Wow, six weeks old was way to young to have had vaccines started. It more likely than not had no beneficial effect. A pup at six weeks most likely had such a high level of mom's maternal antibodies that it blocked....
During the first 36 hours after whelping, the dam’s milk contains high levels of antibodies. Antibody-rich first milk is called colostrum. The “passive transfer” of antibodies from dam to pup will provide protection for the first
6–16 weeks of the pup’s life. This same passive protection that also blocks the ability of vaccines to induce immunity in pups.
If a puppy is vaccinated and it has maternal antibodies present, the maternal antibodies will interpret the vaccine as a foreign invader and destroy it. There will be no immune response from the pup's immune system since the maternal antibodies intercepted and destroyed it before any response could occur. This is called “maternal antibody interference”.
A vaccine can not provide immunity for a pup until the maternal antibodies are low enough to NOT fight off the virus in the vaccine.
This is why puppy shots are usually done in three sets at approx. 4 weeks apart. So that at least one set of shots was given after the maternal antibodies had waned and can provide immunity against that virus.
It isn't that vaccines for parvo and distemper need a "set" to be effective. It's because the vaccines are being done way too soon.Here are some quotes from reliable sources concerning this issue.....
Research shows that less than 50% of puppies will respond at 6 wks.of age....75% at 9 wks. of age... 90% at 12 weeks.... and by 14 to16 weeks, close to 100% will respond. “(In the August 2008 issue of The Whole Dog Journal, Dr. Ronald Schultz) It is commonly held that puppies need a certain number of vaccines for protection to be achieved (usually either 3 or 4 is the “magic” number). The number of vaccines given has nothing to do with protection. In order for protection to be achieved, vaccine must be given when it can penetrate maternal antibody. " (American Animal Hospital Association)
Multiple vaccinations with MLV vaccines are required at various ages only to ensure that one dose of the vaccine reaches the puppy's immune system without interference from passively acquired antibody. Two or more doses of killed vaccines (except rabies) and vectored vaccines are often required to induce an immune response, and both doses should be given at a time when the passively acquired antibody can no longer interfere. Thus, when puppies are first vaccinated at 16 weeks (or more) of age (an age when passively acquired antibodies generally don't cause interference), one does of an MLV vaccine, or two doses of a killed vaccine, are adequate to stimulate an immune response." (American Animal Hospital Association) Virologists recognize that a gap of at least 3-4 weeks is desirable between giving one vaccine and then a different one, because if not so spaced the immune response to the second vaccine may be inadequate and not produce sufficient specific antibodies to give immunity. If there is a dormant/latent viral infection already present in the recipient, vaccination against another pathogen could impair the immune system leading to the latent viral infection taking hold. We don't repeat vaccinations for parvo and distemper because we need vaccines more than once to form immunity. They are repeated for two basic reasons only: Habit, and to catch those few individuals who for some reason don't respond to the first vaccination. A single immunizing dose of a modified live virus vaccine - in other words, one vaccine that works - will form long term, probably lifetime, immunity to parvo and distemper. (Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XIII; 2000;
You might want to read up on combo vaccines, they are nasty vaccines for the pups immune system to process.......And, no you do not have to *start over* if you want to wait til the pup is older, as you can see it's not about the amount of vaccines given it's the timing that is important. So if a person waits til the pup is 14-18 weeks then one just may do the job. You can always do a *titer* to see if it *took* two weeks after the vaccine is given. Also, you might want to do searches for vaccine info on people who have been fighting this issue for decades....Dr. Dodds....Catherine O'Driscoll....Dr. M. Goldstein.....Dr. Schultz......There are also books you may find at your library.....Shock to the System ....Stop the Shots.......
Here are some interesting sites to read.......
Canine Vaccination News Canine Health Concern - Putting your dog’s health first Small Dogs | Truth4Dogs
Don't forget this is *your* pup, you call the shots, not the vet, you'll find most vets tend to push vaccines by telling you they are harmless, this couldn't be farther from the truth.....Good luck......
