What are the Required Puppy Shots?
Puppy Shots
Just like babies, puppies need shots to keep them healthy and disease free. Sometimes when you buy a puppy from a breeder or shelter, they may have their first set of vaccinations. However as a responsible pet owner you will need to take your puppy to the vet for any other required puppy shots. The vet will also check the puppy for parasites and evaluate overall health. The cost of exams and vaccinations will vary depending on what your veterinarian charges. You should make an appointment for an exam as soon as possible after brining your puppy home.
At six weeks of age, your puppy will need a general examination, as well as the first vaccinations for DHP-PV-CV (which stands for distemper parvo, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvo carona.) The puppy will also need fecal testing for parasites and to be treated for prevention of heartworms, fleas and ticks. Many shelters and breeders will get this done because often puppies are not deemed ready to leave their mothers until 8 to 12 weeks of age.
At nine weeks, the puppy will need another exam, booster shots, another fecal test and more heartworm and flea prevention. At 12 weeks, the puppy will need an examination, a third booster, and a shot for kennel cough caled Bordetella. At this time they will also need a fecal test for parasites as well as heartworm, flea and tick prevention. When the puppy is 15 weeks of age, it will need an exam, a Parvo vaccine, a Rabies vaccine and the usual flea, tick and heartworm preventative which is given monthly. After your puppy has all their tests and shots you can administer their heartworm pill and flea/tick preventative at home.
Unless you are planning on breeding your puppy, he or she needs to be spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted litters. This can be done as early as six months of age. While it can be a bit costly to take your puppy in every few weeks for puppy shots, it is well worth the money. And, after the initial round of shots are done, your dog will only need periodic vaccines every few years or so. The veterinarian can give you the flea and tick solution, which is usually a vial of liquid to be opened and poured onto the dog’s neck where they can’t reach to lick it. The heartworm medicine is in soft pill form, and although it tastes good to some dogs others won’t take it unless you disguise it in a treat or in their food.