Bringing home a new puppy is pure joy—it’s all wet kisses, wagging tails, and playful pounces. But along with the fun comes the responsibility of protecting your pup from dangerous diseases.
Puppies are very vulnerable to infections, and they are not always able to recover. Vaccinations play a vital role in building your puppy’s immune system and preventing contagious illnesses that are sometimes fatal. But with all the necessary vaccines, new puppies will live long, happy lives.
Why Are Vaccinations So Important for Puppies?
Vaccines help to build up a puppy’s immune system during their early development. They protect puppies from contagious and life-threatening diseases and illnesses like rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and kennel cough.
Making sure your pup gets all the necessary vaccines could save their life. But until they’re fully vaccinated, it’s important to keep them away from other pets, animals, and people. Puppies are very vulnerable to contagious diseases, so no trips to the dog park or the pet store until they’ve completed their puppy vaccinations!
When Do Puppies Need Their First Shots?
Typically, puppies should get their first set of vaccinations when they are between 6 and 8 weeks old. At your puppy’s first vet appointment, we will recommend a vaccine schedule that’s appropriate for your puppy’s size and breed.
Since puppy vaccinations take several rounds, you’ll need your pup back every 2 to 4 weeks until they are about 18 weeks old. By the time your puppy reaches 18 weeks of age, they should have completed all their vaccinations. After that, they will only need booster shots once a year.
What Are the Necessary Vaccines for Puppies?
Puppies need two core vaccinations to protect them from contagious diseases:
- DHPP/DAPP: This is a combination vaccine that protects against canine distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis), parainfluenza, and parvovirus.
- Rabies: This vaccination is required by law in Texas. To protect the spread of this fatal disease, you cannot get your puppy a license in areas that require them without proof of their rabies vaccine.
There are several non-core puppy vaccinations that you should also consider:
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough): Protects against respiratory infections. Puppies should have this vaccine if they visit daycares, parks, and boarding kennels.
- Leptospirosis: Protects against bacteria from contaminated water. You should consider this vaccine if your puppy spends a lot of time outdoors.
Puppy Vaccinations and Preventive Care in Harker Heights
Vaccines aren’t just a routine step, they’re a powerful way to keep your puppy safe from serious illnesses and set the stage for a healthy future. The team at Aztec Pet Hospital is here to give your puppy the healthy start they deserve. We’ll always answer all of your questions and guide you every step of the way.
If you’re planning to adopt a puppy or you just brought a new puppy home, contact us to schedule their first vet visit today.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (05/30/2025) Photo by Jonatan Bustos on Unsplash