Guide For Puppy Vaccination Schedule: Must-Give Shots

Getting a puppy home is one of the best gifts you could give yourself. The furry ball of love will shower you with compassion for its whole lifetime. And for that, your puppy deserves the best care in the world.

Providing care for a puppy doesn’t stop at loving, caressing, and playing with it. Your puppy needs proper medical attention besides food, training, playtime, comfort, and socialization. And vaccination is one of the most important parts of it.

To make things easier for you, we have here everything you need to know about vaccinating your furry friend. From first-year puppy vaccination schedules to the annual shots you need to cater, you’ll learn it all here.

First-Year Puppy Vaccination Schedule and Chart

Here’s a chart for administering the two most important vaccines to your puppy in the respective timeline:

Now that you know the schedule, let’s learn about the vaccines you’re using on your puppy.

2 Most Vital Vaccines/Shots for Your Puppy

There are two vital vaccines to administer to your puppy with:

1. DHPP Vaccine
2. Rabies Vaccine

Let’s learn about them in detail:

1. DHPP Vaccine

DHPP Vaccine (Distemper-Hepatitis-Parainfluenza-Parvo Vaccine) is a combination shot of four important puppy vaccines.

1. Distemper Vaccine: Canine Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease affecting a puppy's respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. It causes fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures, leading to high mortality rates in unvaccinated puppies.
   
2. Hepatitis (Adenovirus-2) Vaccine: Canine Hepatitis is caused by Adenovirus-2 and primarily affects a puppy's liver, kidneys, and eyes. It can lead to severe liver damage, abdominal pain, and vision problems, posing a significant risk to a puppy's health.
   
3. Parainfluenza Virus Vaccine: Parainfluenza is a viral respiratory disease commonly seen in crowded places like dog parks or kennels. In puppies, it contributes to kennel cough, causing coughing, nasal discharge, and pneumonia if left untreated.
   
4. ParvovirusParvo Virus Vaccine: Canine Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral infection that affects a puppy's intestines, causing severe vomiting and diarrhea. It leads to dehydration and a weakened immune system. It can be fatal, especially in young and unvaccinated puppies.
   

2. Rabies Vaccine

The Rabies Vaccine is crucial for animals as well as humans. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects both animals and humans, primarily transmitted through the bite of infected animals. Its relentless attack on the nervous system leads to severe neurological symptoms, posing a significant threat to the health and lives of its victims.

Puppies should receive the rabies vaccine to safeguard them from the deadly virus and prevent its transmission to humans and other animals. The vaccine offers crucial protection and ensures a safer environment for both pets and people.

Importance of Vaccinating Your Puppy

Vaccinating your puppy is important because it protects your pup from the wide range of diseases mentioned above. As we already know, these diseases can sometimes even be life-threatening, so vaccination becomes a necessity.

Furthermore, vaccinations are crucial because it

• Boosts your puppy’s immune system.
• Prevents disease outbreaks in the dog community.
• Ensures a longer and healthier life for your puppy.
• Makes you a responsible pet parent.

Puppy Vaccination Costs For First Year

The cost of one shot of the two vaccines mentioned above are

DHPP: Rs. 800

Rabies: Rs. 300

Total costs for DHPP vaccination in the first year = Rs. (800 x 5) = Rs. 4000

Total costs for Rabies vaccination in the first year = Rs. (300 x 2) = Rs. 600

Hence, the total cost of vaccination per year = Rs. (4000 + 600) = Rs. 4600

Annual Vaccinations and Booster Shots

After your puppy receives all the vital vaccines and turns one year old, you can establish an adult dog vaccination schedule. This schedule typically includes periodic booster doses of DHPP and Rabies vaccines.

DHPP: Every 3 years

Rabies: Every 3 years

If you're interested to read more such blogs or explore the world of pet parenting, download the sploot app here.