How Many Vaccines Should a Dog Have at One Time?
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Vaccinate All at Once
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The American Animal Hospital Association recommends that all dogs complete a series of core vaccines as puppies, with booster shots administered at 1 year of age. Most veterinarians give the initial loading dose of rabies, parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus vaccines at one time during the first puppy exam, usually occurring during the first six to eight weeks of life.
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Separate the Vaccines
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Allergic reactions to vaccinations occur in a relatively small number of dogs, but can be serious and include hives, facial swelling, shock and anaphylaxis -- a severe, whole-body reaction that can be life-threatening. For this reason, owners of susceptible canines are urged to inform veterinarians of prior allergic episodes and have their pets inoculated with vaccines one at a time over a period of two weeks.
Bottom Line
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If your dog shows no effects from its initial vaccinations, then inoculating at one time can save money on clinic fees. The Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents of the American Veterinary Medical Association concludes that vets should customize vaccination protocols to meet the needs of their patients.
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- Photo Credit white puppy image by Andrejs Pidjass from Fotolia.com
