Everything You Need to Know About Puppy Vaccinations

A vaccine for puppies is a small amount of a disease, treated so that it can’t cause illness. By exposing puppies to this weak disease, it teaches their body to detect and fight off the real illness. Most vaccines for puppies are given by injection, although for some diseases oral and nasal vaccines exist. Each injection contains multiple diseases, many of which would be fatal in their full forms. 

Whilst it’s not a legal requirement to vaccinate your beloved pets, it’s strongly recommended to protect them from numerous potentially life-threatening illnesses that are easier to combat and avoid with the proper immunisation protocol.

No vaccine will guarantee that your pup doesn’t contract an illness, as it depends on your puppy’s individual immune response. However, overwhelming numbers of dogs get strong immunity from their injections that either prevent the disease getting hold or reduce the symptoms and severity when they do get ill. Vaccines are a vital part of maintaining your dog’s health and welfare and many diseases can now be protected against. By building up some immunity against a number of illnesses with puppy injections, there’s a far lower chance of your pup becoming sick!

A puppy pal can be an expensive extra family member! While cutting corners and not vaccinating might save you money in the short term, if your pet contracts a virus, not only will they suffer, their recovery treatment is likely to be far more expensive than a vaccination! Many of the more serious illnesses we vaccinate against (such as distemper and parvovirus) usually require around-the-clock care which means staying in the vets for several nights in a row. This around-the-clock care comes at a price, so you won’t just be paying for the medication and supportive treatments, you also have to pay for a professional to keep an eye on your furry family member all day and night.

If you live in a multi-pet household and one dog becomes unwell, the risk of contaminating your other pets can be very high depending on the illness and the vaccination status of your other pets. If you have a number of unvaccinated pups living under one roof, the chance of them all getting sick is much higher when their immune system isn’t prepared. Some of the diseases we vaccinate puppies against can even spread to humans – by vaccinating your pup, you’re protecting yourself and your human family too.

Financial and welfare reasons aside, many businesses like dog walking, dog boarding and doggy daycare businesses require all dogs they interact with to be fully vaccinated. Even taking your pooch to puppy training classes requires them to be fully vaccinated. Wherever there’s going to be a number of dogs or a professional person interacting with multiple dogs, they’re going to want to protect themselves, their business and all the pups they actively care for. That’s why these businesses will usually insist on seeing proof of your pooch’s history of vaccinations before you can book with them.

You can vaccinate your pup against a number of diseases and illnesses. Dogs can be vaccinated at any age but puppies will usually get their initial vaccination at six to eight weeks followed by a second course either two to four weeks later to make sure their immune system is robust. You usually only need to give annual boosters after this to keep it strong.

You can vaccinate a puppy against:

●      Canine distemper

●      Canine parvovirus

●      Kennel cough

●      Leptospirosis

●      Parainfluenza

You can also vaccinate against rabies however, as the UK is a rabies-free country it’s not part of the standard vaccines but if you plan to travel with your pup, they may need this too.

The Canine Distemper Virus is a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system and eventually the nervous system. It’s given as part of a puppy’s initial course of vaccinations. What makes distemper an important virus to vaccinate against is how severe it can become along with how easily it’s spread.

Some wildlife are able to spread the disease as well. Foxes and domesticated ferrets are also able to contract and spread the disease. Pregnant mothers can infect their puppies before they’re born and transmission can even occur between food bowls and shared toys, as well as any equipments an infected pooch may have come into contact with.

Treatment includes a supportive therapy of treating the symptoms rather than the disease itself and quarantining infected animals to limit the further spread. Signs to look out for include:

 

●      Runny eyes

●      Fever

●      Nasal discharge

●      Coughing

●      Lethargy

●      Reduced appetite

●      Vomiting

●      Walking in circles

●      Head tilt

●      Muscles twitches

●      “Chewing gum fits” jaw moves in chewing motions

●      Paralysis

Seeking veterinary care as early as possible and providing the support they need can mean the difference between something they can overcome with help and distemper being fatal.

 

Canine Parvovirus is another of the diseases a puppy’s first vaccines will cover. Developing an immunity to parvo is very important, especially for puppies. While adult dogs are less prone to developing symptoms of parvo, it’s a nasty disease that once it comes into contact with a surface can remain there for months and infect your pooch. Under the right conditions, it can even survive for a year outside, so when you’re walking your pooch at the local park where plenty of other people also walk their dogs, having an unvaccinated pup means they’re always at risk.

Parvovirus is a virus that causes gastrointestinal issues most commonly in puppies. It spreads easily through faeces and vomit and it’s hard to keep contained once contracted. As the virus attacks cells in the intestines, a puppy becomes unable to process nutrients and becomes weak very quickly. Once symptoms occur without treatment, it can be fatal from 24 to 48 hours after they become unwell. They can shed the disease both before and after contracting the virus, so they may continue to spread it even after a full recovery.

There is no cure for parvovirus, but supportive fluids and treatment can be provided by a vet to give a pup the best chance at survival. One study found that between 2008 and 2019, if a dog survived the first five days after contracting the illness, their chances of survival were 86.5% so with quick acting and supportive treatment, the survival rate is very positive.

Symptoms of Canine Parvovirus include:

●      Persistent and bloody diarrhoea accompanied by a foul smell

●      Vomiting

●      Loss of appetite

●      Collapse

●      Lethargy

●      Fever

●      Weight loss

●      Sudden death

 

Kennel cough is an infectious disease that can be spread by a number of different viruses and bacteria. It tends to present itself very similarly across all strains and is an airborne disease which means that the dog only has to be in an environment after an infected pooch to contract it. The kennel cough vaccine is not part of the initial puppy vaccination course, however they can be vaccinated as early as eight to fourteen weeks. The vaccine for kennel cough is squirted up the nose for your pup to inhale and allow their immune system to develop a barrier against it.

Since there are so many strains of kennel cough, the vaccine can’t reduce the chance of your pup catching it by 100% but it does help their immune system know how to react to it. Most dogs will recover speedily and may not even need treatment however older pooches and flat-faced breeds are more at risk of suffering from severe symptoms that may need treatment.

Symptoms include:

●      Loud and repetitive coughing

●      Discharge from the eyes or nose

●      Swollen tonsils

●      Lack of appetite

●      Lethargy

●      Wheezing while breathing

In the first weeks of life, your pup will be getting all the immunity they need from their mother’s milk. Once a pooch stops nursing, this maternal protection begins to fade, and we need to give them a boost through the use of vaccines.

A puppy vaccination schedule is done in a batch of courses to help them develop immunity to common and serious infectious diseases. The type of vaccines your puppy receives will largely depend on where you live, as some locations have different disease risks than others.

Most puppy vaccination schedules consist of two vaccinations, given two to four weeks apart. The first vaccine should be given at 7-8 weeks old, with a second booster given at 10-12 weeks of age. If your puppy was quite young at their first vaccine, they might need a third booster, however, your veterinarian will explain this at their first appointment.

At their young age, most puppies are not ready to leave their mum before eight weeks of age, so your breeder may have ensured they receive their very first vaccines. Make sure that you obtain records of these before purchasing your new family member and take these records to your first vet appointment.  Your vet will be able to make a healthcare plan for them and tell you the exact dates they are due for their next vaccinations.

The cost of a vaccination appointment can vary from clinic to clinic and will also depend on the type of vaccines that your pup needs. The average cost of both puppy vaccinations is around £110 which includes the cost of your vaccine plus any consultation fee that may be applicable. Our Community Pet Clinics aim to make pet care accessible and affordable and Jollyes offer 1st and 2nd vaccinations for just £55. Discover a Community Pet Clinic near you. 

Preparing for your first visit to the vet with your new puppy can be daunting, which is why we’ve put together this quick and easy checklist!

● Breeder paperwork:  Make sure you have a copy of your breeder’s paperwork, so your vet can see what vaccines and treatments your pet has already.

● Your dog’s favourite blanket: The vet's table is cold and sometimes slippery, your pup’s blanket smells like home which will soothe any nerves and keep them cosy.  

● Their favourite treats: The needle can be daunting, and treats help make positive associations to keep them calm.

We understand you want to show your new puppy the world and watch them explore, but it’s important to keep them safe and confined while they build immunity. In these early days, it is best to avoid visiting areas with high-density dog populations, such as dog parks, beaches, and pet stores until your pooch is fully vaccinated.

It’s not all doom and gloom however! There are some great places you can explore with them to start socialising. The “Sling & Carry” rule helps you to take your puppy to high streets and cafes while avoiding “paws on the floor” as this is where diseases live. As long as they’re carried and aren’t in direct contact with any other animals, taking them for walks through farmland, on the train, and to areas with lots of children can help them get used to new sights and smells – think of it like building their immunity to new things! Puppy school is an excellent place for safe play in the early weeks of life, and you can also play games in your garden at home. Your secure garden is safe as long as no unvaccinated or ill dogs have visited. Doggy play dates are also ok if you have friends or family with fully vaccinated dogs, just make sure to do this at home.

Side effects are uncommon but as a pet parent, it’s always best to be aware of any possible complications that can occur after your puppy receives a vaccination. In the majority of cases, you will notice no changes, and they will continue to bound around your house causing mischief wherever they go! Some may be a little sleepy, preferring to rest rather than play, and they may also be a little off their food. Some will develop a mildly painful or itchy swelling at the vaccination site and others may run a fever. Serious complications are rare, including anaphylaxis, allergic reaction, facial swelling, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, or collapse. If you are worried about how your pup is behaving after their vaccination, give your veterinarian a call.

Once your pup has received their final puppy vaccination you still need to wait one week before they are immune to most of the vaccine and can start venturing out, and three weeks before they’re immune to leptospirosis, which is caught from rats, farm animals, and country walks. After that, the world is their oyster!

Your puppy is now immunised and ready to socialise, however, their preventative care doesn’t stop here. Immunity from vaccinations does not last a lifetime, and they will need annual boosters to keep them protected through life.

While they have a ‘booster’ vaccination every year, not all components need boosting annually. After the first annual ones – when your puppy is just over a year old – the vet will change which injection is given each year to ensure your pup gets only what they need.

Your veterinarian will be able to provide an exact plan for your pup's ongoing care.

When you book a vaccination appointment for your puppy at the Community Pet Clinic, the vet will discuss with you if there are any current or historical medical conditions affecting your pet. They’ll confirm that your dog isn’t on any medication at present, as well as asking you to confirm your dog is clinically well (with no vomiting, diarrhoea or other signs of illness). Your pup will then undergo a general health check before proceeding with the vaccination! The CPC vaccination certificates include tick boxes for: Teeth, Coat, Eyes, Ears, Heart, Abdomen, and Weight, which are assessed through visual exams, gentle palpation, stethoscope or measurements. The vet will then carry out the treatments and inform the customer if the pet requires further vaccinations and complete the vaccination certificate. You’ll receive a guidance leaflet detailing aftercare and the risks of an adverse reaction. The CPC will ask customers to wait around the store for approx. 15 minutes as if an adverse reaction occurs it is generally within that timescale.

Puppy vaccinations are an important component of their healthcare and help create immunity to potentially life-threatening infections. It is crucial that they receive their full puppy vaccination program before venturing out into the world, and that they have regular boosters to help keep them strong, happy, and healthy throughout their life.

Get started on the right paw of your new happy life together and find everything you need from our dog and puppy range.

Q: Can I carry my puppy outside before they are fully vaccinated?

Yes! As long as you “Sling & Carry” your pup to keep their paws off the floor and avoid physical contact with other animals, they can (and should!) venture outside to learn about the world.

 

Q: What if I miss the second vaccination date?

If a puppy misses the 2nd vaccination date by more than a day or two, the puppy will need to restart the course to protect against full immunity.

 

Q: Is the Kennel Cough vaccine an injection?

Kennel cough vaccinations are usually oral or a spray up the nose. The kennel cough we use is called BB Oral and is administered directly into the mouth. The puppy needs to be 8 weeks to receive this vaccination.

 

 

Q: Why does my puppy need a "Booster" every year?

Science has demonstrated that immunity does not last a lifetime, so booster vaccinations are needed regularly to retain full protection.  Not every component needs annual boosting, but some part of it always does..

 

Q: My puppy is sleepy after their jab, should I be worried?

Some sleepiness post vaccination is expected, but if you’re concerned it’s always worth giving your local vet a call.

 

Q: Can I bathe my puppy after their vaccination?

It is advised to wait 24-48 hours if possible.