What vaccinations does my puppy need?

Puppies need a series of vaccines starting at 6 to 8 weeks and every 3 to 4 weeks until they are about 20 weeks old.

Here is a guide to the vaccines your puppy will need for protection:

• Distemper Vaccine – Distemper is a contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory and nervous system of dogs. Distemper does not cause “bad temper.” It is a serious illness that is almost always fatal.
• Hepatitis Vaccine – Hepatitis is a viral infectious disease that affects the liver and eyes and may cause reproductive problems. Hepatitis is not contagious to people.
• Leptospirosis Vaccine – Leptospirosis is a bacterial infectious disease that causes severe liver and kidney damage and may also affect humans.
• Parainfluenza Vaccine – Parainfluenza is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease that may spread quickly from dog to dog.
• Parvovirus Vaccine – One of the most serious contagious diseases for puppies, parvovirus causes severe vomiting and diarrhea while suppressing the immune system and may be fatal even if treated.
• Rabies Vaccine – Rabies is a serious public health concern because the virus is carried by mammals including raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, dogs and cats and can be transmitted to humans.
• Bordetella Vaccine – Bordetella is one of the bacterial causes of “kennel cough.” If your dog is to be boarded frequently, the kennel may require this vaccination.

Recommendation: Schedule an appointment and we will look at any prior vaccine records if they exist and make a plan to adequately protect the pet.