Puppy Vaccination Schedule: An A to Z Guide on Puppy Vaccinations

A puppy is a bundle of energy and happiness. The joy you get when you bring a puppy home is boundless. But simultaneously, you know that the puppy depends on you for everything - health, care, food and much more. Apart from getting a cosy bed to sleep in and great food, a puppy requires a puppy vaccination schedule. It is an essential part of good puppy care. Today, in this blog, we will talk about the A to Z of puppy vaccinations and why they are so important.

When to begin with the dog vaccination schedule?

Anywhere, when the puppy or puppies are between the age of 6 to 8 weeks, they must receive their first vaccination. You must maintain a card or a vaccination chart of all the puppy vaccinations given to your dog as it helps the vet decide what your puppy needs next. Vaccination is administered every 2-3 weeks till the desired protection is achieved. The range of vaccinations for a puppy that needs to be administered depends on the age of your puppy. For example, the vaccination for Parvo or Distemper is given 3-4 times which is done when the pup is between 16-20 weeks of age.

Which Vaccinations are Required?

Getting your puppy vaccinated can be a tedious task as it includes numerous trips to the vet and requires money as well. A wise idea would be to maintain a puppy vaccination chart. However, these vaccinations are very helpful in protecting your dog from a range of diseases, some of which are also very deadly. Therefore, in the long run, this long and expensive task is completely worth the time and effort as it ensures that your puppy lives a long and healthy life. To make the task easy and less confusing for you, mentioned below is a list of injections that must be given to your puppy:

• • Canine Distemper: A highly infectious disease that directly attacks the nervous system and the gastrointestinal system of dogs is spread through the air or, in other words, via exposure that is airborne such as coughing and sneezing from an animal that is already infected with the virus. Distemper causes watery discharge from the eyes and the nose. Severe symptoms include vomiting, fever, coughing, paralysis, seizures and sometimes death. This is one of the most crucial parts of the dog vaccination schedule.
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica: This disease is spread through bacteria and causes cough, vomiting and whooping. In certain severe cases, it can also cause seizures which may eventually lead to death.
  • Canine Hepatitis: Another contagious viral infection is canine hepatitis which affects various organs of the dog's body, including the liver, spleen, kidney, lungs and eyes. It often causes jaundice and stomach enlargement in affected dogs, along with pain in the liver. There is no cure for this disease; only symptoms can be managed.
  • Rabies: A viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of the dog, rabies is dangerous. Some of its symptoms include headache, hallucinations, drooling, fear of water, paralysis and even death. Rabies is transmitted when a dog is bitten by an animal that is already infected. You are required to be up to date with the rabies vaccination schedule for dogs. 
  • Parvovirus: Puppies who are not vaccinated against parvovirus are at the maximum risk of contracting it. Apart from vomiting and fever, this virus can cause extreme dehydration and eventually lead to death. Medical intervention is a must.
  • Lyme Disease: This disease is caused by ticks. They have a bacteria within them known as a spirochete. Lyme disease causes the dog to get a fever, and swelling of lymph nodes. Often the dog even begins to limp due to the infection. Medical intervention along with antibiotics is needed for the treatment of this disease.
  • Heartworm: When your puppy is between 12-16 weeks, it is essential to start a heartworm preventive. You can talk to your vet about this and can take the necessary guidance. These worms tend to get inside the pulmonary arteries and the right side of the heart and then spread to the rest of the body. A blood test is vital for the correct diagnosis.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

If you are confused about when to vaccinate puppies, you must know that it needs to be done following a proper schedule after discussing it with your vet. Please refer to the table below:

What Side Effects Do Puppies Have After Vaccination?

There is a slight or mild possibility of experiencing side effects after your pooch gets the first puppy vaccination schedule. Mild symptoms may include lethargy, fever, sluggish behaviour and swelling near the place the injection was given. Vomiting, diarrhoea and swelling on the face and paws come with serious side effects, and you must consult your vet immediately when you notice such symptoms.

Click here to read important FAQs related to puppy vaccinations.

This was all about puppy vaccinations and their importance. Getting a puppy requires the promise and determination to give them the right vaccination at the right age and time. If you want your puppy to grow up and lead a long and healthy life, you must make sure that you get your puppy vaccinated to avoid any problems later.

For more information on vaccinating your puppy, get in touch with our experts to book an appointment to understand what vaccination schedule to follow. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the proper vaccination schedule for a dog?

The vaccination schedule of a dog begins from the age of 6 to 8 weeks. The schedule followed is mentioned below:

• Bordetella - 6-8 weeks
• Leptospirosis, DHPP vaccination schedule, Bordetella - 9 to 10 weeks
• DHPP, Leptospirosis, Lyme Disease, Canine Influenza - 12 to 13 weeks
• DHPP, Rabies, Canine Influenza, Lyme Disease - 16 to 18 weeks
• Rabies, DHPP - 12 to 16 months.

2. What is the 7 in 1 vaccine for dogs?

The 7 in 1 vaccine for dogs includes Canine Distemper, Parainfluenza, Hepatitis, Corona Viral Enteritis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis.

3. At what age do dogs stop getting vaccines?

Dogs get their required doses till the age of 16 months. After that, they get booster doses yearly or every three years.

4. How long is the rabies vaccine good for in a dog?

The rabies vaccination is effective in dogs for a period of 3 years. A puppy becomes eligible to receive its first rabies shot when it is anywhere between 16 to 18 weeks. After that, it should be administered every year. It is a part of their rabies vaccination schedule.