Question About Puppy Vaccinations

[Sherbet]

Hello there, I've just been to the vet's for my 12-week-old puppy's second round of vaccinations and am surprised to learn that this is the last one he will need. His vaccination certificate lists three rounds of shots, the last one at 16 weeks, but the vet assured me this was right and he would only need the two. I took her word for it as she is a trained professional and all my knowledge begins and ends on the internet, but it struck me as strange. He received his C3 shot before I picked him up at 8 weeks and according to his certificate was given another C3 today, as well as some nasal spray for kennel cough. I always thought that the vaccinations went C3, C4 followed by C5, and never just the same one twice over. Is this normal or am I right to be concerned? I'm hoping it's all fine and dandy but I'd like some feedback to ease my mind!

[Erny]

Hi Sherbet.

C3 covers the 3 core diseases, these being Parvo, Hepatitis and Distemper

C4 covers the 3 core diseases, these being Parvo, Hepatitis and Distemper, as well as one strain of Canine Cough

C5 covers the 3 core diseases, these being Parvo, Hepatitis and Distemper, as well as two strains of Canine Cough

So you see, in each of the above, the 3 core diseases are vaccinated against, the only difference being whether you have your pup vaccinated for canine cough and whether that be against one or two strains of the cough virus.

So, it's first a matter of what you want your pup vaccinated against. It goes without saying that your pup be vaccinated against the 3 core diseases. Whether you chose to go the canine cough vaccination (ie C4 or C5) is your choice. For the record, I didn't.

Ok - with that explanation in hand (hope it made sense) then it's a matter of working out whether your pup needs (at least) the C3 administered twice or three times. I admit I get a little lost at this point, because it has to do with the timing of the first vaccination (by comparison to the antibodies the pup would have had from the mother's milk) and also the age of the pup for the second vaccination (something for which I was informed should be after 14wo). I'd like to bow out at this point as there are others who are better able to explain it than I. But suffice to say there are times when 2 vaccinations are sufficient, sometimes when 3 are advised.

But C3, C4, C5 etc has nothing to do with the order or number of vaccination administrations.

I actually like that your Vet is not pushing for "the more vaccinations the merrier". It's a refreshing change. Whether she's right or not as far as timing is concerned, I have to leave that up to those who haven't gotten themselves confused by it all and who understand it more.

I will say that due to circumstances I didn't go with the recommended 3 vaccination repeats, only the two. And each one of those two vaccinations were C3 cover only. I don't vaccinate against canine cough so consequently my boy has never received a C4 or a C5 vaccination. I had my boy titred one year on and this evidenced sufficient cover for the 3 core diseases so I recognised no need to re-vaccinate beyond that.

Hope this helps a little.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Erny

[Sherbet]

Thanks Erny, it's all a lot more clear now. It would seem there is no real 'right' way to do it. Hopefully the vet made an informed choice, though I would have liked to have had some say in the matter. I'm very keen to have my pup well socialised though so being able to take him out two weeks from now may very well be a blessing!

Edited January 12, 2012 by Sherbet

[Erny]

Hhhhmmm ... that brings me to a difference in opinion as to whether pups should be kept "in" for the total period until two weeks after their final puppy vaccine. My opinion is that no, they shouldn't. I do advocate for keeping a puppy in and away from stress (learning and new experiences = stress, in varying degrees) for a period of 7-10 days beyond each vaccination. This allows the immune system, which has been activated (read : taxed) by the vaccination, to do its job and then recover. Then get back out there again. But it is a matter of using common sense with regards to where you go. For example, I'd not go to parks where unknown dogs from all sorts of life frequent. But I would take the time to lead up to experiences such as certain outdoor cafe's; train stations; airports; buses; sounds of the city - and so on and so forth .... the list is endless and limited only by imagination.

Over vaccination is, IMO, a problem. The AVO have a statement release on this very matter, although many Vets are not observing it . But I love it when I hear of the Vets who are taking notice and acknowledging.

If you google "Dr Jean Dodds vaccinations" she is a Vet very well versed, cited and respected in the industry and has published numerous articles about vaccination protocols. You might find them of some interest.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Erny

[oakway]

Thanks Erny, it's all a lot more clear now. It would seem there is no real 'right' way to do it. Hopefully the vet made an informed choice, though I would have liked to have had some say in the matter. I'm very keen to have my pup well socialised though so being able to take him out two weeks from now may very well be a blessing!

Your puppy can go out now and the vet is indeed a well informed vet.

Vaccine starts working immediatly it is injected. If your puppy was originally vaccinated close to 8 weeks all the better.

Your puppy may have had the last vaccination it will ever need.

It is now known that vaccinating yearly is detremental to the dogs health.

If you are concerned at all about your puppy ask your vet to draw some blood and have it titre test for antibodies.

This is what tells you that the vaccine has worked.

Aso a low reading titre does not necessarily mean the dog need vaccinating it just may mean that the dog has not been exposed to the desease. If the dog is exposed the anti bodies will multiply and kill the desease.

On the other hand if get a high reading it will tell you that the dog has come in contact with a desease and the anti bodies have done there job in multiplying and killing the desease off.

Hope this helps in some way.

[Sherbet]

Hhhhmmm ... that brings me to a difference in opinion as to whether pups should be kept "in" for the total period until two weeks after their final puppy vaccine. My opinion is that no, they shouldn't. I do advocate for keeping a puppy in and away from stress (learning and new experiences = stress, in varying degrees) for a period of 7-10 days beyond each vaccination. This allows the immune system, which has been activated (read : taxed) by the vaccination, to do its job and then recover. Then get back out there again. But it is a matter of using common sense with regards to where you go. For example, I'd not go to parks where unknown dogs from all sorts of life frequent. But I would take the time to lead up to experiences such as certain outdoor cafe's; train stations; airports; buses; sounds of the city - and so on and so forth .... the list is endless and limited only by imagination.

He actually has his first puppy school class on Monday evening, which would definitely fall under 'learning and new experiences'. It being a controlled environment I'm hoping it will be okay. When questioned the trainer told me to 'ask the vet' and the vet told me to 'ask the trainer'. :p

Edited January 12, 2012 by Sherbet