Vaccines
 

I recently got my puppy, Bentley, 8 days ago, making him 9 weeks yesterday ( I know now this was too early for him to leave his birth mama ). I never planned on looking at vaccines until I got him and am completely shocked and frightened at what I have learned. I beleive he has already received parvo and distemper before I even got him (I'm at work right now but want to post exactly when he received and the name of the specific ones he received.)

I live in Arizona, where it is very dry and there is never any standing water. There are also no wild animals like racoons or skunks (only coyotes that come out at night looking for food). I also plan on keeping him as an indoor dog, and because our backyard does not have grass, only rock landscape, I plan on keeping him pad trained unless we move to a closed backyard with nice grass.

Looking at a vaccination schedule from the pet education website it lists the following as core: Canine Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis and Rabies. I know Rabies is required legally, but what about Hepatitis? Where/How would my dog catch this?

I also plan on only vaccinating once and not doing annual boosters because I've read they are unnecessary. However about distemper and parvo, I've seen that many are getting more shots just a few weeks or months after? Is this necessary to complete the vaccine or is it already complete and the following are just precautionary type things?

Are there any other vaccines you would recommend him receive considering my area? I've tried to google common diseases in my state, as well as common areas for things like lepto and lyme but couldn't find anything..

Any answers to any of the above would be so helpful :) Thanks a bunch!

I'm going to guess Ann (Wylie's Mom) would know if any non-core vaccine diseases are prevalent there. Ann, where art thou??

Yes, those are the core vaccines. They are given every 2-4 weeks between the ages of 6 and 20 weeks (depending on the vet - schedules vary). Starting at 8 weeks is pretty common and then doing 2 more sets (12 and 16 weeks). Because of the concern of vaccines interfering with maternal antibodies, some people are now starting at about 10 weeks. Should not stop before 16 weeks (some say 18). A pup isn't fully protected by just one set. If you are vaccinating an adult for the first time who didn't have puppy shots, 2 sets are given 3-4 weeks apart. A one year booster is needed after puppy shots and then schedules again vary. If you decide that you don't want to give boosters after that, please really look into it and take your vet's thoughts into consideration. It is much more common to do a booster every 3 years instead of skipping them entirely. It may not be wrong to stop entirely, but that's still being studied right now, so there is a bit of risk with it. This goes for DHP.

Rabies is given in accordance with the law.

Infectious hepatitis is spread from the urine, nasal discharge, etc. of other dogs.

There is a thread in the health and diet section about vaccines right now. Does this help any? I know it looks a bit rambly.

Thanks for your reply its very helpful :) I think I just need to take him to a vet and talk it over with them. I'm just scared I am going to be pushed into something by the vet because of scare tactics or something like that so I'm trying to get info first.

Looking at the sticker from the vaccine he already recieved at 6 weeks it says: Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus vaccine.

The adenovirus I'm guessing is the hepatitis? The breeder kept saying something about the 5 way vaccine, which seems dangerous to me because I thought they should only be vaccinated with one or two at a time because its hard on their immune systems especially when so young.

So i'll need the hepatitis, parvo and distemper one more time? or two more times? and then I'm going to try and get the rabies as late as possible so he can grow some first...

Since he needs the DHPP (this one does come as a combo and is most often used - just best to not do anything else on the same day) every 3-4 weeks, it would be given again at 9 or 10 weeks, then again 3-4 weeks later, then probably one more time. They were started very early. :(

Okay I see now.. So the DHPP is pretty common and considered safe?

Extremely common and it's considered most by most people (there will always be sites online stating the contrary). This vaccine is necessary. There is no reason to break this one up into singles really. Not for a pup... Just would be best to not do rabies (or lepto if you are giving it) on the same day.. Not so much they have to process at once..