Here’s a simple primer that we use with dogs and puppies in our hospital. It follows the American Animal Hospital Association guidelines, and also uses regional information provided by Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, and Texas Veterinary Medical Association.
What Vaccines Does My Dog Need?
You’ll find we tailor our vaccination schedule to a dog’s particular needs by assessing their age, lifestyle, risk of exposure, and underlying medical conditions. That means not every dog gets every vaccination we carry, as each dog we see is unique and special; by dialogue with an owner we figure out the best vaccination “fit” in each pet’s specific situation.
The Different Types of Dog Vaccinations:
Healthy dogs in our practice are routinely vaccinated for…
Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus-2)
In addition, healthy dogs who are boarded, groomed, go to dog parks or dog shows, or who have exposure to dogs with unknown preventative care are also routinely vaccinated for:
Canine Influenza (H3N8 and H3N2)
When to Start Puppy Vaccinations
And one last tidbit: puppy vaccinations begin between 6 to 8 weeks of age, and we boost them every 3 to 4 weeks until a puppy reaches 16 weeks of age or older. This series of vaccinations is necessary as puppies receive short-lived antibodies from their mother’s first milk which gradually wears off by 14 to 20 weeks of age. This temporary immunity slows the development of a pup’s own protective immune response to the vaccines we give, that’s why we give boosters.
Hope this helps! For more information, here are FAQ’s on Vet Care for Dogs. I just scratched the surface, so remember we’re just a phone call away if you need additional info: 281.351.7184 or you can email us at: [email protected]
We love ‘em like you do!
