Puppy Vaccinations....

Use Dr. Dodds' timing -- it's perfect.

But at this point the Am Veterinary Hosp Assn. is saying to use "core vaccines" not the combo shot.  That's distemper, parvo and canine adenovirus.  These are the ones they *need*.  Corona only occurs IN parvo (the corona virus lives in parvo virus so if they don't get parvo they can't get corona), and the influenza ones are sadly out of date anyway. 

But those 3 need to be modified-live vax, not killed vax and that sets up a far better immunity.  My vet uses Merial only, at this point -- the distemper vax, this is from memory, is a genetic recombitant vaccine which is the safest of all.  Rather than a killed virus it's a live virus taken apart genetically so it can't morph into the disease but it gives a lasting immunity.  They simply haven't been able to develop one that is cost-effective yet for parvo.

NY is a 3 year rabies state.  But tell them not to get that at the same time -- typically they don't give rabies til 6 months.

calliecritturs

NY is a 3 year rabies state.  But tell them not to get that at the same time -- typically they don't give rabies til 6 months.

Do you know if there might be law making it mandatory to give them at 12 weeks?  That's what she said her vet said...she could get a fine or sumthing if she didn't?  I found that kinda hard to believe!

I'm also wondering if the first set the puppy had at six weeks would have been effective....and if the thrid set should be given due to this.  OR should she just ask to switch over to the core vaccines with only distemper, parvo and canine adenovirus and only do these three just the once at about ....14/15 wks since the last shot was at 10 wks?

Aeri got her first vaccines at 10 weeks, second at 14 weeks, and will get her final round at about 18/19 weeks.  All of the vaccines have been/will be the DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza).  This is the same as DA2PP (H is also the A2) and is often the most basic vaccine you can get without spending $$$$ to buy a whole tray of individual distemper/parvo vaccines - most vets don't stock the individual vaccines.

I think more important is splitting this combo vaccine off from any others.  Our vet (who is holistic) chooses to separate the distemper/parvo combo vax from rabies by at least 2 weeks, even though most vets will give them at the same time.  I've also had vets split off the bordetella and lepto vaccines with similar spacing.

We are considering the lepto vaccine for everyone this year since our area is seeing a resurgence in the disease and I know that the lepto will be given by itself, at least 2 weeks from any other vaccines, for both my adult dogs and Aeri.

My prior vet, also holistic, does recommend a booster of the distemper/parvo vaccine at 1 year of age - she has seen a number of dogs titer low at the one year mark recently.  Once that booster is given however, she recommends vaccines every 3 years.

To be honest I'm not sure what Pan got.  He had 4 shots, and I know each one contained distemper and parvo but maybe a few other things.  I do rabies on its own at 6 months.  Pan was born 8/30 and his first shot was given by the breeder (not exactly sure when), then again on 11/14, 12/7, and 1/9.  Breeder did the first before I got him, friend did the second, vet did the third, friend did the fourth.  Rabies was done by the vet on 2/28.  I will booster at 1 year and then do 3 years after that.

I also live in an area where trying to get access to the individual vaccines of distemper and parvo would cost more than most peoples monthly mortgage payment...LOL.  I would love to give specific vaccines at separate intervals, it's just not realistic for me.

So my pup will get its first vaccine at 7 weeks, then one at 11 weeks, and finally one at 15/16 weeks. He'll be getting only the DHPP vaccine. I do not vaccinate for lepto, bordatella, or rabies.

Just to be cautious, when vaccinating for lepto. The last I had known (unless research has changed), lepto is one of the most dangerous vaccines to give (if not the most) with the risk of adverse effects involved. Obviously the benefits may outweight the risks, but just make sure to make an informed decision and gather lots of info first!! I have never vaccinated for it with my guys, as it's never been at-risk here, so I don't know as much about it as other vaccines.

Thanks everyone.

I should probably note that this girl has already lost a furkid from AIHA caused by vaccinations.  I can relate to her concern and worry!  :(

Kim_MacMillan

lepto is one of the most dangerous vaccines to give (if not the most)

Yep lepto is not one I'd give unless highly recommended for an individual area, tho it is often included in 5 and 7-way combos (usually DHLPP or something similar). 

In addition to being more likely to cause a reaction, it is also an annual vaccine requiring 2 shots for immunity because it's vaccinating against a bacteria vs a virus and thus immunity doesn't last that long. We'll be discussing the shot with our vet before going ahead, but it is much more prevalent here than elsewhere, unfortunately.

I talked with my vet about vaccinating against lepto after a friend's dog was diagnosed with it this past year.  My vet said in 30 years of practice she's never seen a case and that the vaccine doesn't cover all forms of lepto.  She also mentioned the reaction and that she wouldn't recommend it for our area.  I decided to pass on that vaccine.

Johnny&Tessy

I have a friend with a puppy (Samoyed) who already had two sets of shots...one at 6 wks and the other at 10 wks.  (DHPP)  ... Should I recommend her just follow Dr. Dodds' vaccination protocol???

I would largely follow Dr. Dodds' protocol vaccinating only for parvo and distemper until after 18 weeks.  Remember that only one shot for each disease actually works - that is the first shot after the immunity received from the mother's milk wears off.

The shot at 6-weeks is pretty much useless.  Most pups get no benefit at all.  The shot at 10-weeks will protect a large percentage of pups (75%??).  The shot at 14-weeks will protect most of the remaining (25%??) pups, but that shot is useless for the pups that were protected by the 10-week shot.  To be safe one could titer at 16-weeks to be sure of immunity -or- just go ahead and give a 18-week shot to get the small fraction of pups that were still not protected after the 14-week shot.  After a 18-week shot I would consider a pup protected for life for parvo and distemper.

After 18-weeks I would consider a single MLV adenovirus (cross protects for hepatitis) shot to be protective for life.

Be careful not to give a rabies shot within 30 days of any other shot. This shot is very hard on them.  Don't give any shots when a dog is sick or having surgery. 

Avoid any shots containing Thimerosal (preservative).  It contains mercury!!

erica1989

here in FL, in my county, rabies is required at 4 months

That's the same as New York State. 

Great advise.  She'll be glad to hear it all!

erica1989

quick comment on the rabies... here in FL, in my county, rabies is required at 4 months. I've heard of places requiring it at 3 - so that is really not far off base. 

The difference between 12 weeks and 16 weeks can be huge when it comes to developing immunity from a canine vaccination.  A lot of folks don't understand that earlier shots don't necessarily mean earlier immunity - even our legislators. 

Consider the probability of a pup being exposed to rabies in that 4-week period -vs- the probability that a pup would not be protected by a rabies shot at 12-weeks.  I can't quote any stats, but I would worry a lot more about the 12-week-old pup not developing immunity due to interference by maternal antibodies.  

Such a lack of immunity would usually continue unnoticed (unless the pup develops rabies) until the one-year-old shot (nine months)!

Johnny&Tessy

erica1989

here in FL, in my county, rabies is required at 4 months

That's the same as New York State. 

Great advise.  She'll be glad to hear it all!

I would tell her to contact Cornell -- it's one of the best vet schools in the country and she'll get the **straight** answer there.  There can be a huge difference between what vets tend to do and what is really the law. 

FWIW to everyone -- Merial is making the MLV core vaccines VERY VERY affordable.  After Billy had IMHA and we were going to get Tinkerbell, I quizzed him on what he would do (and I WAS willing to buy and entire tray of vaccines to get singles.) -- but they are virtually impossible TO get any more, but Merial makes a sort of "combo" out of the MLV core vaccines (with the distemper one actually being recombitant). 

It's not as good as getting the individuals but at least it's ONLY the three and it is not a killed vaccine (which is just plain inferior with how the immunity if formed).

You guys may want to ask your vet to check out the Merial vaccines. 

One thing I never understood was why people would give the first shots at 6 weeks.  I'm assuming lots of breeders do this just to get the pups out sooner with their first shot????  Why take an unnecesary chance of maternal antibodies affecting the shots?