Puppy Vaccinations

The puppy vaccinations are very important to build up a protective immune response in growing dogs. The vaccinations prime the immune system to neutralize the infecting organism before it has a chance to make the puppy ill. Puppy vaccinations must be staged, typically one month apart, to achieve an effective response from the immune system.

What vaccinations do you offer to new puppies?

Puppies receive vaccines for distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The last set of puppy vaccines would also include a vaccination against Rabies. An additional vaccine for Bordetella (also known as a kennel cough) would be recommended for puppies that will be going to obedience class.

Why is it important to properly vaccinate your puppy?

It is very important to properly vaccinate your puppy as a prevention for very serious and potentially fatal illnesses. For example, parvovirus is very widespread in the Sudbury region and puppies do not require a direct dog to dog contact to become symptomatic. Preventive medicine is much easier (and much less expensive) than treating disease and vaccines are an inexpensive and very effective method of preventing disease.

What is an appropriate schedule for puppy vaccinations?

Typically, the first vaccination is done at 8 weeks of age and the repeated vaccines are given at 12 and 16 weeks of age. The vaccines done at 16 weeks of age would include the rabies vaccine.

How should you prepare your puppy for its first vaccination visit?

The first vaccination visit should be fun! This is the puppy’s introduction to the veterinary staff and ideally, it should be a positive experience. Bringing a few kibbles of food or a favourite toy can improve the experience for the puppy. The puppy’s owner should be upbeat and calm because the puppy will sense any nervousness or anxiety from the owner. A relatively fresh sample of the puppy’s stool should also be provided so that we can check for parasites which are a common occurrence among puppies.

How much do puppy vaccinations cost?

The cost of puppy vaccinations is variable and is based on the age of the puppy, the history of vaccines and exposure risk factors. Feel free to contact us directly to get an accurate quote based on your puppy’s specific needs.