Sponsored By
Do you weigh your dog frequently?
Yes
No
My dog gets weighed at the vet’s office



Printer Friendly Bookmark and Share

Vaccinating Your Puppy

Puppy vaccinations are necessary for a healthy life.

Julie Ryan Johnson, DVM

Page 1 of 3

Owning a puppy can be a wonderful and rewarding experience, but it's also a lifelong commitment to the health and safety of your new family member. The preventive care you provide early in puppyhood will help ensure good health and a better quality of life for your puppy. Proper immunizations are vital to this care.

Keeping your puppy healthy is a combination of a preventive health program, common sense and a good relationship with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will help customize the best vaccination and parasite control for your new puppy. The vaccines that are best for your puppy are influenced by where you live and the lifestyle of your dog. For example, dogs in frequent contact with other dogs may have a different vaccine protocol over the course of their lives than a dog that never leaves the yard.

Before your puppy reaches 6 months of age, it has not yet had all of its vaccines, so it may not have developed immunity to some potentially life-threatening doggie diseases. During this time, it's crucial that you avoid taking your puppy to high-volume dog-traffic areas, such as dog parks, parks and beaches.

All About Antibodies
Puppies receive antibodies (proteins that fight against disease) from their mothers in utero (in the womb), as well as through the colostrum, which is the milk the mother produces within the first 24 to 72 hours of giving birth. The antibodies that puppies receive from the colostrum can give them a level of protection against disease that may almost equal the mother's.

These antibodies help protect the puppy from diseases (called passive immunity), but they do wear off over time. This is where vaccines come in. Vaccines contain small amounts specific antigens (foreign protein associated with a disease or virus) that trigger your puppy's immune system to produce antibodies against a particular disease.

The best strategy is to vaccinate the puppy during a window of time when the maternal antibodies are waning. A vaccine will not be effective until the maternal antibodies have worn off. If the puppy is vaccinated too soon or too often, the vaccine and the maternal antibody can actually cancel out each other's protection, causing a vaccination failure.

Page 1 | 2 | 3

 Give us your opinion on
Vaccinating Your Puppy
Submit a Comment

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Email:

Healthy Puppy
Buy Now
House-training Your Dog
Buy Now
Grooming Your Dog
Buy Now

Dogs & Puppies
Dog Activities dog shows, dog show news, Westminster, dog sports, dog fun, working dogs
Dog Breeds Labrabor Retriever, Golden Retriever, Yorkshire Terrier, German Shepherd, Boxer, Mixed Breeds
Dog Care dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dog nutrition, natural dog remedies, natural dog prevention, natural dog treatments, natural dog care success stories, fleas & ticks, dog obesity, senior dogs
Dog Diseases dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, sick dog
Dog Experts Allan Reznik dog breed expert, dog show expert, veterinary expert, dog grooming expert, dog training expert, Cesar Millan, dog adoption expert, dog rescue expert
Dog Magazines DOG FANCY, Dog World, Dogs for Kids, Dogs in Review, Dogs USA, Puppies USA, Popular Dog Series, Natural Dog
Dog Medication dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication
Dog News entertainment news, dog laws, seasonal tips, good dog news, dog health news
Dog Pictures puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs
Dog Products dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags
Dog Symptoms dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures
Dog Training dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behaviorDog Whisperer, dog containment, housetraining
Living with Dogs dog travel, family dog, dog-friendly home, dog-friendly yard, dog style, dog trends, dog exercise
Puppies ready for a puppy, puppy health, puppy nutrition, puppy breeders, puppy training, socialization, housetraining, spay-neuter, new puppy checklist
More Dog Topics dog videos, dog books, Club Dog
DogChannel Facebook
DogChannel Twitter
Sponsored by


Hi my name's Ricky & Blossom

Visit the Photo Gallery to
cast your vote!