Puppy Vaccines

Puppies need vaccinations early in their life as the antibodies from their mother start to decrease around 6-8 weeks old. During this time, they need to start building their own immunity with the help of vaccinations.

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Q: I have a new puppy, where do I start?

We begin the puppy vaccination series at 6-8 weeks old. The chart below gives the vaccination timeline we recommend. 

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Q: What are the diseases the vaccines prevent?

Rabies

Rabies is a zoonotic (transferable between animals and humans) virus that causes neurological symptoms. It is a fatal disease which is transferred through a bite from an infected animal.

Distemper

Distemper is a highly contagious disease that can cause severe neurological symptoms, pneumonia, encephalitis, and death.

Lyme

Lyme is a disease caused by the bite of a tick. It can cause fever, lethargy, decrease in appetite, leg lameness, and kidney failure which can result in death. We recommend using this vaccination if your dog is outside (even to go potty), you live in the country, and if they have previously been diagnosed with Lyme Disease.

Bordetella

​Bordetella is also known as kennel cough. This disease will cause a horrible cough that can lead to pneumonia or more severe respiratory disease if untreated. We recommend this vaccine if you plan to board your pet or having your dog around other canines in situations such as grooming, obedience school, dog parks, etc.

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Q: Why does my puppy need vaccines boosted?

It is necessary to boost the vaccinations to continue helping the immune system in order to fight off infection of these diseases upon possible exposure. The vaccines need to be boosted yearly.

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More Information About Rabies

Per the Iowa Rabies Resource Manual:

• Rabies revaccination Iowa law directs veterinarians to follow vaccine manufacturers’ USDA-approved label recommendations for rabies vaccine administration. An initial rabies vaccine should be boostered within one year.
• If a 3-years rabies vaccine is administered as the booster vaccination, the animal should be re-vaccinated prior to the 3-year vaccine’s expiration date.
• If an animal is overdue for a rabies vaccination, the rabies vaccine that is administered should always be boostered within one year (regardless of the rabies vaccine that is administered).

Link to the Compendium for Animal Rabies Control

Call us to schedule your new puppy visit!

​Katie T, RVT