Quote:
Originally Posted by phfgkl  I don't ever remember getting a health certificate with mine here in SC, that was 6 years ago. You know this lady could try and forge one. To the op, if you get a health certificate, please call the vet on there and make sure he's the one that signed it. |
Virginia law requires that a dealer provide written proof from a vet that the puppy was given age appropriate vaccinations before selling the puppy. A five week old puppy is too young to be vaccinated by anyone's standards, so the breeder would not be able to furnish the proof.
Read the thread about poor little Macy who is struggling to survive parvo. She had her full round of three shots, but they were given too early so she wasn't protected.
In one study of a cross section of different puppies the age at which they were able to respond to a vaccine and develop protection covered a wide period of time. At six weeks of age, 25% of the puppies could be immunized. At 9 weeks of age, 40% of the puppies were able to respond to the vaccine. The number increased to 60% by 16 weeks, and by 18 weeks of age, 95% of the puppies could be immunized. Parvovirus: Serious Diarrhea in Puppies & Dogs