A question for all Breeders - Page 1

What is your opinion on vaccines for your young puppies in a litter? Do you vaccinate or not? If you do, at what age do you start the first vaccine?
Has anyone noticed any side effects after vaccinating their puppies?

I always vaccinated my litters with a 5-in-one shot at 4 weeks old & at 8 weeks old, but now I'm seriously second guessing that routine as being over kill for such a young puppy.
Always notice the puppies acting a little different afterwards for a while, either more hyper / laid back / sensitive, etc.. than before vaccinating them.
Only had one bad reaction to a vaccine many years ago. But worry about the long term effects of the puppies over all health from vaccinating to early or too much.

I always vaccinated my litters with a 5-in-one shot at 4 weeks old & at 8 weeks old,

What does the above mean in a simple language?
What is 5-in one shot?
do you mean you vaccinate at 4 weeks then at 8 weeks?
I think 4 weeks is too early to vaccinate a puppy.
Best as I hear is between 6-7 weeks.
But I am not a breeder, the above is the common practice of our vets over here.
Ibrahim

5 weeks and 8 weeks. Before they leave me.

Parvo is the real danger and with modified live virus vaccine a large percentage of pups will overcome maternal protection as early as 5 weeks old. So I will give parvo only starting the sixth week and then at eight week unless it is very close to when the pup leaves.

i give my puppies first shots at 7 weeks, i dont belive in over vaccinating.

Thanks everyone.

Ibrahim yes I meant I vaccinate first at 4.5 weeks old then again at 8 weeks.  We do still have parvo in our area, many of the local shelters have parvo out breaks, so don't want to no vaccinate at all.

I always prefer to them get the first 2 basic vaccines in them before they were placed. But I've been reading so many recent studies of the harmful effects of over vaccinating puppies could do to long term health.

My vets vary in the area on what method is best. One told me what I'm doing was best, another said start vaccines at 6 weeks, 9 weeks ...., another vet told me no younger than 8 weeks, & yet another vet doesn't recommend any vaccines until 6 months old!

Wanted the views of what other breeders thought on the subject.

After I asked you what you meant by 5-in one shot, I got the meaning. I will tell you what most vets here do and I don't suggest it's the correct thing to do. They vaccinate 3-in one at 6-7 weeks, then another 3-in one after 3 weeks time then when the puppy is past 3 months they vaccinate Rabies then after one year they give the 5-in one shot and this last one is repeated every 12 months.

The 3-in one shot includes Parvo vaccine. Some vets say that 2-3 puppies out of 100 puppies when given the first 3-in one shot within two days are infected with Parvo due to the shot and most die even with treatment.
Now that you mentioned the negative effects of vaccinating, I asked a friend breeder of mine and he says he noticed this also, some puppies (say 2 out of 7) after taking the first shot they never get back to the lively state they were in again, and some have diarehea in 2 days and appetite becomes weaker, but not Parvo.

Ibrahim

 all my pups go to the vet. brian,my vet, does not give any shots before 8 weeks. i listen to my vet.

so far - 1, five way vac @ 6 weeks - I'm more bothered by cocci & giardia as mine get a lot of out door time in a natural environment.

I leave it up to the owners in regards to boosters but suggest "Titters" and a limited/legal min. requirement vac protocol

IMHO - so many "shots" don't help the health of our dogs but fatten the pockets of our Vets & the pharma co.'s

I try to give my pups the first vaccination as late as possible, at 6 weeks they have around a 15% chance of gaining immunity, as they age it goes up.  I constantly use an anti-bacterial that kills parvo and all kinds of other diseases and viruses inside my house all the time and outside too, it's fairly cheap too so I know my pups are pretty safe inside of the house.  Often times I will sell my pups with 2 vaccinations and have them come back to give the third and I also give puppy buyers dewormer to take home with them.  Although I am very strict about sales and turn away half the people that inquire about my pups you never know if people actually take them to the vet.

Incase anyone wants to know the anti-bacterial that I use is called Ken'L-Lan.