What vaccines does my new puppy need?

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Parasite check

  • Done approximately at 4-8 weeks of age, dewormed, and rechecked to confirm negative result after deworming medication, then every 6 months.
  • A parasite check is required twice per year to test for common parasites in the intestine. A stool sample is required and can be tested for hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms, espirometria, and coccidia. Some of these are transmittable to other pets and humans, and clinical signs may include distended stomach, weight loss, increased appetite, mucous, bloody, or abnormal stools, and others. Parasite tests are recommended every 6 months per year.

DAPPv (Often called “distemper” but is a combination of 4 vaccines)

  • This vaccine is typically boostered (given multiple times to build up immunity) three times; the first at 6 to 8 weeks of age, then every 3 weeks until 16 weeks, then annually.
  • The DAPP vaccine is a combination vaccine that prevents against 4 viruses including the distemper and parvovirus. The clinical signs of the distemper virus clinical signs include runny nose, eye discharge, and fever. Adenovirus is a respiratory disease and clinical signs include fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, a tender abdomen – among others. The clinical signs of parainfluenza virus include coughing, fever, nasal discharge, lack of energy, and loss of appetite. The clinical signs of parvovirus include bloody diarrhea, lethargy, fever, vomiting, and weight loss. All of these are contagious to other dogs and can be fatal if untreated.

Bordetella (also known as “kennel cough”)

  • The first vaccine is given at 8 weeks and is good for 6 months.
  • Clinical signs are coughing and sneezing. The bordetella vaccine prevents against the bordetalla bacteria, also called “kennel cough” which is an airborne, contagious upper respiratory infection. It is transferrable to other dogs through the air sneezing and coughing. The prevention of bordetella can be given intra-nasal or subcutaneously.

Rabies Vaccine

  • Puppies get the rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. The first vaccine expires after 1 year, after that the vaccine expires every 3 years.
  • The rabies vaccine prevents against the rabies virus which is transmittable from animal-to-animal through saliva, body fluid, or blood and is also transferable to humans. Rabies is a fatal disease.
  • Click to view Hillsborough County Rabies Tag requirements which are available to purchase at Affordable Pet Hospital if our veterinarian administers the vaccine.