When to Vaccinate Your Maltipoo Puppy
Vaccines are needed to protect dogs and puppies from becoming infected by diseases and viruses, such as parvovirus. Be sure to follow a good vaccination schedule. Too many vaccines at the same time or too close together is fatal!
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See the bottom of this article for the Maltipoo Puppy Vaccine Schedule
How Does a Vaccine Work?
A vaccine is a way to improve the bodies immunity to a particular disease. It usually consists of an agent that is similar to a specific disease. The only difference being that it is severely weakened. The vaccine is injected into the puppy’s body, and his immune system is activated. The immune system will look for the weakened disease, and once it finds it, the puppy's body will destroy it. After it successfully destroys it, the immune system will start preparing for future encounters. The puppy's body prepares by creating memories of the disease it killed for all the white blood cells to study. The white blood cells get better at fighting against that particular disease. So if the body were to ever become infected again by that disease, the white blood cells will be called upon. Remembering their training and studies, the white blood cells will use their knowledge and effortlessly destroy the disease.
Dangers of Multiple, Simultaneous Vaccines
Extreme caution must be practiced when administering vaccinations to small puppies. There are a few irresponsible breeders, and even more surprising, veterinarians, who give puppies multiple vaccines simultaneously without worrying about consequences. They may figure that the disease contained within these vaccinations are so weak, a puppy should be able to handle plenty of them at the same time, right? That is not true. It's very dangerous and life threatening!
The diseases are in a weakened state, but the body's immune system must respond to each of the individual threats. Introducing several threats at the same time confuses the puppy's immune system, hindering its ability to keep up with the huge demand for help.
As the puppy's body struggles to handle the massive invasion, supression of the immune system becomes possible. Suppressed immune systems are not able to create the appropriate antibodies against the vaccines. This creates a severely weakened puppy that needs time to recover. During the recovery period, the puppy is extra vulnerable to attacks from real diseases! It's these secondary infections that can be deadly.
Age of Puppy is Important
The age of a puppy is the key factor in determining when you should give a vaccine. My Maltipoo puppies get their first vaccine at 6 weeks of age.
At the end of the day, providing vaccines to dogs or puppies is something that requires careful planning. The puppy needs to be old enough, and the body mature enough, to defend itself from the vaccines. Time is also necessary between vaccinations, as it ensures the antibodies have time to be formed.
A Warning Against Certain Veterinarians
You are now aware of the dangers multiple vaccinations can pose to a dog or puppy, so it's time you protect them. When you take your dog to a veterinarian, keep careful watch on what's happening. Sometimes, a veterinarian may try to give a Rabies shot along with the booster shots; a combination like that could be very fatal for your puppy.
Also, check to see if your veterinarian attempts to give your adult dogs a Corona shot. Corona is a disease only found in puppies so giving it to an adult dog is pointless. This won't stop them from trying though, because they may not know this fact. Additionally, watching for this mistake is a great way to know how knowledgable your vet is in his field of expertise.
What Is Parvovirus?
Parvovirus is one of the deadliest diseases a puppy can become infected with. It's known as Canine parvovirus, or parvo. It's highly contagious, allowing it to spread from puppy to puppy very easily. It is so easily spread that when a dog with Parvo poops at a park and another Parvo-free dog smells it, they will soon show sign of it.
If you have a sick puppy and are curious if it may be this virus at work, check for the following symptoms
Lethargy
vomiting
fever
diarrhea (usually bloody)
The first signs of parvo is lethargy, or a lack of energy. This is followed by a loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea.
A dog's chance of surviving parvo is dependant on their age and how quickly they were diagnosed. If you suspect your puppy has parvo, then rush them to a veterinarian.
Maltipoo Puppy Vaccine Schedule
6 - 8 weeks:
Distemper, parainfluenza
(optional) Bordetella
10 — 12 weeks:
DHPP (vaccines for distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus)
(optional) Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease
12 — 24 weeks:
Rabies
14 — 16 weeks:
DHPP
(optional) Coronavirus, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis
12 — 16 months:
Rabies, DHPP
(optional) Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease
Every 1 — 2 years:
DHPP
(optional) Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease
Every 1 — 3 years:
Rabies (as required by law - see why)