It’s vital to vaccinate your pups
About 50% of puppies have low levels of maternal antibodies at six to eight weeks of age.
YOUNG puppies are temporarily protected for a maximum period of 16 weeks against many diseases by the antibodies received through their mother’s milk (colostrum).
The young puppy will respond to vaccination when these maternal antibodies decline to a sufficiently low level.
The decline may occur at any time in the six to 16-week period after birth. The time of decline varies from puppy to puppy, even if they are from the same litter.
The only effective method of preventing your puppy from catching a viral disease is vaccination.
Vaccines stimulate the puppy’s immune system to produce antibodies against specific viruses. The antibodies remain in the bloodstream for varying periods of time. It is important that regular booster vaccinations are given throughout the dog’s life.
- First vaccination – Vaccinate at six to eight weeks.
- Second vaccination – Vaccinate at 10 to 12 weeks.
- Third vaccination – Vaccinate at 14 to 16 weeks for puppies.
- Adult dogs are vaccinated only once a year.
About 50% of puppies have low levels of maternal antibodies at six to eight weeks of age. If these puppies are not vaccinated until they are 16 weeks of age, they will have no protection against the viruses from about six to 16 weeks of age, and they run the risk of catching a viral infection unless they can be completely isolated from other puppies or dogs during that period.
Immunity after vaccination may take up to 10 days to develop.
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