HEALTH

Everything You Need to Know About Puppy Vaccinations!

Not sure when or how to vaccinate your puppy? Read our expert guide on the types of vaccines,  precautions we need to take, side-effects to watch out for and more
Table of contents
In India, puppies usually come home between the ages of 1.5 to 3 months. Post a few days of getting used to their new surroundings, it is very likely that they will start to eat on their own, move around independently, play around etc. making parents forget that they are still quite fragile. It is important to remember that they should be handled with the same care as you would a human baby. This means:
  • You should not take your puppy out of the house or allow interactions with other dogs until they are completely vaccinated.

  • You should wash your hands before and after playing with your puppy.

  • Make sure your puppy's surroundings are “puppy-proofed” (no access to wires, medication, sharp objects, dirty footwear or anything that you don't want to be destroyed).

Precautions to Take During the Vaccination Period

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind before or during your puppy’s vaccination period:
  • Do not vaccinate puppies that are less than six weeks of age. The immunity they inherit from the mother will interfere with the vaccine, making it useless.

  • Do not vaccinate your dog immediately after bringing them home. Wait for 7-10 days to allow them to settle down, and take this time to understand what’s normal for your dog. Watch their appetite, poop, and activity levels. Contact your vet immediately if you notice anything out of the ordinary.

  • Deworm your dogs four to five days before vaccination. Worms can interfere with your dog's immunity and make the vaccines less effective.

  • Do not stress your dog out before or after their vaccination. This means that we must avoid baths, treks, overexcitement, parks, extra outings, etc. one or two days before and after the vaccination day.

  • Never vaccinate a sick dog.

Core Puppy Vaccinations

We vaccinate our dogs against six common diseases – these diseases are dangerous and usually fatal if left untreated. The good news is that all of these diseases are preventable with proper vaccination and good hygiene. The following core vaccines are the essential vaccines that are a minimum requirement. They start at eight weeks (extra shot at six weeks for high-risk puppies – DP/DPH) and typically go on for every three weeks until puppies are four months (16 weeks old).
  • Distemper (D): Viral disease that attacks the nervous system, it starts with a runny nose, and rash and can progress to twitching and seizures

  • Hepatitis (H): Contagious, viral disease that can affect your dog's liver, lungs, kidney, spleen, etc. and can begin with a fever

  • Leptospirosis (L): Bacterial infection that spreads from infected urine. It is characterized by the onset of jaundice and can progress further to liver and kidney failure

  • Parvovirus (P): Contagious viral infection also known as Parvo or Gastro. It can result in bloody diarrhoea and vomiting, which can further cause severe dehydration and even death

  • Parainfluenza (Pi): Respiratory, viral disease that can cause Kennel cough (along with other viruses and bacteria)

  • Rabies (R): Neurological disease that can spread through the saliva of infected animals and is fatal

Non-core Puppy Vaccinations

Non-core puppy vaccinations are not a basic requirement. You may opt to give these vaccinations if your vet feels like your dog is at risk of getting these diseases. For example, if you regularly board your dog at a kennel or if there has been a recent outbreak of coronavirus diarrhoea in your locality.
  • Corona (C): Mild diarrhoea that usually recovers on its own. Dog corona is not the same as human Covid-19. This vaccine does not protect you or your dog from COVID-19.

  • Kennel cough (KC): It causes mild diarrhoea that resolves on its own. This is a nasal vaccine (given in the nose). The vaccine may not prevent KC. It only decreases the severity of the disease.

Note:
The combination vaccine can be highly variable in the number of diseases it offers protection against. It can be 5-in-1, 7-in-1, 9-in-1 and even 11-in-1 based on the company and your vet’s personal preference.
Some Vets prefer to give an additional combination vaccine and/or a second rabies vaccine 3 weeks after the first one.
A puppy vaccination schedule
Please note, vaccination schedules may vary depending on your location, vaccine availability and your vet’s personal preferences.

Booster Puppy Vaccinations

The immunity from most combination vaccines can last between 1-3 years (Some studies say even longer). Leptospira and kennel cough vaccines have a shorter immunity (around 6 months and 1 year respectively).
  • The standard practice is to re-vaccinate once every year.

  • However, due to concerns of over-vaccination, some vets may offer to booster the combination vaccine once in 3 years after the first-year boosters.

  • It is a legal requirement (for municipal registration and dog licence) to give the rabies vaccine every year, some states require annual leptospirosis as well as combination vaccines).

  • In places where leptospirosis and kennel cough is endemic, more frequent boosters may be recommended.

  • If your dog regularly stays in kennels or plays/interacts with community dogs, it may be advisable to vaccinate yearly.

Vaccine Reactions

Vaccine reactions are rare. While most dogs generally do not experience any, some may experience mild reactions. Severe reactions are very uncommon, but we need to be aware of the signs to look out for. Here are some common, mild reactions – they seldom last longer than 6-12 hours, if they do, please contact your veterinarian.
  • Lethargy: Your dog may be less active than usual.
  • Reduced appetite: Your dog may skip a meal or eat a little less than usual.
  • Fever: Your dog's body will feel warmer than usual, and they will usually be less active.
  • Tummy upset: Some dogs may have mild diarrhoea around the time of vaccination.
  • Local reaction: Sometimes the vaccine may cause a local reaction. This will feel like a pea-sized bump where the vaccine was injected. While these are typically harmless, if you notice them getting bigger, please inform your veterinarian.

The following are some of the more serious reactions. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of these.
  • Vomiting
  • Injection Abscess: Infection at the site of injection
  • Allergic reactions: Range from a mild rash, hives, itching, vomiting, diarrhoea, facial swelling, difficulty breathing and collapse if not treated
  • Cellulitis (Puppy Strangles): Starts with facial swelling, and progresses to bumps and pustules all over the face, muzzle, and ears. It is treated with antibiotics and steroids
  • Seizures: These are very rare, but they can happen.
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