It’s important to talk to your vet about which vaccines are appropriate for your puppy, as the specific vaccines they need may vary depending on their age, health, and lifestyle. Your vet will be able to create a vaccination schedule that is right for your puppy. Generally vaccinations will start on the same trip to the vets when they microchip your dog. Note: There are no legal requirements for your dog to be vaccinated, but it is highly recommended you do so to protect your pet.
The main vaccination brand you will find offered in Ireland is the 5-in-1 from Merck Animal Health, known as Nobivac® .
What does the 5-in-1 cover ?
Nobivac includes cover for
- Canine Distemper Virus,
- Canine Adenovirus type 1, hepatitis
- Canine Adenovirus type 2, respiratory disease
- Canine Parainfluenza Virus,
- Canine Parvovirus (modified live viruses).
This dosage is generally given in 2 parts, the first when the puppy is 6 weeks of age, and the the 2nd part 2-4 weeks later. Two doses are required for proper immunisation. It’s recommended that you follow up with a booster ever 3 years for distemper, parvovirus and canine hepatitis. Typical costs are around €80 per puppy for the 2 visits for the shots.
Some research says it could be better to give puppy the vaccinations closer to 11 weeks (Schultz 2006) if you are going to wait to vaccinate your puppy you do need to be extra cautious about brining them into public places before they are fully vaccinated. Parovirus, for example is very serious, and is often fatal in puppies that have little or no immune system.
Some vets also include vaccinations for Kennel Cough / Bordetella and Leptospirosis and guidance on these varies a bit.
Kennel Cough can be common when dogs mix, it’s similar to a common cold in dogs, and is pretty contagious. Most dogs will recover from kennel cough on their own within a few weeks, it can be more serious in puppies, older dogs, and dogs with compromised immune systems. In severe cases, kennel cough can lead to pneumonia and other complications, so it’s important to take your dog to the vet if they are showing symptoms.
Leptospirosis is contracted rat / livestock urine, if your dog is likely to be exposed to either you should consider this vaccination. Leptospirosis vaccines are species specific, so do make sure you know what one you will be getting.
