Puppy Vaccine Schedule: What Shots Puppies Need & When

Many illnesses and conditions affecting your canine companion can be especially dangerous if they are still a puppy. The good news is that they are entirely preventable. Here, our vets in Louisiana discuss vaccinations and booster shots for your puppy and offer a standard dog vaccine schedule.

Vaccinations for Puppies

Vaccinations are a key component of preventive healthcare for puppies. They help stimulate the immune system to produce protective antibodies against harmful diseases, providing immunity without your adorable fur baby suffering from the illness.

Due to their developing immune systems, these adorable young family members are particularly vulnerable to infections at this stage. Therefore, vaccinations and other preventive care, like deworming, are essential to their early care.

Every puppy is unique, and their deworming and vaccination schedule can vary based on breed, location, and health history. Your veterinarian is your best source of guidance for tailoring a schedule to meet your puppy's specific needs.

Core Vaccines for Dogs & Puppies

Core vaccines are designed to help protect your pet by preventing diseases commonly found in your area, spread easily between animals (and in some cases from animals to people), and have a high fatality rate. Below are the core vaccines recommended for most puppies and adult dogs in the United States:

• Canine Parvovirus
• Distemper
• Canine Hepatitis
• Rabies

Lifestyle Vaccines for Dogs & Puppies

This category of vaccines protects pets against diseases they may be exposed to if they lead particular lifestyles, such as dogs that spend time with other dogs in doggie daycares. You may want to consider the following lifestyle vaccines for your fur baby:

• Bordatella (Kennel Cough)
• Leptospirosis
• Canine Influenza (Dog Flu)
• Lyme Disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)

Puppy Vaccination & Booster Shot Schedule

When you come in for your pet's first examination, you can ask your vet for recommendations on a puppy deworming and vaccination schedule for your furry family member.

Below, we offer a sample puppy vaccination schedule in the form of an easy-to-follow chart:

What are the risks of side effects with puppy vaccines?

Dog vaccines are considered very safe, and few dogs experience side effects. Those that do typically experience very mild reactions.

In rare cases, some dogs may have an allergic reaction after getting their shots. This is typically due to a sensitivity to an individual ingredient of a specific vaccine. Different breeds tend to react to some ingredients.

Breeds, including German shepherds, collies, and some sheepdogs, are known to be sensitive to individual vaccines. Your veterinarian will skip any vaccines containing ingredients your dog may be sensitive to.

Preventive Care at Marcello Veterinary Hospital

Our puppy and kitten veterinarians in Louisiana focus on preventive care to keep common diseases and disorders from developing.

Combined with regular wellness exams, vaccinations, and parasite prevention, these will give your kitten or puppy a strong and healthy start to life.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet to accurately diagnose your pet's condition.

Ready to schedule preventive care for your new furry friend? Please book an appointment to bring your puppy to an appointment at one of our locations in Louisiana.