Puppies are one of the most delightful additions to many households. Before bringing them home, however, it is important to consider their health and well-being. Vaccinations are an important aspect of their care and understanding when to schedule these appointments and how long your pup can go without vaccinations is important. In this blog post, we will explore the timeline of when puppies should receive their shots, the advantages of vaccinating, and the risks associated with not vaccinating. We will also discuss what to do if you cannot make it to the vet in time and how to protect your puppy from communicable diseases. Ultimately, this blog post will provide you with the information needed to make sure your puppy stays healthy and safe.
When can my Puppy Go Outside After Vaccination?
One week after receiving his second set of initial vaccinations, your dog will be able to accompany you on walks. Although it may be tempting to let him out earlier, it is crucial to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. Puppy vaccinations are essential for protecting your dog from infectious diseases by building virus resistance, but they take some time to function effectively. Before a week has passed since his second vaccination, you run the risk of exposing your dog to a harmful virus that he won’t yet be able to fight off.
The only way to ensure that your puppy has the best start in life is to ensure that he receives his vaccinations on time and that you wait one week after his second vaccination before bringing him out in public.
Pets do not receive the same blanket vaccination every year
Non-core vaccinations are largely dependent on lifestyle and environmental factors. However, all animals must receive the “core” vaccinations. Examples of this could be whether your animal is social with others, whether they need to be housed in kennels or catteries, or whether the disease is widespread in your country.
Dogs will receive their “core” or “trivalent” vaccination every three years. Leptospirosis and kennel cough are licensed as non-core diseases each year, despite the fact that in some nations, such as the UK, Lepto is regarded as a core vaccine (Editor) ). Cats will receive their non-core vaccination (for feline leukemia virus) every two to three years and their core vaccination (depending on the vaccine) either annually or triennially.
| DOGS | CATS | |
| Core | Parvovirus, Distemper, Adenovirus | Parvovirus/enteritis, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus |
| Non-core | Kennel Cough (Bordetella bronchiseptica), Leptospirosis, Rabies, Parainfluenza | Feline Leukemia virus/Feline immunodeficiency virus, Rabies, Chlamydia |
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You immediately realize that the little ball of puppy fur depends on you for, well, everything when you bring her into your home. You must provide her with the daily care she requires. It can be a little frightening; she requires the best puppy food, lots of love, gentle training, safe toys, socialization with other puppies, a cozy home, and appropriate veterinary care. And that includes puppy shots throughout her first year.
Even though it may seem inconvenient to bring your dog to the veterinarian on a regular basis over a period of months for vaccinations and then for boosters or titers throughout its lifetime, the diseases that vaccinations protect our pets from are dangerous, potentially fatal, and, thankfully, largely preventable.
Knowing which vaccinations puppies need and which ones are crucial but optional can sometimes be confusing because we read about so many different vaccinations, for so many different illnesses. The diseases that vaccinations will help your pet avoid are listed below.
This bacterium is extremely contagious and can result in severe fits of whooping, vomiting, and, in rare instances, seizures and death. It is the primary cause of kennel cough. There are injectable and nasal spray vaccines available.
Proof of this vaccination is frequently required if you intend to board your puppy, enroll in group training sessions, or use dog daycare services in the future.
Dogs, raccoons, skunks, and other animals can contract distemper, a serious and contagious illness brought on by a virus that attacks the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems of these creatures, through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing from an infected animal). The virus can also spread via shared food, water, and equipment bowls. It results in eye and nasal discharges, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching muscles, paralysis, and, frequently, death. Because it causes the footpad to thicken and harden, this illness was formerly known as “hard pad.”
There is no cure for distemper. Supportive care and measures to avoid secondary infections, manage vomiting, seizure symptoms, and other conditions make up treatment. It is hoped that if the animal endures the symptoms, its immune system will have a chance to fend it off. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months.
A highly contagious viral infection that affects a dog’s liver, kidneys, spleen, lungs, and eyes is known as infectious canine hepatitis. This liver condition is brought on by a virus unrelated to the human form of hepatitis. The symptoms can range from a mild fever and mucous membrane congestion to vomiting, jaundice, an enlarged stomach, and pain around the liver. The mild form of the illness can be beaten by many dogs, but the severe form can be fatal. There is no cure, but doctors can treat the symptoms.
One of several viruses that can contribute to kennel cough.
The virus that causes COVID-19 in humans is not the same as the canine coronavirus. There is no evidence that COVID-19 makes dogs sick, and it is not believed to pose a health risk to them. Canine coronavirus typically has an impact on a dog’s digestive system, but it can also result in respiratory infections. The majority of GI symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are indicators. No medication can eradicate coronaviruses, but veterinarians can keep a dog hydrated, warm, and comfortable and help with the nausea.
Ask your veterinarian about starting a heartworm preventive when your puppy is between 12 and 16 weeks old. Although there is no vaccine for this illness, your veterinarian will recommend taking heartworm medication on a regular basis to prevent it.
Although they can travel through the rest of the body and occasionally infiltrate the liver and kidneys, these worms typically infest the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries, which carry blood to the lungs. When clumped together, the 14-inch long worms can block and harm organs.
Although early heartworm infections frequently go unnoticed, dogs with advanced heartworm disease may cough, become lethargic, lose their appetite, or have breathing problems. Infected dogs may tire after mild exercise. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, as opposed to the majority of the illnesses listed here, which are passed by urine, feces, and other bodily fluids. As a result, a blood test rather than a fecal exam is used to make the diagnosis.
Also known as infectious tracheobronchitis, kennel cough results from inflammation of the upper airways. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, or other infections, such as Bordetella and canine parainfluenza, and often involves multiple infections simultaneously. Usually, the disease is mild, causing bouts of harsh, dry coughing; sometimes it’s severe enough to spur retching and gagging, along with a loss of appetite. In rare cases, it can be deadly. It is easily spread between dogs kept close together, which is why it passes quickly through kennels. Antibiotics are usually not necessary, except in severe, chronic cases. Cough suppressants can make a dog more comfortable.
Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria, unlike the majority of the illnesses on this list, and some dogs may not even exhibit any symptoms. Leptospirosis can be found worldwide in soil and water. It is a zoonotic illness, which means that it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, extreme weakness and lethargy, stiffness, jaundice, muscle pain, infertility, and kidney failure (with or without liver failure) are just a few of the symptoms that may manifest. The earlier antibiotics are administered, the better because they work.
Dogs do not experience the infamous “bull’s-eye” rash that people who have been exposed to Lyme disease frequently notice. An infectious, tick-borne illness known as Lyme disease (or borreliosis) is brought on by a spirochete, a type of bacteria. A dog with the infection, which is spread by ticks, frequently begins to limp, his lymph nodes swell, his temperature increases, and he stops eating. If untreated, the condition can lead to neurological disorders, among other things, and affect his heart, kidney, and joints. A course of antibiotics is very beneficial if taken promptly after diagnosis, but relapses can happen months or even years later.
All dogs are susceptible to the highly contagious parvo virus, but unvaccinated animals and puppies younger than four months are most at risk. The virus attacks the digestive system, causing nausea, vomiting, fever, and frequently very severe, bloody diarrhea. Prompt veterinary care is essential because severe dehydration can manifest suddenly and kill a dog in 48 to 72 hours. Since there is no treatment, keeping the dog hydrated and managing the side effects can help him survive until his immune system recovers.
The central nervous system of mammals is invaded by the virus that causes rabies, which results in paralysis, death, hallucinations, excessive drooling, headaches, and anxiety. Most frequently, it is spread by a rabid animal’s bite. Treatment must begin as soon as possible after infection; otherwise, death is very likely. Most states require regular rabies vaccinations. Ask your veterinarian about the rabies vaccination regulations in your area.
Of course, your vet should weigh in and is always available to offer additional insight and advice on required and optional vaccinations.
The first thing to understand is that not all dogs require the same puppy vaccination schedule. Your dog’s particular risk factors and the region of the country you live in will both be important considerations. Some dogs do not need every vaccine. This decision is between you and your veterinarian. Always discuss puppy vaccinations at your regularly scheduled appointments.
Given that, the following is a recommended schedule for puppy vaccinations for the first year.
| Puppy’s Age | Recommended Vaccinations | Optional Vaccinations |
| 6 — 8 weeks | Distemper, parvovirus | Bordetella |
| 10 — 12 weeks | DHPP (vaccines for distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus) | Influenza, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease per lifestyle as recommended by veterinarian |
| 16 — 18 weeks | DHPP, rabies | Influenza, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, Bordetella per lifestyle |
| 12 — 16 months | DHPP, rabies | Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease |
| Every 1 — 2 years | DHPP | Influenza, Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease per lifestyle |
| Every 1 — 3 years | Rabies (as required by law) | none |
The cost of your puppy’s vaccinations depends on a number of variables. Your location is a factor, as busy, expensive urban vets will bill you more than a rural vet in a small town. In other words, there are significant differences in price. However, some vaccines, such as the “core vaccines” and those for rabies, are necessary regardless of the price range.
The cost of the first year’s vaccinations for puppies is higher than it is for adults.
FAQ
How long can a puppy go without being vaccinated?
A puppy should receive vaccinations every three weeks until they are four months old, regardless of when you get them because that is when they can mount a long-term immune response. Otherwise, the majority of dogs will require something once a year.
What happens if you don’t vaccinate your puppy?
Early vaccination against diseases like rabies, canine distemper, hepatitis, canine parvovirus, Lyme disease, canine influenza, leptospirosis, and kennel cough will protect dogs from these conditions.
Can I take my 8 week old puppy outside without shots?
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) advises pet guardians to start taking puppies on walks and public outings as early as one week after their first round of vaccinations, at around seven weeks old, if you’re wondering when can puppies go outside away from home.
How long can a puppy wait for shots?
You can wait between three and five weeks between each set of vaccinations, but what if I wait too long? The immune system of your puppy is insufficient for antibodies to last longer than six weeks between vaccinations.