Date:Mon, 26 Mar 2007 18:09:38 -0700 (PDT)From:
"Jennifer Johnson" <jjohnsonvmd@yahoo.com> Subject:re: vaccinations To:"micki "
With vaccination, maternal antibodies decrease over time anywhere from 6 weeks to 16 weeks. That is the theory behind multiple vaccinations -- so that you are challenging the maternal antibodies every 3 weeks until you get a good level of puppy antibodies by the time the maternal antibodies wane. The reason we start at 6 weeks is because one can not predict in each individual puppy when the level of maternal antibody will go down -- in some puppies they may not have any antibody by 6 weeks, in others they will still have lots at 10 weeks.
Most all vaccines are labelled now -based on research- to be boostered every 3 weeks from the age of 6 weeks, until the puppy is at least 12 weeks old. (some vaccines still are labeled 16 weeks).
I do not recommend waiting until 12 weeks to start however, because how do you know which puppy still has maternal antibody and which one doesnt? There is too much risk in waiting since puppies - if they get the diseases we vaccinate against - will be likely seriously affected and may die from them while older unvaccinated dogs may not die from the diseases. It just isnt worth it not to vaccinate starting at 6 weeks.
hope that long ans helps!
jen
micki <@yahoo.com> wrote:
what do you recommend for the age of a pups first vaccination, heard vets in Finland are saying 12 weeks, that the mothers antibodies are good til then
Jennifer F. Johnson, VMD
Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital
701 Kedron Avenue, Route 420
Morton, PA 19070
office: 610-328-3600
cell: 610-420-0421
home: 610-543-4047
email: jjohnsonvmd@yahoo.com
03-26-2007, 06:17 PM
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