Puppy Vaccinations
- Everwell Pets
- Apr 2
- 6 min read
Exploring An Alternative Approach To The Conventional Schedule
Spring Time is Puppy Time
Spring is here, bringing with it blooming flowers, melodious birdsong, and the arrival of adorable baby animals. It's the season of puppies and kittens! Are you and your family thinking about expanding your household? Perhaps you're considering starting with a puppy. Will you adopt from a rescue? Have you been in discussions with a breeder? Have you thought about what "puppy shots" your new furry family member will need?
Like many, you might rely on the breeder's recommendations, the standard practices of rescues, or your veterinarian's advice regarding vaccinations. However, what if you took a proactive approach and educated yourself about what's best for your new pup?
Instead of blindly following the recommended industry guidelines (outlined below), imagine having a deeper understanding of vaccine ingredients and your puppy's immune system and being informed by actual research rather than just accepting the centralized veterinary medicine perspective.
Puppies Are Born with Natural Disease Protection
Maternal antibodies are passed on to a puppy within 36 hours of birth through colostrum in breast milk from the mother. While breast milk continues to provide nutrients and antibodies, these antibodies cannot cross the neonatal intestinal mucosal lining after the initial transfer.
These maternal antibodies have a half-life that decreases every 9-12 days, gradually reducing the puppy's protection against diseases. For example, if a puppy's maternally-derived antibody (MDA) level starts at 1,000 on day 1, it would halve to 500 by day 10, then reduce further to 250 by day 20, and so on. These numbers are only an example to demonstrate how maternal antibodies function in the body.
The strength of maternal antibodies, and therefore the health of the mother, is crucial, as they can neutralize vaccines and natural virus exposure if too strong. Vaccinating too early can render the vaccine protective benefits ineffective. And exposing the puppy to the possible adverse reactions of the vaccine adjuvants (substances added to vaccines to enhance their effectiveness) unnecessarily. Therefore, veterinarians, breeders, and puppy caregivers must determine the optimal time for vaccination to ensure effectiveness and continued protection against infectious diseases.
If you're working with a breeder, there's actually a way to get a much better idea of when your puppy should be vaccinated. By running a titer test on the mother, typically for parvo and distemper, you can see how much immunity her puppies are getting from her maternal antibodies. These antibodies gradually decrease as the puppy grows, and once they dip below a certain level, it means the puppy’s immune system is ready to respond to vaccinations. This gives you a more precise, tailored approach to scheduling your pup's vaccines—no guesswork involved!
Conventional Puppy Vaccination Schedule
"The first thing to know is that there is not just one puppy vaccination schedule for all dogs. Factors such as which part of the country you live in, and your dog’s individual risk factors will come into play. Some dogs do not need every vaccine. This decision is between you and your veterinarian." [2]
The chart below represents the conventional, centralized (one size fits all) perspective on puppy vaccinations and is promoted by institutions aligned with big pharmaceutical companies.
However we'll share the approach that is advocated by respected and beloved veterinarians who prioritize your pets' health, over companies, when making recommendations.
Age | Recommended Vaccinations | Optional Vaccinations |
6 — 8 weeks | Distemper, parvovirus | Bordetella |
10 — 12 weeks | DHPP (vaccines for distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus) | Influenza, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease per lifestyle as recommended by veterinarian |
16 — 18 weeks | DHPP, rabies | Influenza, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, Bordetella per lifestyle |
12 — 16 months | DHPP, rabies | Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease |
Every 1 — 2 years | DHPP | Influenza, Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease per lifestyle |
Every 1 — 3 years | Rabies (as required by law) | none |
Minimalist Puppy Vaccination Alternative
Renowned veterinary immunologist Dr. Ronald Schultz advocates for a minimalist vaccine program for puppies, and his recommendation might surprise you! He suggests just one vaccination for parvo, distemper, and adenovirus at 16 weeks of age for optimal protection. Yes, you read that right—Dr. Schultz recommends only three vaccines before the age of 1, while the American Kennel Club (AKC) suggests anywhere from 10 to 20 vaccines before your puppy’s first birthday. Research shows that a single vaccine at 12 weeks can provide 100% protection, whereas multiple vaccinations can actually reduce their effectiveness and increase the chances of adverse reactions and chronic health issues.
That said, if you decide to follow Dr. Schultz’s approach and wait until 12 or 16 weeks to vaccinate your puppy, it’s still important to be cautious. Keep your puppy away from high-traffic dog areas, this is the same advice given to those pet parents that follow the conventional vaccine schedule to reduce the risk of exposure while they’re still building immunity.
More Is Not Better
A Pfizer study conducted in 1996 compared the efficacy of single and double vaccinations in puppies. Surprisingly, the study found that 100% protection was achieved with a single vaccination at 12 weeks, whereas a double vaccination at 8-10 weeks and 12 weeks resulted in 94% protection, indicating reduced effectiveness with multiple doses.
Further research supports the notion that vaccinating puppies between 12 and 16 weeks provides nearly 100% effectiveness, thereby reducing the necessity for multiple vaccines and lowering the risks associated with adverse reactions and chronic diseases. Dr. Schultz's studies underscore the importance of timing vaccinations between 12 and 16 weeks, ensuring nearly 100% effectiveness and long-lasting immunity. Conducting a titer test three weeks post-vaccination or vaccinating once at 16 weeks are safe approaches to protect puppies while minimizing risks.
Though your puppy could contract an illness when waiting until 12 weeks to vaccinate, administering multiple vaccines at earlier weeks actually heightens the puppy's health risk! Here’s why: After vaccinations, the puppy's immune system is temporarily suppressed for about 10 days, leaving them more vulnerable to infections during that period. So, while waiting can carry some risk, over-vaccinating earlier on can do even more harm by weakening their natural defenses when they need them most.
The Middle of the Road Option
If the extreme minimalist approach to puppy vaccinations doesn’t feel right for you, Dr. Jean Dodds offers a different perspective. Here’s her suggested schedule for vaccinations:
9 – 10 weeks: Distemper + Parvovirus (MLV – Modified Live Virus)
14 – 15 weeks: Distemper + Parvovirus (MLV)
18 weeks: Parvovirus only (MLV)
These vaccines provide the essential protection against diseases like distemper and parvovirus, and Dr. Dodds recommends spacing them out to avoid overwhelming your puppy’s immune system. The Modified Live Virus (MLV) vaccines are commonly used and are safe when administered at the right times.
The combination of distemper with vaccines targeting parvovirus, parainfluenza, and adenovirus-2 (commonly known as DHPP or DAPP vaccines) provides cross-protection against canine hepatitis (adenovirus-1), which is not necessary.
Merck's Nobivac DPV is the only combined distemper and parvovirus vaccine that aligns with Dr. Dodds’ protocol.
It’s important to note that while the current canine distemper virus (CDV) vaccine is generally considered safe, it should never be given before 6 weeks of age due to the risk of post-vaccinal encephalitis (PVE).
Dr. Dodds also advises against combining the distemper vaccine with the adenovirus-2 vaccine at a young age, as it can increase the risk of immune suppression and PVE in puppies.
In Summary
Opinions vary widely when it comes to vaccinations. To navigate this landscape effectively, it's crucial to arm yourself with knowledge. Understand what to expect when rescuing a puppy; many rescues adhere closely to state guidelines, often mirroring the vaccination schedules outlined by organizations like the AKC. Breeders may also follow similar protocols, but there may be room for discussion and education to adjust the number or timing of vaccines.
If you find yourself with a new puppy who has already received multiple vaccinations, consider exploring Adored Beast's Rebalancer, a homeopathic remedy designed to support the "detox" process following vaccinations. The beauty of this product is that there's no strict timeline; you can rebalance months after the initial vaccines were administered.
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Citations
[1] Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) Puppy Vaccination Protocol: Dr. W. Jean Dodds' Protocol