Is there anything more adorable than a puppy?  Baby dogs of any breed are quite possibly the very definition of cuteness and it is not surprising that new puppy owners will go to great lengths to protect their little pup’s health and get them off to a good start in life, so as to enjoy their companionship for many years to come. While there are different schools of thought out there as to which vaccinations should be given at what time, there does appear to be a general consensus about which vaccinations should be given roughly at what times during the puppy’s first few months of life.

Here is a quickie guide to vaccinations for your new pup:
1. When your little dog is about six weeks old, it is time to take her or him to the vet for the first time and in addition to getting a thorough health check; she or he will need to receive the bordetella/parainfluenza vaccinations. Some will begin to also give the distemper shots now, while others will wait until the next visit.
2. Three weeks later, at nine weeks of age, your little puppy will need to receive a stool check for intestinal parasites, and vaccinations for canine distemper, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza, parvo, and quite possibly a good dose of de-wormer. If your puppy has already received his first distemper shot, this time around will be the first booster.  Some vets will also begin the dog on the corona virus shots, while others will wait until the next visit.
3. Another three weeks go by, and your little pup is now 12 weeks old, rambunctious, and quite possibly gets into anything and everything he can. Now is the time for once again a round of canine distemper and adenovirus type 2 shots, as well as vaccinations for parainfluenza, parvo, and also corona virus.  If your dog got his or her corona shot last time around, this time it will be a booster. This is a great opportunity to get the little dog started on a heartworm preventative regimen that you will want to keep up for the rest of her or his life, as well as a good flea management system. Once again the little pup will probably receive a good dose of de-wormer to make sure that there is nothing untoward growing in the dog’s intestinal tract.
4. At 16 weeks of age, it is finally time to give your doggie the all-important first rabies shot, as well as booster shots for the other vaccinations she or he has already received.
5. Thereafter, the distemper, parvo, corona, and rabies shots will need to be repeated on an annual basis, while a fecal test may be requested to ensure that your little dog did not pick up any intestinal problems along the way.  Another test that most veterinarians will run is an annual heartworm check.

Of course, some veterinarians will offer different shots at different times.  For example, to some the bordetella vaccine is optional while to others it is a requirement. Similarly, if your little doggie is perhaps developmentally a bit behind – maybe she or he is he runt of the litter and needs to catch up on some growth – your vet may want you to wait for a week longer to receive booster to let the little pup gain some more weight. Similarly, if your dog is found to be a little sickly, or if there are health issues that you are concerned about which need to be dealt with immediately, then this, too, may throw off your new puppy’s vaccination schedule a little bit.

Furthermore, keep in mind that little pups should be spayed and neutered!  Six months of age is a good time for this procedure, although a female pup could be spayed as early as four months, while a male pup could be neutered as early as five months!  Please take your puppy’s healthcare seriously, as it will save you a lot of heartache, money, and treatment later on.  The old adage that speaks of an ounce of prevention versus a pound of cure was never more applicable than when it comes to the health of dogs!