Tamsin asked:
My puppy is due his second injection soon and I am intrigued to find out what it is for as we rescued him and he had already had his first injection.
My puppy is due his second injection soon and I am intrigued to find out what it is for as we rescued him and he had already had his first injection.
It is a booster jab (much like human kids have) as it would be too dangerous to give little ones the full dose in one go.
The first needle is say 5% of the bad stuff, so the body can build antibodies, and the second is say 20%, so they can use the antibodies and have a practice fight with a lower dose so the body is prepared for the real thing. Very important
A booster Jab 4 Flu
It’s a booster, and puppies need a total of 3 sets of shots, plus rabies at 16 weeks.
Puppies are born with no immunities. They build them through nursing. Once the nursing stops, the puppy will be left vulnerable to disease. A series of 3 vaccines are administered to provide protection from certain infectious diseases. The first vaccine provided protection for only a 3 to 4 week period. The second secures better resistance and the third completes the coverage. Another booster should be given at one year of age and then no more for 3 years. Hope this helps explain why more than one vaccine is needed.
Puppies are born with the benefits of Mom’s immunity from her vaccinations. They last about 7 to 8 wks in the pups. After that you give the first puppy shot. Due to the development of the puppies immunity, that first shot just starts the process. Most vets recommend a series of 3 boosters. These shots are all the same strength. It’s not a gradual dose but rather a gradual build up of their immune systems. After that you can have yearly boosters given or your vet can run blood titers to determine if the level of immunity is still sufficient or they do need another shot.
Its exactly the same as the first injection, to build the immunity up gradually. Then they have annual boosters, all the same injection.
There is lots of misnomers about vaccinations.
Puppies do receive maternal antibodies. These antibodies last varying lengths of time and THAT is why the series of vaccinations.
The pup receives the same shot, in the same dosage each time. In fact, small dogs and giant dogs receive the exact same dosage.
The series of shots do NOT gradually build an immune response. Either you hit the immune response or you don’t.
If a pup is vaccinated before his/her maternal antibodies wear off, the antibodies interfere with the vaccine, not allowing it to do its job. If vaccinated too late, there is the risk that the pup goes a period of time without any protection.
There is a variance from litter to litter (and some from various pups in the litter).
The puppy vaccination series typically consists of 2-3 shots. Pups shouldn’t be vaccinated before 8-9 weeks of age. Much before then does no good and can be harmful to the pup. Repeat 4 weeks later.
Please note that giving your pet too many vaccinations can be very harmful to them. Check out Dr. Jean Dodds’ Vaccination Protocol -
okey dokey
the first injection protects your dog up to 60% from getting virus’s n diseases
the second injection helps up to 85% and ten days after the injection the dog is 95% safe
thee 3rd injection and pups safe from alot of things
If you are in the Uk, the 1st injection is against Leptospirosis Coronavirus and the 2nd protects against distemper, adenovirus, Parvo parainfluenza.