Choose Your Veterinary -- Vaccine Schedule

It's only a few weeks before you bring your new puppy home.  So now is a good time to choose your veterinary.  A good place to start is word of mouth recommendations from  family and friends.  You also can do Google searches on some veterinaries and find ratings given by their customers.  Sometimes just dropping into the veterinary and talking to the staff at the front desk can give you a lot of information about the professionalism of the clinic.

I will take your puppy to see the veterinary when he is 7 1/2  weeks of age.  At that time, your puppy will be given an overall wellness check, a worming and  his first set of shots. 

Many people also like to bring their puppy to the veterinary within the first 2-3 days that they take their puppy home.  This would not be the time to administer shots....since the puppies are under stress the first several days.   But it is a good time to see that your puppy is adjusting well to his/her new home and also ask your veterinary any health questions you may have.

If you do not schedule a visit to the veterinary for a new puppy check, you should still make an appointment for his first shots from 11-12 weeks of age.  The sooner you complete the series of puppy inoculations, the sooner your puppy can go out in public.

Here is a typical Vaccination schedule for puppies.... (ncluded in your Puppy Information Packet)

Vaccination Schedule for Puppies and Dogs

 Distemper…       an airborne viral disease of the lungs, intestines and brain

Hepatitis…           a viral disease of the liver

Leptospirosis…  a bacterial disease of the urinary tract

Parainfluenza..  an infection bronchitis

Parvovirus...       a viral disease of the intestines

Rabies…               a viral disease fatal to humans and other animals

Corona…              a viral disease of the intestines

Bordatella..         a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system   (Kennel Cough)

Puppies (6 weeks to 1 year)

6-8 weeks…….first puppy shots (DHLPP)  + Corona….. at breeders

11- 12 weeks… second set of shots (DHLPP) + corona

15-16 weeks….third set of shots (DHLPP) + corona

Over 4 mths… Rabies  (repeat 1 year later)

7-9 months … first heartworm test

Adult dogs (after 1 year)

DHLPP… Yearly

Hearworm  Test …Yearly

Rabies….  You can get a 3yr shot

Bordatella….Yearly