Puppy/Dog Vaccine Guidelines
Click here to see the American Animal Hospital Association Guidelines for what vaccines should be given according to a dogs age and frequency. Vets should be following these guidelines.
Dog’s that are under 16 weeks of age can begin to get vaccines as early as 6 weeks.
FIRST PUPPY VACCINE: Bow Valley has the vet administer the first DHPP vaccines around 6.5-7 weeks of age
NEXT STEPS FOR FAMILIES TO DO:
SECOND VACCINE: 11-12 weeks of age DHPP and BORDETELLA
THIRD VACCINE: 15-16 weeks of age DHPP
RABIES BETWEEN 5-6 MONTHS. Please separate the rabies so it is not as hard on your puppy’s system.
ONE YEAR BOOSTER FROM LAST VACCINE: 15-16 months of age with yearly health checks
EVERY 3 YEARS GET RABIES BOOSTED. Can cycle the DHPP every 2-3 years. Bortella YEARLY WITH YOU HEALTH CHECK.
************Health Checks need to be done yearly even though your dog will not require a DHPP and rabies vaccine every year**********
Types of Vaccines (Core & Non-Core*)
6-8
weeks
Core: Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus
9-12 weeks
Core: Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus
Non-Core: Leptospirosis, Bordetella 1
3-16 weeks
Core: Rabies, Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus (NOT TO BE GIVEN AT THE SAME TIME)
Non-Core: Leptospirosis, Lyme
Adult boosters - While annual boosters are still sometimes given, many vets now recommend only re-vaccinating every three years.
*Recommendation of non-core vaccines depends on your geographical location and your puppy's environment. Talk to your vet about your puppy's potential exposure. It is important multiple vaccines are not given at the same time. It means extra visits to your Vet, but the risk of overwhelming a pup’s immune system by giving too many vaccines at one time is too high!
Also discuss vaccine protocols with your Vet.
Types of Vaccines
AAHA Vaccine Guidelines
BOW VALLEY SCHEDULE OF DEWORMING:
2 1/2 weeks old Strongid t
4 weeks old Strongid T
5 1/2 weeks old Safeguard
7 1/2 weeks old Safeguard
Please talk to your vet about a yearly deworming schedule based on where you live. We recommend using ONLY Revolution for topical Tick and Flea as well as heart worm prevention and Internally use Interceptor plus every couple of months. Advantix 2 is also a safe one. Strongid t is good for the winter months.
Dogs need protection from Heartworm (Ontario and BC areas), Fleas, and depending on where you live, Ticks, for 6 to 9 months of year (the warm months). Depending on which heartworm medication you choose (or if your pup is going home in the winter when this protection is not required), your pup may also need monthly deworming (Strongid t). Please discuss the appropriate options for protecting your pup from these pests.
We deworm all our pups at 2, 4, 5 1/2-6 and 7 1/5-8 weeks of age before they go home to their families. We use Strongid t from our vet at 2, 4, and 8 weeks of age. At 6 weeks we use Safeguard for three consecutive days which is used to treat ROUNDWORMS, HOOKWORMS, WHIP & TAPEWORMS, & GIARDIA. Safeguard is Fenbendazole 10% – 100 mg per ml and also known as Panacur. You can order it online or get it from your vet. Our routine here is to use Safeguard a couple of times a year. We also use Revolution during the summer months. We know of other breeders that like Bravecto as its good for 3 months to prevent tick/fleas. Please discuss the appropriate options for protecting your pup from these pests.
Puppy deworming and vaccination protocol
Deworming Protocol:
- All puppies receive pyrantel by mouth at 1ml/10 lbs. of body weight, beginning at 2 weeks of age until 12 weeks of age.
- Puppies (<6 months) receive ponazuril by mouth (50mg/kg) once for coccidia prophylaxis.
Puppy Vaccinations:
Puppies are defined as less than 6 months of age. Age of puppies is determined by records and teeth.
- DHPP - Modified Live vaccine
- Puppies will be vaccinated until at least 18 weeks of age.
- Give first vaccine at 4 weeks of age. If the puppy arrives older than 4 weeks of age, give the vaccine right away unless it has had a verified vaccine within the last 2 weeks.
- Give the second and following vaccines every 2 weeks (minimum 2 weeks, no more than 3 weeks).
- Give the last booster vaccination at 18 to 20 weeks of age.
- Booster DHPP one year after the initial vaccine series, then every three years (see adult protocol).
- Rabies
- Give once the puppy is 12 weeks of age.
- If there is ambiguity about the age, delay the rabies vaccine until a better age estimate can be made.
- Booster one year after the initial vaccine, then every three years (see adult protocol).
- Bordetella and Parainfluenza - intranasal
- Give the first vaccine at 4 weeks of age or immediately upon intake if older than 4 weeks at intake.
- Booster in one year and continue annual vaccination (see adult protocol).
Adult Vaccinations:
Considered adult if they have all of their adult teeth and they appear to be over 6 months of age.
- DHPP - MLV
- Check records to see when it was given last/how many were given.
- If no known (documented) vaccine history:
- Give one vaccine on intake, then booster in 2-3 weeks. Give the next DHPP one year after the initial vaccine series, then every three years thereafter.
- If documented/verified vaccine history:
- Adult dogs with only one documented vaccine:
- If vaccine was before 18 weeks of age, give intake vaccine, booster in 2 weeks, then every three years.
- If vaccine was after 18 weeks of age, booster once upon intake, then every three years thereafter.
- Adult dog that received at least 2 vaccinations after 18 weeks of age: schedule the next vaccine for 3 years from the last vaccine, and then every 3 years.
- If vaccine history is questionable, err on the side of administering additional vaccines.
- Adult dogs with only one documented vaccine:
- Pregnant or nursing canine moms will be vaccinated with DHPP on intake and as per the usual adult schedule.
- Rabies
- If no known vaccine history, give vaccine right away, booster in 1 year, and vaccinate every 3 years.
- If only documented to have received one rabies vaccine and it was given when the dog was over 12 weeks of age, schedule a booster 1 year from the original vaccination date. Vaccinate every 3 years thereafter.
- If the dog has received multiple rabies vaccines, schedule the next booster 3 years after the last documented vaccination.
- Pregnant or nursing moms will be vaccinated according to the normal schedule.
- Bordetella and Parainfluenza
- Intranasal
- Give the first vaccine upon intake.
- Booster in one year and continue annual vaccination.
- If dog’s temperament prevents intranasal vaccination, an injectable vaccine may be given.
- Pregnant or nursing moms will be vaccinated according to the normal schedule.
Exceptions:
Individual animal exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis, and the decision should include both the attending veterinarian and management.
Updated August 16, 2021.
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