Puppy Injections

Whenever you get a new puppy, you need to check with your veterinarian about your puppy injections.  The puppy injections are a series of vaccinations given to every puppy in order to protect them from certain diseases.  While some types of puppy injections are administered only a few times, there are some that continue on through adulthood.

Diseases Puppy Injections Protect Against

Puppies receive several different types of shots.  Some of them are a combination of various immunizations, while other puppy injections tend to treat just one of two types of conditions.  Here are some of the diseases a puppy's injections protect against.

• Rabies- the most commonly known, this disorder causes extreme aggression, confusion and and eventually death.
• Canine Distemper- an airborne viral infection.  Twitches, seizures and convulsions are associated with the later stages of the disease due to its effect on a dog's brain.
• Hepatitis- a viral liver disease that causes fever, depression, vomiting and various bleeding disorders.
• Leptospirosis- a severe urinary tract infection.
• Parvovirus- an intestinal virus
• Parainfluenza- a very contagious and infectious type of bronchitis.
• Bordetella- better known as kennel cough, this is a serious bacteria infection of the respiratory system.
• Corona- another type of viral disease that infects the intestinal tract.
• Lyme Disease- an infection spread by tick bites.

All of these various diseases can be prevented, with a fairly high success rate, is you follow your scheduled puppy injections.  These injections are vey easy to get from a trained veterinarian.

Types Of Injections

There are five different types of puppy injections.  Each one treat a different disease, or a variety of diseases.  Here are the different types of puppy injections and the disease they treat.

• DHLPP- protects against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvovirus.
• Corona- this protects against Corona, the intestinal infection.
• Bordetella- this shot may not be required, but if your puppy will be boarded or traveling a lot, it may be a good idea to get this one.
• Rabies- this shot is a general requirement, since if your puppy gets out and doesn't have this tag on, he may be tested for the virus if they should happen to bite someone.  The test can be fatal in dogs.
• Lyme- this protects against Lyme disease and many of the complication associated with it.  Even if your dog is an inside dog, this is a good idea since ticks can jump on a dog even if they are only outside for a short time.

Schedule Of Puppy Injections

Puppy injections tend to follow a general schedule, which should be determined by your doctor.  Puppy injections tend to be performed during the same period of time, and most of the puppy injections are given before the first year of age.  Some shots are given after the dog has matured, and will continue on throughout their life.

• 6-8 Weeks- your puppy will be given their first shots, which are DHLPP and Corona.
• 11-12 Weeks- another round of the same shots are given, along with the Lyme disease shot.
• 15-16 Weeks- the third round of DHLPP and Corona is given, along with the Lyme disease.
• After 16 Weeks- the first rabies vaccination.
• 7-9 months- the first heartworm test is given.
• 1 year- second rabies vaccination and the Bordetella shot.