So, this is just a little blurb on vaccinating puppies, since there is a lot of information and misinformation out there.
Typically, if the bitch has been vaccinated prior to breeding, the puppies will have immunity both from placental transfer and from nursing. Since no one can know when this immunity dissipates without doing antibody titers, we vaccinate based on a few assumptions.
To go against everything we learned in school, the new information has proved that Parvo virus, among others, can be prevented with ONE vaccination. Yes, ONE. BUT...only if given after maternal immunity is gone. We typically don't do antibody titers, so we don't know when this time actually is, but we know a majority of the time it is between 15 and 18 weeks. Therefore, the most important vaccine is the LAST one, given at 15 to 18 weeks.
Now, the only vaccines that require a booster to be effective are Lepto and Corona. But we give a series of boosters so that we are more likely to hit that window when a vaccine can actually cause immunity.
Our clinic does the following:
6-8 weeks DHPPC (with corona)
3 weeks later. DHPPC
3 weeks later DHLPP (with Lepto)
15-18 weeks (3 weeks later) DHLPP and Rabies
If u have a bitch that you know has not been vaccinated ever, you can start the puppies at 3 weeks.
To dispel some myths...
You cannot "overload" the immune system with too many vaccines at once.
Yes, even tiny pups get the same dose as a 100 pound dog.
Don't focus on brand of vaccine, but on the distributor...whether it has been kept cold at all times.
The most common vaccines that cause reactions are the KILLED ones-Lepto, Corona, Rabies.