Getting your puppy started on a proper vaccination program early will help keep them healthy for life. It is important to time the vaccines properly so that as the immunity their mother has provided them starts to wane; their own immune system is prepared to protect them from exposure to disease. We recommend starting your puppy at six weeks of age and continuing to vaccinate them every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks of age. Response to vaccines varies in each individual puppy and in order to ensure all puppies are properly protected, we recommend boosting the vaccines in a timely fashion.
What vaccinations do you provide to new puppies?
Your puppy’s first vaccines will contain protection from Canine Distemper, Parainfluenza, Hepatitis and Parvovirus. As your puppy gets a little older, we start protection for Leptospirosis as well. If your puppy’s lifestyle and risk warrant it, we can also provide them with vaccinations to prevent Lyme disease and Bordetella (Kennel cough).
At what age should I bring in my puppy for its vaccinations?
This will depend on how old your puppy is when you get him or her and if they have already had a vaccine with their breeder. We can start vaccinations as early as 6 weeks of age, and this is recommended, especially if they are no longer with their mother and receiving their protection. If your puppy has already had a vaccine, generally this will require a booster three to four weeks after receiving that vaccine.
How should I prepare my puppy for its first vaccination visit?
We want to make your puppy’s first visit a positive experience! If you haven’t had the chance to take them for a car ride yet, it is nice if they have the chance to get used to that, so they aren’t scared before they get here. We would like you to not feed them right before their visit, so they can be hungry and eager to eat our treats. We also recommend that you bring along any paperwork that you may have received from your breeder or their veterinarian, so we can review any medical history or microchip information. Don’t forget to bring a fresh stool (poop) sample so we can check it for intestinal parasites.
How much do puppy vaccinations cost?
The visit cost will vary depending on what vaccines your puppy has already received, their age and what lifestyle vaccines, like kennel cough (Bordetella) they may be receiving. We like to send home internal and external parasite control home with our puppies as well, so depending on the weight of your puppy, the cost of that could vary. Feel free to give our office a phone call, and we can give you a better idea of how much the visit will be.
