Vaccination Schedule

[Jess & Stewart]

I'm trying to plan & decide who I want as a vet. My aunt loves her vet & recommended them. I called today & they told me they do vaccines 4 weeks apart. My pup had the first round at 7 weeks & I'll be picking him up at 9 weeks (Nov. 22nd). The vet said she didn't think it would be time for them again right away, but since most breeder contracts say you need to do a vet check within a window of time (like 12 days, etc). I could do one visit for an exam, fecal, deworming soon after I get him, then another for vaccines.

I'm not sure I'd want to pay for 2 visits so close together & I thought 4 weeks was a large span of time between shots. 7 wks-1st round, 11 wks-2nd round, 15 wks-3rd round, then rabies 1 week after that. I can't figure that no walks until at least 16 weeks is a good thing to do. I thought it would be more like 7 wks, 10 wks, 13 wks (ok for walks), then rabies at 14 or 16 sounded more reasonable.

I'm guess I'm nervous about sheltering the pup also. Would it be unreasonable to get a 2nd round of shots at 10 weeks, so I'd go for a first vet appt the week of Thanksgiving before the holiday, like Wed. Nov 26 (he'd be days shy of 10 weeks) after I get him or wait until after, around the first week of Dec. 2nd.

I was also all set to get insurance with Pet Plan but my parents think I should just keep the $200 & pay for anything that comes up, instead of paying $200 twice (insurance plus deductible)

Any advice is appreciated! I'm getting all my supplies set up & house ready. I'll be sure to post pictures!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You must get insurance, if it would be hard for you to come up with $3000 or $4000 for an emergency vet bill. That's what one swallowed sock or one bout of pancreatitis can cost you. Hip surgery can cost 5000-10,000. These are all things that have happened to doodles here on DK, and not just once. $200, or $400, isn't going to do anything if your dog has has a serious illness or accident. JD's required semiannual GI test costs almost $400.

My vet charges $38 for a new patient visit/check up without vaccines. Some even have have free visitis for new puppies. To me, it would be worth it to pay for one extra vet visit. It's not a good idea to vaccine too frequently or to follow the recommended spacing of the vaccines. There is a lot of thought these days that dogs are over-vaccinated and that this can lead to various health problems. Whether or not that's true, giving vaccines too close together is not a good idea, IMO.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's Jean Dodd's vaccination protocol for puppies: 

Age of Pups	Vaccine Type
9 - 10 weeks   14 weeks   16 -18 weeks (optional)   20 weeks or older, if allowable by law   1 year   1 year	Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV (e.g. Intervet                                       Progard Puppy DPV) Same as above   Same as above (optional)   Rabies   Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV   Rabies, killed 3-year product (give 3-4 weeks apart from distemper/parvovirus booster)

[Jess & Stewart]

I thought rabies was given when they're puppies as well? I definitely don't want to over vaccinate but I'd read 3 weeks in some places & 4 weeks in others.

I'm still leaning towards getting insurance. I'm not sure if I want a per incident deductible (Pet Plan) vs. annual (ASPCA, Healthy Paws). I figure it's only $200 in the scheme of things & it could very well pay off. I've definitely spent $200 in a clothing store easily & my pet is MUCH more important. My parents worry about my finances since I'm on a tight budget anyway.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

We just brought home our new puppy and are following the same protocol that Karen posted.  We are holding off a few weeks for the first round of vaccines..do some research on it.  From what I have read, the puppies have some immunity passed onto them from their mother. Over vaccinating early on can lead to issues down the road.. I would just not interact the puppy with any foreign dog/foreign areas until, the pup has its distemper/parvo vaccine. In all honesty, a puppy is not going to understand the concept of going for a walk for the first few weeks/months anyways..

 I personally do not like the combo vaccine, and would rather pay the extra visit fee and have the vaccines spread out over the course of a few weeks.

Getting pet insurance shouldn't even be an option.  Having that sense of security for the "what if"..it pays for itself!  Best of luck :)

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Just as a FYI, chances are, that after the first Vet check, a Tech will be giving your pup her/ his Vaccinations and you won't even see a Vet. Most places will not charge a office visit if you are only getting a Vaccination and NOT seeing a Vet.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Exactly!

[Jess & Stewart]

Oh, ok! Thanks for info. Yes, now that I think of it, who I talked to on the phone did say that an office visit includes an exam. So she may have meant something along the same lines that each time isn't a visit.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Except the rabies. At least here in IL, a tech cannot give the rabies vaccine, it has to be given by the vet because the paperwork for the rabies certificate has to be signed by the person who gave the shot, and it has to be a licensed vet.

[F, Calla & Luca]

http://www.justanswer.com/pet-dog/1e1x8-give-rabies-shots-certified...
No clue what the law is specifically in various states. I guess this is all because of protection of people not the dogs : )

[Jess & Stewart]

When would the Lepto and/or Lyme be recommended? The vet I called, said that's a separate visit & is recommended since we're in a rural area of Southern NJ. My Dad also lives on a farm (5 acres) with fields behind his house. The next door neighbors have horses & goats in the fields to eat up all the grass. I know many dogs have been said to have an adverse reaction to the vaccine though.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I get lepto and Lyme for my dogs here in northern NJ. I think you need to find a vet you trust and go with what the vet suggests. Some people here really stagger shots. My dogs get a number of shots in the spring when they need them and Lyme in the fall. I personally, and I am medically trained, do not think that for most dogs, the shots need to be spread to one or two at a time. But you will get many different opinions.

[Jess & Stewart]

Thanks F! I consider myself pseudo medically trained-I have a Bachelors in Integrative Health Science (like Biology but more overall health related) and am getting my Masters in Medical Ethics & Health Policy.

I actually just looked more at the vet's website, they are a holistic vet and only give necessary vaccinations and do titers for most after 1 year. I think I may go with them, as the vet tech spent almost 30 minutes with me on the phone, giving me pricing for everything and explaining how they do the visit, all about their practice.

I'm also going to purchase insurance this weekend. I wasn't saying originally that I didn't want it, just asking for opinions, as I know some here do not have it.