Pup Inoculations.

[THEOLDMAN]

Previously when I've had a litter all the pups have been given they're first jab by my vet at around 7 weeks just before going to new homes at 8 weeks.
When the new owners have taken the new pup to they're own vets they have all been told that they would have to start the jabs again as the drug "batch numbers/supplier" needs to be the same.
Is this the norm, if so there seems no point in giving the first jab at all?

[romanriver]

becoming more common, and with vets using different brands and different timings, youre wasting money and giving more injections than necessary.

[AlandJake]

When I went to pick my pup the breeder told me that some of the buyers had said that they wanted their own vets to check over the pup and give it its first inoculation, so the litter was being sold without first vac (as he didn't know which pup these particular buyers would choose).

I did a spot of asking around and the consensus was that it was just as normal to buy a pup without its first vaccination as it was to buy one which had had its first shot at 7/8 weeks.

So if you are planning a litter it does not sound like you would be at a disadvantage if you chose not to give the youngsters their first course of vaccinations.

[RAH]

I was discussing this with my vet not so long ago. Some vets are now advising that the first vaccinations should not be given until 10-12 weeks because it will be unnecessary on account of the maternal antibodies being passed from the dam to her litter through colostrum. I read somewhere subsequently that the 7-8 week vaccinations might even interfere with early immunity from the mother too.

[kennel maiden]

I don't vaccinate my pups before they leave. I think it is better for the pup to settle into it's new home and for the owner to take the pup for a check with their own vet and first vaccine then, usually from 8-9 weeks.

[Judy]

I've never yet bought a vaccinated pup at 8 weeks of age but I do wish breeders would get unsold pups vaccinated so that they can go out and about when they do finally leave home instead of having to wait several more weeks by which time any remaining maternal antibodies would be long gone and the pup is at risk on the journey to its new home and early socialisation missed.

I wonder what difference a different batch number makes? I wonder if vets keep a second shot from the same batch number ready for the pup's second jab? Different vaccine manufacturers I can understand, sort of, but different batches?

[Nonehpets]

I brought Dicey home having had his first needle and his microchip - his vet when I went for the second needle wanted to start again - I declined and was told it was at my own risk - which I accepted. I provided the documentation with the manufacturer and batch details on etc and the vet promptly decided it was okay.

[Matt]

I've never yet bought a vaccinated pup at 8 weeks of age but I do wish breeders would get unsold pups vaccinated so that they can go out and about when they do finally leave home instead of having to wait several more weeks by which time any remaining maternal antibodies would be long gone and the pup is at risk on the journey to its new home and early socialisation missed.

The switch from L2 to L4 and the changes in the schedule for jabs is also not helping this. I had a couple come for their first puppy class on Saturday morning who had a 14 week old pup which hadn't been outside their house or garden since they brought it home. It was absolutely shell-shocked to see other people, dogs, puppies, cars, gravel, etc etc. They couldn't do anything with it for the entire session because it was completely withdrawn. They'd been told by the vets not to take the puppy out until 2 weeks after its second jab - so as first time owners they had taken that literally.

I know that there's a risk to pups going out and about before the vaccine kicks in - but surely giving advice that, if followed to the letter, prevents any sort of socialisation is just as bad?

[pontbeck]

They really threw the puppy in the deep end by taking it to class as it's first outing.Not criticising , as I did something similar many moons ago.

[Matt]

They just didn't know any better. The vet had said "don't take the puppy outside" so they didn't!

Luckily we do very small classes for people's first time so I just had one other puppy in with them. We spent the whole time taking things slowly and rewarding the pup for any displays of normal behaviour. If they do as I suggested and get the pup out and about in their arms so it can see a bit more of the world I expect to see a big difference next week.