Vaccinating a 7 week old GSD - Page 1

Hello All, As some of you may know, I had been waiting anxiously for my new little workingline GSD puppy, she's finally here, after waiting 10 excruciating months to get her, she's finally home with "mommy"! Here's the problem though, I am looking to purchase some vaccines for her...I am considering buying through PetCareRx.com, and I searched for a puppy 6-9week vaccine list, and here's the one I found: Dogs-(b) 6 & 9 Weeks Duramune Max 5 (1ml dose) Distemper, adenovirus type 2(and hepatitis), parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Should I go with this one, or do any of you have other recommendations? Such as what the vaccine should include, what it SHOULDN'T include (Lepto being one) I'll explain what kind of home she will be living in: Inside, with 5 other dogs (ALL of them current on their 7 way boosters) and one cat (also current on her 7 way booster) and I live in the country, but there are no farms around, I do however have a cornfield behind my house, I've lived her for 11 years, never had a dog or puppy come down with ANYTHING, I've also bred Goldens for 6 years, had about a hundred or so puppies in the total litters, they also never came down with anything, vet always gave them a clean bill of health. Thanks for any suggestions!

Krista-- Congratulations on your new puppy. Is she black&tan, or sable? Doesn't matter though. I know you have probably read this info--but just in case you haven't, take a look: www.voneintzeshepherds.com/page6.html (read all of it--from Jean Dodd's protocol to the caberfeidh studies).

My situation is simialr to yours in country living... my dogs are house dogs too and we do not go to trials, shows or around any other dogs anymore (unless a stray comes thru). I quit giving vaccines period (except rabies) about 8 years ago, and no problems. But for a puppy I would suggest just to give distemper and parvo, seperate if possible (they are the only virus's that will cause death), and 2 weeks apart, so the immune system can adjust. It is hard to find but I think it can be ordered by a vet because my friends pup had an allergic reaction to the combo shots and it is the route she is taking. Do this until 16 weeks of age and an annual follow up then be done with it unless your plans change for her and she is active in the dog world. Then do a titer or just give the vaccines. Thats what I would do anyway....

Trailrider makes an excellant point. Doing single vaccines (as opposed to combos) lets you use several injection sites. That makes it easy for you to know which, if any, caused a reaction. The common sites are left hip,right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder and middle of shoulders. Good luck with the new pup!

Has the puppy had any vacs at all yet? Here in PA it is illegal to transfer a dog younger than 8 weeks of age so they go with their first puppy series. I would follow Dodd's protocol designed to fit your current living situation. It can vary for each dog and owner. In addition it is often hard to find single disease vacs, especially in single doses. Most manufacturers are not going to make them available unless they know they can sell enough to make it profitable. I don't think most vets are using single disease vacs, at least not in this area. Good luck with the pup, you must really be excited about her. She will be quite a contrast to the goldens and that's is no doubt the understatement of the year LOL.

Trailrider and artillery-- I agree with the single dosage rather than combo--and lepto, would never be my choice. Besides, isn't the vaccine for lepto worthless because it combats a strain that isn't even the dangerous one? Krista--this is all covered in the websites I offered. I remember reading that the first vaccine should be given a little later (9 or 10 weeks, preferably to 6 or 7), because the mother's colostrom has given strong immunity and it remains strong. There was something about the first shot needing to be especially strong in order to overide the dam's immunity and take hold. Maybe someone else can add some info here.

LMH, you are right.. Dr Dodds recommends vaccinating later... closer to 9 weeks and with a limited number of elements.... Last months issue of Whole dog Journal has an excellent article on this subject.. I am buying copies for the next litter.. With any vaccine, you need to look at our risk of exposure.. any of you folks out in the country, do need to look at the newest lepto vaccine.. as we all know, lepto is transmitted thru rodent urine..one lick of the ground and that's it.. even the newest doesn't protect against all strains but is better than not.... A clubmember just had an older dog go thru it and they don't live in the country, so better safe then sorry I say....

I have the .pdf document from the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force) that was updated during early 2006 and is current. The document provides a lot of detail, and if anyone wishes to receive a copy of this document, just send me an e-mail at Derhundmeister@aol.com. Bob-O

Hi All, She is the blackest black sable with just a LITTLE bit of coloring, she has deep, deep red on her legs, and little red behind her ears, with a few stray white hairs on her chest, forming a cross. For referance, she was born October 07th, 2006 (day before my birthday go figure!) Here's the vaccines she has recieved from the breeder: * 11-03-06 Coccidia Treatment-ALBON (he lives on old farm land, he says there is Coccidia in his soil, thats why) * 11-17-06 Distemper, Parvo and Coronna. Here's her worming schedule: * 10-26-06 Strongid-T * 11-17-06 Strongid-T When she came with me, on FRIDAY (11-24-06) she was wormed again, with Nemex-2. Thanks guys for all of the helpful suggestions! Krista

The wormings are fine, corona is one of those things they just don't need and it often causes more trouble!! Used to be very popular, but not so much anymore..... She doesn't need anything until after 12/8.. that would be 3 weeks from the 17th.. what is the little doll babys name???