How to Administer a Vaccination to Puppy

A puppy receives a vaccination

Vaccinating puppies and older dogs regularly is an important part of keeping your dog healthy. Puppies usually receive their first vaccinations, protecting against Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, and Coronavirus, between 6-8 weeks of age. Another round of vaccinations against the same diseases is given at 9 weeks, 12 weeks, along with Lyme disease and rabies vaccinations, 16 weeks, and 20 weeks. It is very easy to give puppies their vaccinations yourself if your vet agrees to let you do so and provides you with the vaccines and syringes necessary.

Things You'll Need

• Vaccine(s)
• Syringe(s)
• Puppy treat(s)

Instructions

1. Shake the vaccine vial to make sure the contents are well-blended.

2. 

   Remove the protective cap of the syringe and insert it into the center of the rubber seal on the vaccine vial.

3. Pull back on the syringe plunger a very small amount (about .5 ml) and then depress the plunger, pushing air into the vial and removing any excess air in the syringe.

4. Draw the plunger back slowly until it indicates that the desired amount of vaccine is in the syringe. Withdraw the syringe needle from the vial and turn the vial upright.

5. Check the top of the syringe for any air bubbles. If there are any, gently flick the syringe with your finger until the bubbles are gone.

6. Stroke and talk to the puppy to reassure it.

7. Lift a triangular fold of skin on the puppy's neck just in front of the shoulder blades.

8. Insert the needle into the center of the fold of skin and depress the plunger steadily, emptying it. Remove the needle slowly and gently.

9. Reward the puppy with a treat and lots of rubbing on the vaccination site.

10. Replace the protective cover back over the needle and discard the syringe either in a contained for sharps or wrapped in a layer of paper towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Always talk to and pet the puppy to prepare it for the injection. Always use a new needle. Work slowly. There is no need to rush in giving a vaccine injection.

• If you see blood come into the syringe as you give the vaccination, remove the needle immediately and re-insert into a different spot. You may have hit a blood vessel.