Puppy Immunization Schedule
The vaccines, treatments, and tests listed below are the current protocols we follow here at Gunbil German Shepherds to provide optimum health care for our dogs.
Newborn puppies acquire immunities against many diseases by nursing from their mother. During the first two days of life, a puppy that nurses takes in the colostrum that is present in the milk that is first produced. The antibodies that are passed in the colostrum are vital to the puppy’s health and well being. These antibodies prevent the puppy from being infected by diseases like Canine Distemper and Parvo virus. These same antibodies are also the reason veterinarians suggest vaccinations to be given after six weeks of age.
It is highly recommended that new puppies visit a veterinarian as soon as possible. The veterinarian will then educate the owner on the needs of the new puppy, look for congenital defects as well as look for signs of parasitic or viral infections. If all looks well, the puppy is then started on what is commonly called its “puppy shots.”
These puppy shots are also called “five in one” or DHLP-P vaccinations because they are a combination vaccine that will immunize against five very common but potentially deadly diseases.
7 weeks - Nobivac Canine 1-DAPPv (1St Puppy shot) AND Deworm with Strongid
9 weeks - Nobivac Canine 1-DAPPvL + Cv (Booster)
12 weeks - Nobivac Canine 1-DAPPvL + Cv (Booster) AND Deworm with Strongid
12/14 weeks - RABIES, DRONTAL PLUS dewormer, Physical Exam
24 weeks - HEARTWORM CHECK (not in required in our region), FECAL EXAM FOR PARASITES, Physical Exam.
annual - INCLUDING CORONA, BORDETELLA AND KENNEL COUGH, RABIES, HEARTWORM TEST, FECAL EXAM, Physical Exam, HEARTWORM Prevenetive.
8 years - MINIGENERAL PROFILE AND CBC SCREEN AND RECOMMENDED AT TWO YEAR INTERVALS IF NORMAL. IF NORMAL REPEAT AS NEEDED.
All the products on the market for canine leptospirosis are all killed products. Those for the rest of these diseases are freeze-dried living virus that have been grown in tissue culture in a way that makes them non-pathogenic i.e. unable to cause disease. Actually, a single injection, at the right time, of all these live products imparts good, long lasting immunity to all of these diseases.
The problem is that puppies absorb antibodies against these diseases from their mothers. Depending on the level of immunity in the mother, this transient parental immunity in the offspring interferes with the puppy’s ability to produce its own long lasting immunity to these diseases. In some puppies, parental immunity is low enough that by 8-12 weeks the vaccination to work. In others, parental immunity interferes with the action of the vaccine for up to 18 weeks. The tests that determine parental immunity levels in puppies are expensive and rarely run. So because we do not know just when to vaccinate we give a series of three or four injections so that at least one of them will work.
We only give Coronavirus vaccine to puppies because it is a disease of puppies.
Canine Distemper-Adenovirus Type 2-Coronavirus-Parainfluenza-Parvovirus Vaccine. - Modified Live and Killed Virus.
For subcutaneous vaccination of healthy dogs 6 weeks of age or older as an aid in the prevention of disease caused by canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, canine adenovirus type 2, canine coronavirus, canine parainfluenza and canine parvovirus.
General Direction for Use: Aseptically rehydrate DURAMUNE Max 5 with Canine Coronavirus vaccine supplied. Administer one 1 mL dose subcutaneously.
Primary Vaccination: A recommended vaccination schedule should start at or about 6 weeks of age. The presence of maternal antibody is known to interfere with the development of active immunity. Puppies should be revaccinated every 2 to 3 weeks until 12 weeks of age.
All dogs over 12 weeks of age should initially receive one dose of Duramune Max 5-CvK and a second dose 2 to 3 weeks later.
Canine Distemper-Adenovirus Type 2-Coronavirus-Parainfluenza-Parvovirus Vaccine. - Modified Live and Killed Virus.
Leptospira Canicola-Grippotyphosa-Icterohaemorrhagiae-Pomona Bacterial Extract
For subcutaneous vaccination of healthy dogs 6 weeks of age or older as an aid in the prevention of disease caused by canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, canine adenovirus type 2, canine coronavirus, canine parainfluenza and canine parvovirus.
General Direction for Use: Aseptically rehydrate DURAMUNE Max 5 with Canine Coronavirus vaccine supplied. Administer one 1 mL dose subcutaneously.
Primary Vaccination: A recommended vaccination schedule should start at or about 6 weeks of age. The presence of maternal antibody is known to interfere with the development of active immunity. Puppies should be revaccinated every 2 to 3 weeks until 12 weeks of age.
All dogs over 12 weeks of age should initially receive one dose of Duramune Max 5-CvK and a second dose 2 to 3 weeks later.
Annual Vaccination: Annual revaccination with one dose is recommended.
Where we live we are not required to have our dogs on Heartworm preventive medication as the disease is not in our geographical location. WE ARE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS HEARTWORM MEDICATION, THEREFORE WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU ASK YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR ADVICE ON THIS MATTER.