for a nail trim, bathing, grooming, anal glands expression, and others. The Rabies vaccine can be given at 12 weeks of age, although some vet clinics will wait until 16 weeks of age.
If you intend to board your pooch or taking him/her to daycare, grooming facilities, your pet will probably need to have an up to date Bordetella vaccine. Bordetella or most commonly known as kennel cough vaccine, it affects the upper respiratory system and most animals develop a dry cough. The Bordetella vaccine can be administered anytime after 3 weeks old.
There are two other vaccines that are based on lifestyle and not all dogs will be vaccinated for, they are Leptospirosis vaccine and Lyme vaccine.
Leptospirosis disease is transmitted by urine of wild life, and if the urine is sitting in a puddle of water and your pet drinks from it he/she could become infected. The Leptospirosis (or Lepto) vaccine is normally started anytime after 8 weeks old and it does require a second booster vaccine 3-4 weeks after the initial dose.
Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks, thus if the area you may live in has a big occurrence of ticks, this may be something to consider. The Lyme vaccine is normally started anytime after 8 weeks old and it does require a second booster vaccine 3-4 weeks after the initial dose.
Other less common vaccines that some vet clinics can offer include the influenza vaccine and the coronavirus vaccine(very rare).
It is always a good idea to deworm puppies at least one more time and check a fecal sample for parasites. This not only keeps your new puppy healthy, but it also keeps you the human safe as well.
Disclaimer: This blog is meant to be used as a resource tool for pet owners, pet enthusiasts, and anyone who would like to understand a little bit more about how to better care for our pets. As with any information on the internet, please take it with a grain of salt, and always consult with your veterinarian to discuss the best course of action for your furry friend.
