celeste Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 I've noticed that there seems to be a bit of a trend developing for vaccinating puppies at 6 weeks is this normal practise now ?. I feel it's far to young, their own anti-bodies will still be working at that age, so surely this is just a waste of money and risky to the pups developing immune system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gremlin22 Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 we still do ours from 8 weeks onwards. Is it private clients that are vaccinating at this age or breeders/ rescues? That said there seems to have been an increase lately in the number of people telling us they got their puppy at 6 weeks old, which also seems far too young, i guess if they are selling pups with first vac already done and they want them gone at 6 weeks, maybe thats why. Does seem very young though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gremlin22 Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 i mean breeders selling pups at 6 weeks, not rescues obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpole Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 im in two minds on this one. a number of local vets are giving the p jab at six weeks followed by the ordinary jabs at eight and twelve weeks, on the one hand i agree that the puppies should still have immunity from mum providing of course she is jabbed herself but on the other hand when puppies are going into new homes many new owners want to show them off and have visitors round in order to continue to socialize the puppy before it is allowed out in the big bad world. if we have pups in we follow the strictest hygiene code for visitors involving the spraying of feet and clothing with safe disinfectant but i suspect that many pet owners do not and are therefore leaving their puppies open to contracting viruses such as parvo. The P jab at six weeks provides a boost to the immune system before the puppy is exposed to this so i can see the point in doing it before they go to homes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 The two I've heard about have been bought from breeders and are being jabbed by their new owners. I'd agree with you Mel about the risk but after a bit of poking about I came across the percentages and there's only a 25% chance that the vac's will take in a 6 week old pup, so that could make it more dangerous, owners may feel it's safe to take the pup out and about when in fact it has no more immunity than if it had had no jabs at all .Then there's the whole business of giving them three jabs in the hope one of them sticks, I ain't keen I tells ya. Even the WSVA who advise all the other veterinary ruling bodies worldwide recommend first inoculations at 8-9 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Intervet's DHPPi vaccine can be given from 6 weeks. Primary course vaccination A single injection should establish active immunity to canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and disease caused by canine parvovirus infection in dogs of 10 weeks of age or older. Where earlier protection is required a first dose may be given to puppies from 6 weeks of age, but because maternally derived passive antibody can interfere with the response to vaccination a final dose at 10 weeks of age or older is generally recommended. For an optimal response to the parainfluenza component, animals should be vaccinated twice, 2-4 weeks apart with the final vaccination at 10 weeks of age or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Intervet's DHPPi vaccine can be given from 6 weeks. Primary course vaccination A single injection should establish active immunity to canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and disease caused by canine parvovirus infection in dogs of 10 weeks of age or older. Where earlier protection is required a first dose may be given to puppies from 6 weeks of age, but because maternally derived passive antibody can interfere with the response to vaccination a final dose at 10 weeks of age or older is generally recommended. For an optimal response to the parainfluenza component, animals should be vaccinated twice, 2-4 weeks apart with the final vaccination at 10 weeks of age or more. But what use is it if only 25% of puppies are successfully immunised ? I'm sure they CAN be vaccinated, but the question to my mind is should they. I can see the need in some cases, but in a normal healthy pup going into a home enviroment (which is the case in the two I've heard off )I don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 But what use is it if only 25% of puppies are successfully immunised ? I'm sure they CAN be vaccinated, but the question to my mind is should they. I can see the need in some cases, but in a normal healthy pup going into a home enviroment (which is the case in the two I've heard off )I don't get it. Me neither. If I were to have my cynical head on I'd possibly see it as another way of money making for the vaccination company/vets (if they are advocating three sets of vaccines), bit like when they opt to vaccinate a sick/very old animal. Mins had her puppy vaccinations at eight weeks (in the rescue's care) and we took her for the second one at around ten weeks. I wouldn't have wanted her vaccinated at six weeks but I did get her out and about from the day after she came home. We made sure she met everyone possible that came to the house and introduced her to everyone we could outside. Having had two undersocialised dogs it was very important to me that she be well socialised, that was a big priority. I did carry her around until after the second vax but had she been bigger and heavier I might have been less inclined Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 As I understand it, if the vaccine doesn't take it is because the pup still carries antibodies from the mother. So it has immunity from her. Hence the reason for the second vax at ten weeks. but because maternally derived passive antibody can interfere with the response to vaccination a final dose at 10 weeks of age or older is generally recommended If a pup is rehomed at six weeks an early vax will protect those who do not have maternal antibodies. I don't think a vet would recommend taking a newly vaxed pup out, whether done at six weeks or ten weeks. When done at eight weeks and ten weeks, we are told not to take them out for one or two weeks - depending on the vet- after the second injection However, the vulnerable pup rehomed at six weeks will be given some protection against any infection it comes up against from say, existing dogs, or from the owner bringing the infection into the house on their clothes or shoes. I did know someone who lost a litter of pups to Parvo, despite neither them nor the bitch leaving her premises. The virus must have been brought in by them. I did not have my latest pup done until he was twelve weeks old, which was my choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 Me neither. If I were to have my cynical head on I'd possibly see it as another way of money making for the vaccination company/vets (if they are advocating three sets of vaccines), bit like when they opt to vaccinate a sick/very old animal. I've always got my cynical head on Problem is though, regarding the maternal immunity,the puppy may have enough immunity to negate the vaccination but not enough to fight off the disease which is why puppies still get infected even when they've been jabbed. It's right complicated I think I need to extract the bee from my bonnet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted November 3, 2009 Report Share Posted November 3, 2009 I've always got my cynical head on Problem is though, regarding the maternal immunity,the puppy may have enough immunity to negate the vaccination but not enough to fight off the disease which is why puppies still get infected even when they've been jabbed. It's right complicated I think I need to extract the bee from my bonnet If they haven't got enough maternal immunity, then they will still be susceptible without a vaccination. Hence the advice not to take the pup out until after the second jab. Two injections will cost the same, no matter what age they are done. All my vets have had one charge for both puppy vax. In the eighties my bitch couldn't have a Parvo vax until 12 weeks and 16 weeks.(Was I glad I didn't have a Great Dane pup of 16 weeks to carry:laugh:) Now they are done at the same time as the other jabs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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