What you need to Know about Vaccination for Puppies

Vaccination is very important for babies. This is the same for puppies as well. The first vaccination for a puppy starts when they are six weeks old. These vaccines are given for the purpose of boosting the puppy’s immune system, making him less susceptible from different kinds of sicknesses.



A puppy that is not vaccinated, compared to a vaccinated one, has a higher risk of getting infected by viruses. Parvovirus disease commonly known as Parvo is one of the most dangerous diseases that cause early death of puppies. This disease is highly contagious and viral, affecting the puppy’s gastrointestinal parts and cardiac tracts that make the puppy’s digestive and respiratory system weaker. When this happens, the puppy will have difficulty in breathing and eating food making him weaker, more vulnerable and lose his remaining energy, causing death if left untreated.



Since puppies are born with heartworms, heartworm preventative vaccines should be given to them between two to three months of age. This vaccine helps treat heartworms and is effective in treating intestinal worms too. Tick and flea preventative vaccines are also available. These preventative vaccines are given between six to fourteen weeks of age. Most of the preventative vaccines available are given to puppies in monthly interval.



Booster vaccines, commonly known as boosters are given to a puppy to prevent diseases such as hepatitis and leptospirosis. These vaccines boost the level of antibodies in the puppy’s body. Antibodies are the ones responsible for fighting against bad bacteria and infections inside the puppy’s body. These vaccines are also responsible in stimulating stronger immunity for a puppy that is longer protected by the antibodies present in his mother’s first milk.



Another commonly known puppy vaccine is the anti-rabies. The anti-rabies vaccine is given to the puppy when it is six months old. To make sure that the vaccine will be in full effect and the puppy is fully protected, proper timing and vaccine sessions are very important.



While vaccination process may vary depending on the doctor’s preference and the puppy's age and health condition, the general vaccination process is always the same. A new puppy should get a series of vaccinations with three to four weeks interval each. These vaccines will protect the puppy until he is 15 to 16 weeks old. After this point, the puppy will no longer be protected by the antibodies he gets from his mother’s milk. When this initial protection is over, the modified distemper vaccine given to the puppy will be in its full effect to protect him against diseases for a year.



Generally speaking, puppy vaccines of any kind protect them from various kinds of diseases. These puppy vaccines given to them are also essential in maintaining their overall health. Since each puppy has a different body composition and health condition, the vaccination process may vary from one puppy to another. Nevertheless, each vaccine will always benefit puppies by letting them live a healthier life.





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Ysabelle is a writer for 6 years and a proud dog owner since she was a child. She is very interested to write about puppies."Well, still I don't like to call myself a writer because I believe that I have not written that much to be named as one."- Ysabelle