As a compassionate and dedicated pet owner, you will want to do everything in your power to ensure your new puppy is healthy, loved, and has a long life ahead of him.

Unfortunately, there are a variety of things that can pose a threat to this dream. There are many different infectious diseases and other health problems that can affect our animals, but the good news is that many are avoidable thanks to the evolution of preventative care and in particular, vaccinations. As such, ensuring your pup is up to date with her vaccinations should be a priority for you if you intend on helping her remain healthy and active for as long as possible. We are committed to delivering puppy vaccinations in Denton, TX that will keep your dog and those around him in the community well protected from the effects of these illnesses.

Although it may be tempting to try and delay giving vaccinations until your puppy is somewhat older, it is important to understand that early protection against infectious diseases is vital. This is because your pup's immune system is still developing and therefore cannot fight off any viruses that it comes into contact with as effectively as an adult dog might be able to. This puts him at greater risk of illness and means that the effects of an infectious disease may be all the more serious. By vaccinating your puppy in line with the recommended guidelines, you are taking a proactive and responsible step towards keeping him safe.

Types of Vaccinations Your Puppy Will Receive

The vaccinations that your puppy will receive will fall into two different types. These are known as core and non-core vaccinations. Core vaccinations are those which are recommended for all puppies irrespective of their gender, breed, or lifestyle. Non-core vaccinations are only provided for your puppy if your veterinarian in Denton, TX feels that he would benefit from them.

Core Vaccinations for Puppies

• Distemper. This is a viral disease that affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and nervous systems and is often fatal.
• Parvovirus. Better known just as 'parvo', this viral disease causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and can be deadly.
• Parainfluenza. This viral disease affects your puppy's respiratory system and can be involved in the development of kennel cough.
• Adenovirus. There are two types of Adenovirus, including one that causes infectious canine hepatitis, which is not dissimilar to the human version of the condition.
• Rabies. Rabies vaccinations are a legal requirement across the United States.

Non-Core Vaccinations for Puppies

Some of the most common non-core vaccinations recommended for puppies depending on their age, breed and lifestyle include:

• Bordetella
• Leptospirosis
• Giardia
• Lyme disease
• Canine influenza

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

When your puppy receives her initial series of vaccinations, these will be administered as combination vaccines. This means that protection against several infectious diseases will be combined into just one shot. For puppies, the DHPP shot is what is given over the course of a number of weeks between six and sixteen weeks of age. This includes distemper (D), hepatitis/adenovirus (H), parainfluenza (P), and parvovirus (P).

Although puppy vaccination schedules can vary marginally depending on your veterinarian, typically you can expect your new furbaby to need to adhere to the following plan of core preventative shots.

• 6-8 weeks old: DHPP
• 8-12 weeks old: DHPP booster
• 12 weeks onwards: Rabies
• 14-16 weeks: DHPP

After this initial series of vaccinations, your puppy will then receive DHPP and Rabies vaccinations again between 12 and 16 months old. He will then enter his adult vaccination schedule as created by your veterinarian.

If you are looking for a veterinarian who can administer puppy vaccinations near Denton, TX, look no further than Denton Veterinary Center. Our professional and experienced team can assess your puppy's need for vaccinations and create a personalized vaccination schedule for him. Please contact us today at (940) 380-9393 to schedule your appointment at our modern facility in Denton, TX.