Waiting ages for vaccinations

[Michele83]

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Hi all

I'm a bit concerned about the length of time it will take for my whippet puppy Piccolo to be fully vaccinated. Before I got her I did the research and the consensus seemed to be that vaccinations would consist of 2 doses, administered 2 weeks apart. I also read that you're supposed to wait 2 weeks after the second dose for the vaccines to take effect. So this makes 4 weeks in total, from the first dose.

However my vet has told me that they give 3 doses 4 weeks apart. If you add on the 2 weeks after the final dose that's 10 weeks in total. I worked out that Piccolo will be 18.5 weeks old by the time that she is allowed out on walks. I feel really shocked by this, especially because I have read that a puppy's most formative period is up to 16 weeks when it is most important to get them socialised/habituated.

I have been doing everything I can with her. I have visitors coming round regularly, and I carry her around in the local area, and to the vets, getting her used to other dogs, sounds, sights etc. However, at only 10 weeks old she is already struggling and yelping in my arms and I can't carry her anymore even though she is only little.

I just wondered - what are people's opinions with regards to waiting for the last vacc is done? I realise there must be good reasons for the 3 doses 4 weeks apart however it feels extremely wrong to not be walking her until she is almost 5 months old.

Thanks

 

[JoanneF]

Are you anywhere near the coast? If so, walking the tide line as the tide is going out is safe - the sea washes the sand.

Also, and someone may correct me in this but I *think* the later vaccinations are more for backup - it's the first ones tbat give the real protection.

 

[JudyN]

I found this at random on a vet website - do check with your own vet first:

Puppies aged 9 weeks and over:

• At the first visit we vaccinate for Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis and Leptospirosis.

• At the second visit, about 2 weeks later, we vaccinate for Distemper, Parvovirus and Hepatitis. We do recommend vaccinating for Kennel Cough (e.g. infectious tracheitis acquired in parks and close contact), for whilst it is not typically life threatening, it is distressing and infected dogs need to be kept away from other dogs.

• At the third visit, 2 weeks later, we will give the second Leptospirosis vaccination.

Puppies can go out 1 week after the 2nd vaccine but should avoid canals, farms and lakes until 2 weeks after the 3rd vaccine as they will not be fully covered for all strains of Leptospirosis until then.

From Introducing the New Nobivac Lepto 4 Vaccination - Emscote Vets

 

[excuseme]

Our 2 puppies had their first vaccination at 9.5 weeks of age, their second was 3 weeks later and our vet said they would be protected form 7 days after that and that they could start going out, he has given them a third recommended jab 4 weeks later. I can't remember what the reasons were, this is apparently the normal procedure these days at our practice. The 3rd jab was free of charge.

 

[leashedForLife]

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How old is the pup, now? -
From Ur post, I gather she was picked up around 8-WO? - so she's already aged-out of the high risk period for Parvo virus. Parvo isn't zero risk for her, but it's certainly not a death sentence, & unlike distemper, has no lifelong after-effects - plus, some simple common-sense precautions will keep her safe.
DOGS are not the threat - dog WASTE is; a dog with no visible symptoms of illness is not a danger to a healthy puppy. // If U don't have killing frosts where U live, Parvo can overwinter & may live for 2-years, so the feces it was deposited with are long, long gone, while Parvo is still in the soil or on the substrate. Sniffing it is direct exposure; walking on it can mean ingesting it, later, when the dog grooms their paws, or holds something to gnaw it.

85% of 5-WO pups will die of Parvo, even if they get 24-hr care by a vet & vet-nurse, in a clinic.
3-weeks later, 85% of 8-WO pups will survive & thrive, with decent home care & symptomatic support.
The difference is simply age - older pups don't have that rapidly-dividing, fast-growing intestinal lining, that Parvo loves to attack & feed on.

I'd simply avoid grass & soil, except for areas where other dogs rarely go - my own fenced garden, relatives' or friends' gardens; otherwise, i'd stay on paved surfaces, or walk below the tide-wrack left by high tide on the beach, & I'd take my pup out everywhere I could.

Kennel-cough, while mildly distressing to dogs, is also self-limiting; it's the k9 equivalent of a cold, & as it's airborne, there's no way to avoid it - U can't "not breathe". Most dogs recover without treatment in 10 to 14 days.

Not letting pup drink from or wade in ponds, streams, fountains, etc, avoids Lepto exposure. Carry water along from home, & offer it frequently.

U're right to worry - pups' primary socialization period ends at 12-WO / 3-MO, not 4-mos, so yes, the earlier a pup is out for many, many short, happy experiences, meeting non-family humans, other dogs, other species, & exposed to all the settings, sounds, sights, events, & stimuli they'll encounter during their lifetime, the better.
In the USA, more dogs die of behavioral problems every year than are killed by trauma & contagious illness, together - so yes, training saves lives.

Don't worry too much, & get yer pup out in the world.
- terry

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[Michele83]

Thank you so much everyone. I'm so glad I asked. There was loads of good advice there, and I'll follow it all, thanks. I don't live on the coast unfortunately. But there are paved areas I can walk her after her 2nd jabs. And I'm going to get a carrier as she's too wriggly in my arms.

I feel much better about it now - thanks again.

 

[leashedForLife]

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a baby-style sling that totes her on yer chest is nice - that keeps her close, & frees yer hands, plus for the pup, she hears yer heartbeat, which is a soothing reminder of her time in utero, when things were safe & dark & warm.

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[Michele83]

Thanks very much, I'll have a look online to see what they have. She struggles so much now that I'm not sure it would hold her securely, but I haven't looked into them in great detail so I'll have a look. Many thanks.

 

[Caro Perry]

I found the carriers a complete waste of money. Harri was desperate to get out and go exploring. I only used mine twice as he wriggled out so much it was pointless

 

[leashedForLife]

.

The U-S has every one of the contagions present in the UK, & i have walked my pups on leash, on their own 4-feet, from Day 1.
I also advise my clients to get their pups out in the real world immediately - not walking them beside busy mixed-use paths, on the same grass or dirt where THOUSANDS of dogs have pooped in the past 2-years, no! ... but on paved sidewalks, bike-ped paths, all over their neighborhood, passing by construction sites, walking past schoolyards with kids shrieking, etc, etc.
None of my clients' pups have ever caught anything nasty, either. // All of them have grown-up to be well-socialized, thoroughly habituated adult dogs [& the clients did the work, & get the kudos].

this is a copy of Dr Anderson's open letter about the risks of "keeping pups safe" -

QUOTE,
TO: My Colleagues in Veterinary Medicine:

Common questions I receive from puppy owners, dog trainers and veterinarians concern:
1) what is the most favorable age or period of time, when puppies learn best?
2) what are the health implications of my advice, that veterinarians & trainers should offer socialization programs for puppies, starting at 8 to 9 weeks of age?

Puppies begin learning at birth, & their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning & retaining experiences during the first 13 to 16 weeks after birth. This means that breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/ socialization experiences with other puppies/ dogs, with children/ adults, and with various environmental situations, during this optimal period.
Many veterinarians are making this early socialization and learning program part of a total wellness plan for breeders & new owners of pups during the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life - the first 7 to 8 weeks with the breeder, & the next 8 weeks with the new owners.
This socialization program should enroll puppies from 8 to 12 weeks of age as a key part of any preventive medicine program, to improve the bond between pets and their people, & to keep dogs as valued members of the family for 12 to 18 years.

To take full advantage of this early special learning period, many veterinarians recommend that new owners take their puppies to puppy socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks of age. At this age they should have (and can be required to have) received a minimum of their first series of vaccines for protection against infectious diseases. This provides the basis for increasing immunity by further repeated exposure to these antigens either through natural exposure in small doses or artificial exposure with vaccines during the next 8 to 12 weeks.
In addition, the owner and people offering puppy socialization should take precautions to have the environment and the participating puppies as free of natural exposure as possible, by good hygiene & caring, by careful instructors and owners. Experience & epidemiologic data support the relative safety & lack of transmission of disease in these puppy socialization classes, over the past 10 years, in many parts of the United States.

In fact; the risk of a dog dying because of infection with distemper or Parvo is far less than the much- higher risk of a dog dying (euthanasia) because of a behavior problem.
Many veterinarians now offer new puppy-owners socialization classes in their hospitals or nearby training facilities in conjunction with trainers & behaviorists, because they want socialization & training to be very important parts of a wellness plan for every puppy.
We need to recognize that this special sensitive period for learning is the best opportunity we have to influence behavior for dogs, and the most important & longest-lasting part of a total wellness plan.

Are there risks? Yes. But 10 years of good experience & data, with few exceptions, offers veterinarians the opportunity to generally recommend early socialization and training classes, beginning when pups are 8 to 9 weeks of age. However, we always follow a veterinarian’s professional judgment, in individual cases or situations, where special circumstances warrant further immunization for a special puppy before starting such classes.
During any period of delay for puppy classes, owners should begin a program of socialization with children and adults, outside their family, to take advantage of this special period in a puppy’s life.

If there are further questions, veterinarians may call me at 651-644-7400 for discussion and clarification.

- Robert K. Anderson, DVM,
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine,
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
______________________________________________________________


A client's adult dog picked up Hepatitis, but that was from a shared water-bowl set out beside a sales-booth for dog-gear, at an AKC show.


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[Michele83]

Thanks both that's really good to know.

I found the carriers a complete waste of money. Harri was desperate to get out and go exploring. I only used mine twice as he wriggled out so much it was pointless

That's the problem I know I'll have =/ She's way too wriggly and strong to hold in my arms and she starts making a lot of noise, it's just not possible to take her to visit places like that. I'm going to have to find another way before she has her second jabs.

 

[Violet Turner]

As I did not want to force Olive straight out for walks we carried her in a shoulder bag and she was so calm. I also did this with Doris and she just wanted to go on the floor and walk so needed super tight grip!

 

[excuseme]

What size shoulder bag did you have for Olive and how old was she?

 

[Violet Turner]

What size shoulder bag did you have for Olive and how old was she?

This is when we first got her. ''PAWZ Road Striped Canvas Sling Bag Pet Carrier for Dog/cat Travel Bag Blue'' not that one but similar, wasn't a pet carrier.