I just got a puppy – I need information about vaccinating him. What is the best plan for a young puppy?
The puppy vaccine series is designed to give the best protection to your new puppy from a wide variety of communicable diseases. Puppy vaccines are given 3 – 4 weeks apart until the pup reaches 16 weeks of age, with the exception of Rabies vaccine which is given once for a full year of protection. The key to the protection is NOT the number of vaccines, but the timing of them. Because of this, some older puppies with obtain full protection from only 2 or 3 vaccines; others require 4 or more if the vaccination is started at a younger age. Puppies that were born to fully vaccinated mothers usually have good immunity passed from the mother for the first 4 – 8 weeks of life; after that time vaccination is used to enhance the natural immunity before it fades over time. Typical vaccine protocols begin at 6 – 8 weeks of age, regardless of size or breed of the dog. The timing of the vaccinations may be altered by several factors, including the general health of the puppy, ongoing illnesses (if
