Puppy vaccinations, timing is critical

Maternal antibodies are those antibodies that are transferred to the puppy or kitten when they receive colostrum milk from their dam only in the first 36 hours of life. After that, even though the breast milk contains many antibodies as well as wholesome nutrients, these antibodies can no longer cross the neonatal intestinal mucosal lining. The colostrum–derived antibodies gradually wane from birth over the three months and most are gone by the age of 14-16 weeks. Until then, what remains in their body is called “residual maternal antibodies”, which are present in decreasing amounts to help protect the pup or kitten against foreign substances and infectious diseases. Timing is Critical Vaccinating these youngsters at too young of an age when they have plenty of residual maternal immunity just causes the vaccine antigen(s) to be partially neutralized so that full immunization is not achieved. Thus, the effect of vaccination is incomplete and the puppy or kitten is still at risk of getting one or more of these diseases until the vaccine series is completed once the maternal antibodies have disappeared. Conversely, the period of highest vulnerability to infectious diseases is between 10-14 weeks of age. So, puppies need at least one dose of the multivalent vaccine between 9 weeks and before 12 weeks of age, even though it will only partially immunize them. For kittens, they need one dose between 8-9 weeks of age. Please review my canine and feline vaccination protocols for further information. The “One and Done” Vaccination Protocol Premise It has been postulated to give puppies or kittens just one dose of multivalent “combo” vaccine at 16 weeks of age, because their maternal immunity will have disappeared and not interfere with complete immunization. It is not safe to leave them unprotected for that long. Maternal immunity will have waned to essentially zero and these puppies will be totally vulnerable to viral diseases. When to Vaccinate Puppies/ Which Vaccines are Needed/ What about Socialization? • Puppies should receive MLV Core vaccines against distemper and parvovirus at 9-10 and 14-15 weeks of age. A final vaccination against parvovirus should be administer at 18 weeks. • Rabies vaccines are given as required by law, preferably separately from other vaccines by 3-4 weeks, and at 20-24 weeks of age. • Other vaccines are optional, and depend upon circumstances and disease risk in the area. • Three or more days after the last round of puppy vaccines, they can be out and about to be socialized. In the interim period, between 10-14 weeks of age, socialization can take place in the back yard or at puppy training classes with known friends and healthy dogs. • Until fully vaccinated, puppies should not walk on unfamiliar or public grounds; they can be carried about, when needed to travel. • If titer testing is desired, instead of giving another vaccine after 12 weeks of age, wait until at least 16 weeks of age to avoid measuring residual maternal immunity. W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843