Common Questions About Vaccinations

Dog owners should understand common questions about vaccinations as a priority to their pet’s care. One of the common questions is whether the dog needs to be given a vaccination in the first week of age or not. Dogs typically start receiving vaccines around five to six weeks of age. But, if they did not receive vaccinations, the vaccination against the parvoviral infections used to kill viral vaccines and measles may be given.

·         Should a dog be given a Bordetella or Lyme disease vaccine? No, these vaccines are only optional.

·         Can the parvoviral vaccine be used in the first week of life? No. This will interfere with maternal antibody levels.

·         Can a pregnant animal be vaccinated? Yes. Two to three weeks earlier than expected pregnancy activity, the pregnant animal may be vaccinated against viral diseases. This helps to provide maternal antibodies to the young that are passed on before birth.

·         Is there any need to give rabies vaccine to dogs? Yes. It is a must to get the anti-rabies vaccine for dogs. The rabies vaccine is given at the age of thirteen to fifteen weeks and should be repeated in fifteen months and then once every three years.

·         Is there any need for canine distemper vaccination in the case of dogs? Yes. There is a specific requirement in the case of dogs for the vaccination against canine distemper. This disease is more prevalent in most countries. 

·         Is there any vaccine against leptospirosis, and at what age is the dog vaccinated?   This is to be given at six to eight weeks, again at tenth to twelfth weeks, and again at thirteenth to sixteenth weeks.