When To Start First Vaccination 5 or 6 weeks

[KitKatJam]

I took my 12 week old puppy to the vet today to get his last set of vaccinations, and the vet assistant told me that he needs a booster first. When I asked her why? She told me that puppies should not be vaccinated starting at five weeks because they are still drinking milk from the mother and the vac isn't effective, so thats why it needs to be done at 6

To me that made no sense because aren't they still nursing at 6 weeks? When I questioned her on that she never gave me a straight answer other than she is going to give my puppy a booster first, which I told her I didn't want.

Then I gave her two poop samples, one that I thought I saw a round worm in, probably not but me being paranoid I just wanted to her to check. And she told me well if this is the freshest sample (they were both from today) then I will just check this one not the other.

She comes in the room and tells me that she didn't see any eggs in his poop and since he was de-wormed three times before I got him he should be fine.
(she didn't bother checking the round worm one)
The vet was in the room at this time and told her thats not true, he has de-wormed dogs and later on patients have brought them back in a week saying that they found worms.

When it came down for my puppy to get his shots she was going to put it in his back leg, when I questioned why there and not his neck she told me whats the difference either way he is going to get stuck but if you MUST (in a nasty voice) have it there then I will.

I was sooo pissed off. I love my vet, but never had experience with that vet assistant before so if I get her next time, I'm going to request the one that usually handles my animals.

Anyway thanks in advance if anyone answers, and here is my puppy he's 12weeks and weighs 2.1lbs

http://www.petpop.com/pictures/236951210615427_la.jpg

http://www.petpop.com/pictures/238601210809876_la.jpg

[LuvMySissy]

The new protocol being adopted by the 27 top vet schools in the US says to not start puppy shots until 12 weeks of age. Any earlier and they still have immunity from mom, therefore the vaccine is ineffective.

I do not allow the vet assistant to give vaccines to my girls. I pay extra for the vet to do it, as then if I have any issues I can address them with the person who can make a decision to do things different. Plus, the vet assistants do not have the same training that vets do and are not as likely to be up-to-date with current information.

I've never had a vaccine go in a hind leg - always around the shoulder. Keep in mind you always have the right to refuse a vaccination if you don't feel comfortable with it.

That assistant sounds like a real humdinger. I would definitely avoid her!!! Lyric is a little cutie!!

[Ellie May]

Some vet techs really bother me (but then some vets do too).

Puppies should not be vaccinated at 5 or 6 weeks.
The earliest that it should be started is 8 or 9 weeks.

Anyway, vaccines giving before a certain age will interfere with maternal antibodies whether they are still nursing or not. Puppies are totally unprotected after their first vaccines a lot of the time.

Hope this helps

[KitKatJam]

LuvMySissy- thanks I thought it was a little odd that they wanted to give the vac in his hind leg, I'm glad that I spoke up. I went over a list of vacs that I didn't want my puppy to have before the vet assistant got the needle, she was a little annoyed at that to but I don't care.

Ps. Lyric says thanks for saying that he is a cutie

Ellie May-thanks for that information the breeder started Lyric on his vaccinations. I think I'm just going to get a titer test done. I asked the vet about it but he said nobody does it because of the cost, (its $200.00) I feel safter getting that done

[oopsmyhalofello]

I don't have any facts/info or otherwise regarding this but just wanted to interject about what the policy that vets are adopting re: waiting until after nursing to do the shots. I can understand that it is probably worthwhile to wait since the puppy is being covered my Mom's milk immunities but I wonder why they would think it would make the vaccine ineffective and then give it again? That just doesn't make sense to me, thats like saying to wait to give human babies vaccines until they are done nursing, sometimes that can be a few years. I guess it leaves me wondering if its just a ploy to make some more money. Does anyone have anymore information they can direct me to on these findings? I find it very interesting

[KitKatJam]

Originally Posted by oopsmyhalofello

I don't have any facts/info or otherwise regarding this but just wanted to interject about what the policy that vets are adopting re: waiting until after nursing to do the shots. I can understand that it is probably worthwhile to wait since the puppy is being covered my Mom's milk immunities but I wonder why they would think it would make the vaccine ineffective and then give it again? That just doesn't make sense to me, thats like saying to wait to give human babies vaccines until they are done nursing, sometimes that can be a few years. I guess it leaves me wondering if its just a ploy to make some more money. Does anyone have anymore information they can direct me to on these findings? I find it very interesting

Thats the same thing I was wondering
Now I feel bad/stupid for not getting the booster
Then again the vet assistant couldn't give me
a reason why. All she said was he needs to
get a booster now and then be vaccinated up to
20 weeks of age, and that to me seemed like a lot
when he only weighs 2.1lbs

[oopsmyhalofello]

Originally Posted by KitKatJam

Thats the same thing I was wondering
Now I feel bad/stupid for not getting the booster
Then again the vet assistant couldn't give me
a reason why. All she said was he needs to
get a booster now and then be vaccinated up to
20 weeks of age, and that to me seemed like a lot
when he only weighs 2.1lbs

I would have done the same as you, and the fact that she couldn't give you an answer would have sealed the deal.

[KitKatJam]

Originally Posted by oopsmyhalofello

I would have done the same as you, and the fact that she couldn't give you an answer would have sealed the deal.

thanks that made me feel better

[mscat]

I have had a simalar experience with a new vet. Aperantly the breeder had given her pupp shots herself. SHe started them and kept dates. The vet told me that these types of shots breeders can buy are not as effective as the ones a vet gives. He reccommended to me to began puppy shots all over again. My puppy is only 9-10 weeks old.
i did pay for the puppy shots and visits in a puppy package. I am thinking that this is the better alternative.
I was not aware that the breeder hd done this herself! I found this out later. Looks like it did not do the pupps much good though. i believe now this this particular backyard breeder is terrible... I am actually lucky that Suzi is as healthy as she is.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by oopsmyhalofello

I don't have any facts/info or otherwise regarding this but just wanted to interject about what the policy that vets are adopting re: waiting until after nursing to do the shots. I can understand that it is probably worthwhile to wait since the puppy is being covered my Mom's milk immunities but I wonder why they would think it would make the vaccine ineffective and then give it again? That just doesn't make sense to me, thats like saying to wait to give human babies vaccines until they are done nursing, sometimes that can be a few years. I guess it leaves me wondering if its just a ploy to make some more money. Does anyone have anymore information they can direct me to on these findings? I find it very interesting

I don't have a website for you but giving a pup a vaccine while they still have maternal antibodies neuteralizes them both somehow.

Technically, after the immune system is fully developed, there are a few vets that give one or two rounds then and don't vaccinate before sixteen weeks at all. The thinking is that any MLV given after the immune system is developed will produce life-long immunity.

I know some vets give four sets of pup shots. That is way too many. Two is fine IF they are given at the right time and three is fine but could be overdoing it. If I had a pup, I would either do the DHPP at 10, 14 and 18 weeks or thereabouts OR I would break the vaccine up and do parvo at 10, 14 and 18 weeks, distemper at 11, 15 and 19 weeks and hepatitis at 12, 16 and 20 weeks OR I would start at 16 weeks and only do two rounds.

[oopsmyhalofello]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I don't have a website for you but giving a pup a vaccine while they still have maternal antibodies neuteralizes them both somehow.

Technically, after the immune system is fully developed, there are a few vets that give one or two rounds then and don't vaccinate before sixteen weeks at all. The thinking is that any MLV given after the immune system is developed will produce life-long immunity.

I know some vets give four sets of pup shots. That is way too many. Two is fine IF they are given at the right time and three is fine but could be overdoing it. If I had a pup, I would either do the DHPP at 10, 14 and 18 weeks or thereabouts OR I would break the vaccine up and do parvo at 10, 14 and 18 weeks, distemper at 11, 15 and 19 weeks and hepatitis at 12, 16 and 20 weeks OR I would start at 16 weeks and only do two rounds.

Thank you for replying, I now have something to base a search on and see what I can find. We are going to be getting a new puppy soon, June 4th to be exact and I want to make sure that I am following what ever I think is best with the vaccines.

I also wanted to comment on what someone said that their vet said about the breeders shots not being the same as what the vet has. I would tend to believe that is hogwash, unfortunately I find that a lot of vets are really out to grab you for the most $$$ they can, even if it means over medicating your animals.

[oopsmyhalofello]

I just wanted to add that its not that I disagree with what they are saying, I just wonder if it is really necessary to add a booster.. seems silly and if it was done the other way up until this point in time then I see no point in changing it unless there is some sort of solid medical evidence that the dogs who did not get a booster ended up catching what the vaccine was protecting them from. I guess I'm a pessimist and always assume it is a way to rake us all for more money

[Ladymom]

Dr. Jean Dodd's vaccination protocol has been adopted by twenty-seven vet schools. She does not recommend the first vaccines until 9-10 weeks old.

W Jean Dodds Vaccine Protocol VACCINATION PROTOCOLS

Even after the puppies have been weaned, they will still have maternal antibodies from nursing. Those maternal antibodies attack and kill the viruses contained in the vaccines, leaving the puppy unprotected from deadly diseases. That's why it is so important that your puppy have the full round of vaccinations (usually about fourteen weeks) plus two weeks for full immunity before taking him to any places other dogs go.