PUPPY RAISING RESOURCES

 Your puppy will receive his/her Nobivac Puppy DPv (Distemper and Canine Parvovirus) vaccination here at Juniper Ridge at 8 weeks.  We recommend the next vaccine to be DPv or DAPPv (Distemper, Adenovirus type 1 and 2, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus) given 4 weeks later.  The third and final DPv or DAPPv given 4 weeks after the second. We strongly advise against giving the Leptospirosis and Lymes Disease vaccines as these diseases are rare and the vaccinations cause side effects often worse than actually contracting the disease. Vaccines are administered in series NOT because your puppy needs the quantity, but because we are guessing at the window of opportunity of reception - the time when momma's antibodies wear off but before the puppy is exposed to the full disease. Your puppy is considered vaccinated two weeks after he/she receives the third vaccination (generally by 18 weeks old). 

In the United States each state requires rabies vaccinations and registration when your puppy turns 6 months old.  A one year booster is required 6 months later and then another "3 year" rabies at 18 months unless your state will accept a titer report.  The rabies vaccine is very hard on puppies and dogs and can make them very ill.  If administered in conjunction with any other treatment there is a high risk of causing Strangles - an auto-immune disorder response.  No other vaccinations, surgeries, deworming, etc should be given within 4 weeks of your puppy receiving a rabies vaccination. 

We strongly recommend advocating for a titer report for both the "3 year" rabies vaccination and for DAPPv "yearly booster" vaccinations after the first set have been completed. Use the following link to learn more about titer testing for vaccinations and where/how to submit titers, you will find everything you will need on this website:  Schultz Laboratory  . You may need to talk with your veterinarian and advocate for your pet! You will need a blood draw by your vet technician and this form: Canine Serum Submission Form

For excellent information please read Dr. Dodd's vaccine protocol and recommendations.  Dr Dodd is a highly respected veterinarian and researcher. We start vaccinations at 8 weeks  - a week earlier than Dr Dodd's schedule - only because many veterinarians and puppy buyers still expect the puppy to have his/her first vaccination before leaving us/& at that time - however they are most likely ineffective at this age.  The second and third could and, we believe, should  be given later, and this is what we do for our dogs that remain with us and/or in our guardian program. Should you decide you prefer your puppy to NOT have a vaccination at 8 weeks (three days before coming home) just let us know! We allocate puppies at 7 weeks and give vaccinations five days later - three days before 8 weeks of age.  Studies show that antibody titer levels are now so high in momma dogs, they are taking longer to wear off in puppies. Vaccinations are ineffective if  a puppy receives them before his momma's antibodies have dissipated. This is especially true of the Parvovirus antibody, which is why Dr Dodd recommends giving the last Parvovirus vaccine after the puppy has reached 18 weeks.    Click here for a printable pdf form of Dr. Dodd's vaccine schedule.