Puppy's vaccination schedule?

• 08-19-2007 6:30 PM

  TorontoJenn Joined on 07-21-2007 Toronto, Canada Posts 82 Points 0

  Puppy's vaccination schedule? Reply Contact Okay, so you guys have been so amazing in helping me, I've got another question! The answer the breeder gave me, somewhat confused me, and it's embarassing to ask because I've worked in petstores and veterinary clinics before. But it's been a while, and like I said, this is my first puppy - ever.   What's the proper vaccination schedule for a puppy? (Chihuahua). I've heard several controversies and theories including things like; never doing combination vaccines, rabies only every three years, never getting small chihuahuas vaccinated, avoiding certain companies, etc etc! So here's my questions:   Exactly which vaccines does my chihuahua need? Exactly when does she need them? What is the spacing in between that I need to wait? How often does she need these vaccines?   My breeder told me that she only recommends vaccinating with the basic vaccine, parvo, distemper, and adenovirus/parainfluenza. She says NOT to do the additional corona or lepto, and to avoid other vaccines (ie, giardia). But she says to do the kennel cough vaccines if I'm planning on taking her to puppy classes, which I *might*. Also, (dont know if it matters) but she'll be getting two vaccines before leaving the breeder. She'll get her "8 week" and "10 week" vaccines. Help, please!

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• 08-19-2007 8:57 PM

  In reply to TorontoJenn

  keva Joined on 09-10-2007 Posts 96 Points 0

  RE: Puppy's vaccination schedule? Reply Contact Ok here is what I know from working at a holistic/ western medicine clinic. I am inclined to agree with your breeder. Stay away from anything your little pup doesn't need during the puppy series. The fewer vaccines the better is my frame of mind. I wish I had known that two and a half years ago when I was going through it with my puppy! Intra-nasal kennel cough (borditella) is the best way to go from what I understand. My clinic requires it for spay/neutering as well as our puppy class. We space vaccines out over 3 weeks but I have read that 4 is better. Puppies usually start getting their vaccines with us at 8 weeks and finish out at 16 weeks. So it would be a distemper vaccine at 8 weeks...one at 12 and then Rabies at 16 weeks. By law in MD the Rabies vaccine needs to be given once they are 4 months...not sure about other states or country's But since we do every three we sneak another Distemper in there. As far as certain companies go, my dog had a reaction to the Pfizer vaccine that is good for 3 years (at her 2 year booster) needless to say I will no longer be doing vaccines. I would avoid lepto unless you strongly feel your pet is at risk. But keep in mind that there are many different strains of lepto and the vaccines out now only cover 4 serivars (if they are individual) from what I last heard/knew. I hope this was helpful! A lot of people opt to not even do the puppy series. It really depends on where you stand on vaccines. I also would suggest after their puppy series just Titering (blood antibody test) the following years to prevent over vaccination. Then if any of the antibodies are low you can just vaccinate for that particular disease (if you choose) - example: parvo is low but distemper antibodies are fine. Good Luck! Wysteria

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• 08-19-2007 9:17 PM

  In reply to TorontoJenn

  Jewlieee Joined on 03-23-2007 MI Posts 5,743 Points 4,170

  RE: Puppy's vaccination schedule? Reply Contact My personal opinion is to not skimp on puppy vaccinations. It's just not worth it.  But that's just me. Here is the latest (2006) AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines (American Animal Hospital Association)   [linkhttp://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/VaccineGuidelines06Revised.pdf]http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/VaccineGuidelines06Revised.pdf[/link]   There's a table in there that describes and recommends vaccinations schedules. This is somewhat different than holistic vet recommendations.   And an exerpt from the Merch Vet. Manual which is referenced from the Michigan State University College of Vet. Medicine website [linkhttp://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/192105.htm]http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/192105.htm[/link]   Vaccination Schedules: Although it is not possible to devise precise schedules for each vaccine, certain principles are common to all methods of active immunization. Newborn animals are passively protected by maternal antibodies and, in general, cannot be vaccinated. If stimulation of immunity is deemed necessary at this stage, the mother may be vaccinated during late pregnancy, timing the doses so that peak antibody levels are reached at the time of colostrum formation. Successful active vaccination was previously thought to be possible only after passive immunity had waned. Neonatal animals with certain levels of pathogen-specific, detectable antibodies were thought to be protected against disease caused by that pathogen. However, studies in puppies born to bitches immunized against rabies during pregnancy have shown that passive antibody titers decrease significantly by 6 wk of age. In fact, when challenged with virulent rabies virus at 6 wk of age, >90% of these puppies succumbed. Similar puppies vaccinated at 7 and 11 wk of age with a recombinant vectored rabies virus were all solidly protected against rabies, even though many of them had high levels of maternal antibody when vaccinated. This has also been demonstrated with canine distemper virus and recombinant vaccines. It is now known that an antigen can impart memory to the immune system even when passive maternal antibody is present. With the availability of recombinant vaccines, the age of and interval between vaccinations may have to be reconsidered. Because the exact time of loss of maternal immunity cannot be predicted, young animals are often vaccinated at least twice to ensure successful immunization. The interval between vaccine doses depends on an animal's immunologic memory. The duration of this memory depends on multiple used, such as the nature of the antigen, the use of live or dead organisms, adjuvants used, and the route of administration. Modern vaccines may induce immunity that persists for an animal's lifetime. Other vaccines may require boosting only once every 2-3 yr. Even killed viral vaccines may protect some animals against disease for many years. Unfortunately, the minimal duration of immunity has, until recently, rarely been reliably measured. Annual revaccination has been the rule because this approach is administratively simple and has the advantage of ensuring that an animal is regularly seen by a veterinarian. It is likely that this is more than sufficient for most vaccines. Individual animal and vaccine variability make it difficult to estimate the duration of immunity. Within a group of animals, there may be a great difference between the shortest and longest duration of protection. Vaccines may differ significantly in their composition, and although all may induce immunity in the short term, it cannot be assumed that they confer equal longterm immunity. A significant difference likely exists between the minimal level of immunity required to protect most animals and the level of immunity required to ensure protection of all animals. Unfortunately, there is insufficient information available for most vaccines to determine minimal vaccination intervals. A veterinarian should always assess the relative risks and benefits to an animal when determining the frequency of revaccination. Owners should be made aware that protection can be maintained reliably only when vaccines are used in accordance with the protocol approved by vaccine licensing authorities. The duration of immunity claimed by a vaccine manufacturer is the minimal duration that is supported by the data available at the time of approval.   You have to determine what you feel you're most comfortable with.

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• 08-19-2007 9:26 PM

  In reply to TorontoJenn

  janet_rose Joined on 09-10-2007 DFW area, Texas Posts 3,749 Points 330

  RE: Puppy's vaccination schedule? Reply Contact TorontoJenn: Exactly which vaccines does my chihuahua need? Exactly when does she need them? What is the spacing in between that I need to wait? How often does she need these vaccines? No one can give the "exact" answers - not even the vets.  Three different vets could give you three different answers.  All we (the dog world) have are educated guesses.  For many years we over-vaccinated, but that is now believed to be producing autoimmune problems.  Now we are trying to figure out the minimum vaccines.   I agree with your breeder on which vaccines to give.  The AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) does not recommend Corona and Giardia.  The Lepto vaccine is dangerous for toy dogs (high risk of acute anaphylaxis - severe allergic reaction).   My suggested way of doing vaccines are described in these posts: http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=326568 http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=428538  (read the whole thread?)   Basically your breeder and I differ on scheduling.  I think 8 weeks is too early and that giving vaccines two weeks apart is too close.  I would delay Adenovirus+Parainfluenza until the pup is older.   Your breeder probably already has her DHPP vaccines (Distemper+Hepatitis (Adenovirrrus)+Parvo+Parainfluenza), but maybe you can persuade her to compromise and give just one vaccine at 9 weeks.   Legally you are probably required to give the rabies shot at 4mo.  Basically I agree with Dr. Dodds' schedule.  She recommends rabies at 20+ weeks, but I prefer 24 weeks.  I am sure that you don't plan to allow your new baby around wild animals and when was the last time you encountered a rabid pup/dog?   Note:  Kennel cough is a generic term for 8+ viruses.  Bordetella covers two of them and Parainfluenza covers one.  There is nothing for the rest.

  Filed under: Lepto vaccine, puppy vaccinations Post Points: 0