Our team of vets in Citrus County understand how inconvenient it can be to come in for multiple vaccination appointments for your puppy. It's important to keep in mind how much these vaccinations and booster shots impact your pup's long-term health.
Why Should You Get Your Dog Vaccinated?
Just like humans, the puppies and dogs in Citrus County need vaccinations to keep them protected from a variety of serious and sometimes fatal diseases that can spread far too easily in unvaccinated dogs.
While it may seem inconvenient (and sometimes expensive) to bring your new puppy into your vet's office every few weeks during their first year, your puppy's first shots and their yearly boosters are critical to protecting them from illness and setting them up for long, healthy and happy lives.
What Illnesses Are Addressed by My Dog's Shots?
The vaccines recommended for puppies and adult dogs in the Citrus County area help prevent and reduce the severity of illnesses like parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper, bordetella, and rabies.
Your vet will get to know your pooch and their individual lifestyle and other factors to recommend the most appropriate vaccinations.
Dog Vaccine Schedule
The following is the schedule of vaccinations recommended for your puppy during their first few months and the booster shots required for an adult dog throughout their life. By following these schedules of puppy shots and adult dog vaccine boosters, our vets firmly believe that you will be giving your beloved canine companion their best shot at good health and well-being all throughout their life.
Puppy Shot Schedule
6 - 8 Weeks
- Influenza Virus-H3N8
- Influenza Virus-H3N2
- *DHPP Shot 1
- Bordatella
- Leptospira
- Lyme
10 - 12 Weeks
- Influenza Virus-H3N8
- Influenza Virus-H3N2
- *DHPP Shot 2
- Leptospira
- Lyme
- Rabies
14 - 16 Weeks
- *DHPP Shot 3
Adult Dog Vaccine Schedule
Annually
- Influenza Virus-H3N8
- Influenza Virus-H3N2
- Bordatella
- Leptospira
- Lyme
- Rabies
Every 3 Years
- *DHPP Booster
- Rabies
*DHPP: this vaccine protects your dog against a combination of illnesses: Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza.
Age Restrictions
Ask your vet to find out more about what vaccines are appropriate for your dog when they are still a puppy. Depending on your pet's age, their immune system may not be strong enough to effectively be boosted by all shots.
Possible Vaccine Side Effects in Puppies
Side effects of vaccines are quite common, including cold-like symptoms, mild fevers or lethargy. These are all signs that your puppy or adult dog is having an appropriate reaction to the vaccine.
However, some dogs may have serious allergic reactions to getting their shots. This is generally because of sensitivity to a specific ingredient in a vaccine. These reactions are not standard to breed or vaccine and may depend on your dog—although certain breeds can be predisposed to allergies to certain vaccines.
Some breeds like collies, sheepdogs and German Shepherds are known to be predisposed to more significant reactions to some vaccines. Your vet will be sure to skip any vaccines that your dog may be sensitive or allergic to.
If your dog does have a reaction to a vaccination, take them into your vet as soon as possible and make note of the kind of vaccination they received. This will be important information to keep on hand if you move or switch vets in the future.
The Importance of Dog Vaccinations
Vaccinations are the cornerstone of your puppy's preventative health care.
By bringing your dog in for their shots early in their life, you are setting them up to rests serious diseases that may prey on them while their immune systems are still developing. And then, by continuing this practice into their adult life, you help ensure that they avoid serious health issues all throughout their life.
Maintaining the schedule of pet vaccinations recommended by our Citrus County vets will not only protect your pup's health but will help to save you time and money in the long run by avoiding more serious veterinary visits (or even emergencies) in the future.
Preventive treatments for disease are nearly always less expensive and time-consuming than treatments for them in their advanced stages.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.