Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Our Fort Oglethorpe vets understand that repeated appointments to get your puppy vaccinated and have their booster shots administered can seem inconvenient, but following your puppy's vaccination schedule during their first year is incredibly important. Here's why... 

Why It's Important to Vaccinate Your Puppy

Just like the case of vaccines designed for use by people, vaccines for dogs in the Fort Oglethorpe area help to protect your pet from a huge variety of serious, and even fatal, diseases that can spread like wildfire between unvaccinated dogs. 

While it may seem inconvenient (and even a bit expensive) to bring your new puppy into your vet's office frequently throughout their first year, your puppy's first vaccinations and their renewals each year are critical to protecting them from illness and setting them up for long, healthy and happy lives. 

Illnesses That Are Protected Against By Dog Vaccines

The vaccines recommended for puppies and adult dogs in the Fort Oglethorpe area help prevent and reduce the severity of illnesses like parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper, bordetella and rabies. 

Our vets will be able to recommend a set of vaccinations that are the most appropriate for your dog based on their age, the area you live, your dog's lifestyle and other factors. 

Dog Vaccine Schedule

Below is the basic schedule of vaccinations recommended for your puppy during their first few months and the booster shots which should always be kept up-to-date for adult dogs. By following these schedules of puppy shots and adult dog vaccine boosters, our vets firmly believe that you will be giving your beloved pet their very best shot at good health and well-being all throughout their life. 

Possible Vaccine Side Effects in Puppies

Mild side effects from vaccines are fairly 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.

That said, 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 such as 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 Booster Shots

Vaccinations are the cornerstone of your dog's lifelong preventative health care.

By bringing your pet in for their shots early in their life, you are protecting your pet against 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 vaccinations recommended by our Fort Oglethorpe 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 diseases 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 people or pets. Always consult with a vet before making medical decisions for your pet.