Vaccines in puppies...

[DJEtzel]

So, I may be missing something, but I have been wondering this for a few days so I figured I'd ask about it to see if anyone had the answer for me.

Puppies get about three sets of shots to make sure they get them right after their mom's immunity wears off, since we don't know for sure when that window ends... correct? Moving on...

We don't take puppies out in public because we don't want to risk them getting parvo, distemper, etc. in case the shots they have didn't take because they were immune and then the immunity wore off and they still don't have them, etc...

So if we're not taking puppies out and exposing them to these things to prevent it, why are we even bothering to vaccinate at 8 and 12/13 weeks? Why not just wait until 16 weeks when they'd get the last shot and then take them out? It seems like a waste of money and their bodies. I wouldn't want to vaccinate my puppy more than was neccessary, and this just doesn't seem necessary...

Ideas?

[elisabeth_00117]

This is a TOTAL guess, but... could it have something to do with the amount of chemicals being administered at one given time?

[Verivus]

Puppies typically get 3 sets of shots, yes. Just because they don't go out and about does not mean they cannot get parvo; it just means you're greatly decreasing the chances. You yourself can come in contact with parvo outside and come back home with it on your shoes, clothes, self, etc which then puts your puppy at risk. Personally I think shots at 8 weeks are about useless so I typically wait until about 10 weeks to have a greater shot of it having effect, unless it's 'parvo season'.

[DJEtzel]

I guess I don't follow? I'm apparently new to how vaccines work, so you may need to spell this out for me...

All of the vaccines are essentially the exact same dose/vaccine, correct? They are just given at different times so that ONE (or two) of them will be after the mom's immunity wears off and their immune systems can take the vaccine into "storage". So there shouldn't be different amounts of chemicals going in each time.

^ Directed to Elisabeth.

[DJEtzel]

Originally Posted by Verivus

Puppies typically get 3 sets of shots, yes. Just because they don't go out and about does not mean they cannot get parvo; it just means you're greatly decreasing the chances. You yourself can come in contact with parvo outside and come back home with it on your shoes, clothes, self, etc which then puts your puppy at risk. Personally I think shots at 8 weeks are about useless so I typically wait until about 10 weeks to have a greater shot of it having effect, unless it's 'parvo season'.

I know the chances of parvo and how it's transmitted, but that's not what I'm discussing. If you're going to bring it home when your puppy has no immunity and hasn't gotten another shot yet(because you're waiting 3-4 weeks), it can get parvo. If you bring it home and the puppy's immunity wore off and you never got a single shot, the puppy can get it. AND MIGHT just be healthier because he didn't get that vaccine that he can fight it stronger.

[Verivus]

Originally Posted by DJEtzel

I know the chances of parvo and how it's transmitted, but that's not what I'm discussing. If you're going to bring it home when your puppy has no immunity and hasn't gotten another shot yet(because you're waiting 3-4 weeks), it can get parvo. If you bring it home and the puppy's immunity wore off and you never got a single shot, the puppy can get it. AND MIGHT just be healthier because he didn't get that vaccine that he can fight it stronger.

Well that isn't what your OP was asking; at least that wasn't how I interpreted it. And honestly, I would rather vaccinate then take the chances of letting my puppy take care of getting over parvo or distemper on his/her own just because I think vaccines aren't worth squat at his age and that he/she MIGHT be more able to fight it off.

[DJEtzel]

Originally Posted by Verivus

Well that isn't what your OP was asking; at least that wasn't how I interpreted it. And honestly, I would rather vaccinate then take the chances of letting my puppy take care of getting over parvo or distemper on his/her own just because I think vaccines aren't worth squat at his age and that he/she MIGHT be more able to fight it off.

I asked why we were vaccinating puppies at 8/10/12 weeks old. Not how parvo was transmitted...

If the dog gets parvo/distemper, a vaccine that was useless on it isn't going to make a difference, but if they are healthier because they NEVER got a vaccine (the theory), then they may be stronger to fight.

[LisaT]

Originally Posted by DJEtzel

I asked why we were vaccinating puppies at 8/10/12 weeks old.

It's because it's not known when the maternal antibodies will wear off. It's presumed that parvo is everywhere. Some pups may have maternal antibodies for parvo wear off at 10 weeks, while their distemper maternal antibodies wear off at, say 9 weeks. So there is that risk of them being vulnerable, versus the risk of the multiple vaccines.

For that pup whose maternal antibodies have worn off at 10 weeks, waiting until week 16 leaves them vulnerable for too long. If you had enough $$$, you could titer to determine those maternal levels, that would tell you precisely when they have waned and the pup can be successfully vaccinated. But then too, the last pup vaccine, should be after 16 weeks when the immune system is mature enough to respond and give long term immunity (so that boosters aren't ever required).

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Some info: Vaccination Recommendations for Puppies (Puppy Shots)

[ChancetheGSD]

I guess I don't count since I take my puppy out and have since 6 weeks old. I vaccinated when I got her, she gets her second set on Monday (10 weeks) and will get a 3rd set in another 4 weeks when she is 14 weeks old. Rabies will be given at 6 months.

I'm just careful about where I take her, if we go to a pet store or something she is either carried or I take a towel and put it in the cart so she can sit in there. She never touches the ground or sniffs around with other dogs. I also take her to outdoor shopping malls, restaurants/ice cream shops/coffee houses/ect that have outdoor seating, non-pet stores that allow dogs (ie. Bass Pro, Tractor Supply) things like that. But again, because she is a tiny dog, I rarely put her down even if it's not a "high" dog traffic area. The general idea is just for her to be exposed to the sights, sounds and people.

As someone else pointed out (And I know this isn't the point of your post, I'm just saying) a dog can get things like parvo regardless. When I was a kid I had a dog who never left our yard (no walks, socializing, nothing) and got parvo. I feel like the risk of infection (So long as you're still careful with how you go about taking your puppy out) is a much smaller issue than an undersocialized dog given that this is the most important time in your dogs life to get out there and see the world.