Puppy Shots
Like many breeders we administer our own vaccines , intestinal wormer, and heart wormer. I have never had a problem with my vaccines being 100% viable and effective. At the bottom of this page you will see our vaccination schedule along with worming schedule. If a vaccine is not on the list, we do not administer it. We like to be sure our pups are vaccinated properly, however over vaccination can be just as hazardous.
There is a lot of mistique around the use of vaccinations. Why do we give what we give and how does it effect the puppy. On this page I will try to explain what vaccines do, how we administer them, when we administer and why.
This page is also for informational purposes only. I do NOT reccommend that you pick up vaccinations from your local feed store. The vet will be the safest place for you. This is largly due to the fact that we have our vaccinations shipped to us in the same way our vet does, overnight, packed in ice and a thermal cooler. They are also stored in the exact same way, in their own mini fridge to avoid hot/cold contamination to the drugs. Your local feed store cannot and does not guarentee vaccine viability.
There is a lot of mistique around the use of vaccinations. Why do we give what we give and how does it effect the puppy. On this page I will try to explain what vaccines do, how we administer them, when we administer and why.
This page is also for informational purposes only. I do NOT reccommend that you pick up vaccinations from your local feed store. The vet will be the safest place for you. This is largly due to the fact that we have our vaccinations shipped to us in the same way our vet does, overnight, packed in ice and a thermal cooler. They are also stored in the exact same way, in their own mini fridge to avoid hot/cold contamination to the drugs. Your local feed store cannot and does not guarentee vaccine viability.
Dehydrated VaccinationFor the most part, your basic vaccine (DACPPV) will come in two vials. In our case, we purchase a vanguard product that has to be rehydrated.
For administering vaccines to a litter of pups we use two needles to draw up the vaccine. The higher guage needle is used to mix the vaccination and draw it into the syringe. This needle should be cleaned with alcohol after every vial and will become dull after a few rehydrations. This is where the second needle will come into play. After removing the higher guage needle, the second needle will be utilized to administer the vaccine. |
Mixing the vaccination
Using the higher guage "community" needle, draw 1.5 cc of air into the syringe. Rub the needle and tops of vaccine vials with an alcohol swab. Allow the tops to air dry, do not blow on them to facilitate evaporation. Once dry stick the needle into the center ring on the top of the fluid vial. Push air from syringe. Gently hold the vial and syringe with the diaphram at the bottom of the vial. Draw back allowing all of the fluid in the vial to be drained into syringe. You may have to pull the needle back and toward the plasic diaphram to drain all of the fluid. Remove needle from vial.
Insert needle in the same way into the dehydrated vaccination vial. Push all contents from the syringe. Lightly roll the vial to mix all ingredients. When there are no particles present and the vaccine appears clear, draw the vaccination into the syringe in the same way as above. Be sure to pull all of the fluid into the syringe.
NOTE: Half vaccinations will not work, they simply do not. Please administer one vaccine per puppy no matter the size of the dog. Also, do not worry about air in the syringe through this process. We will push the air out before injection.
Insert needle in the same way into the dehydrated vaccination vial. Push all contents from the syringe. Lightly roll the vial to mix all ingredients. When there are no particles present and the vaccine appears clear, draw the vaccination into the syringe in the same way as above. Be sure to pull all of the fluid into the syringe.
NOTE: Half vaccinations will not work, they simply do not. Please administer one vaccine per puppy no matter the size of the dog. Also, do not worry about air in the syringe through this process. We will push the air out before injection.
Document and DisposeWe take the labels from the actual vaccination given to your puppy and adhere them directly to your puppy's vaccination card. We also check to be sure the experation date is valid. Please know the experation date is for the vaccine before it is injected, not when immunity will wear off. A puppy vaccine such as this that is accepted into the immune system it lasts for one year. Please confirm this with your veterinarian due to variances in training and preferences between vets.
Be sure to dispose of your vaccinating supplies in the correct manner. They should be disposed in a red sharps container and treated as biohazard material. Never throw needles or biologicals in the trash. At this time I change my needles and continue on with vaccination. |
Administering Subcutaneous Vaccination
Although I do administer my own vaccinations, and have been trained in this task, I feel that I should direct you to a great youtube video by Hollywood animal hospital. These girls show you the proper procedure in giving an injection. As always, if you do not feel comfortable giving an injection, please carry your dog to the vet.
Heartworm
Note: This section is written to inform buyers of our practices. As Ivermectin is a drug normally prescribed by your vet AFTER a heartworm test, it could be deadly for your dog. For this purpose I am not listing any dosages on this page. My vet has instructed me how to administer this drug for MY dogs and your vet should be able to give you dosage as well. Other breeds may suffer deadly side effects, and infected dogs will die if you dose a preventative such as this. It is much easier and most of the time more cost effective to purchase pills that cover intestinal worms, heart worm and fleas from your vet.
We use Ivermectin orally to control heartworms at our kennel. This ivermectin is the SAME active ingredient in heartworm pills given at your vet. We administer ivermectin this way because it is easier for us. It is also cheaper because we use the medication before the vial expires (for a one dog family the medicine would expire before it could be used resulting in no savings) When it comes to my dogs I will not skimp on treatment or medications, but I am unwilling to throw money away for pretty packaging.
Heartguard is a pretty popular brand of heartworm preventative. Click below to be taken to a site selling heartguard tablets. Scroll over to active ingredients and you will see the only active ingredient is ivermectin.
http://www.1800petmeds.com/Dog+Heartgard+Chewables-prod368151.html
If you use Heartguard plus, note that they use pyrantal poamate. This is a very common intestinal dewormer. We also use pyrantal poamate on our puppies if you look at the schedule near the end of the page.
The dosage of ivermectin per dog is given by mouth and is very small. A 100 lb animal will be getting 1cc or less of this medication. This is also why we have a veterinary floor scale and weigh each dog before administering medication. We mix it onto a piece of white bread with a bit of honey as it is pretty bitter. My dogs have no problems taking it. Dutch, our Doberman female doesn't like bread, so we actually administer her's inside of a marshmallow. Plenty of breeders also just squirt the ivermectin directy into the mouth. I do not like this as it usually makes my dogs drool and I am not quite sure if they received the full dosage.
Our puppies start ivermectin at 6 weeks. No matter if it is the dead of summer or winter we administer this drug year round.
We use Ivermectin orally to control heartworms at our kennel. This ivermectin is the SAME active ingredient in heartworm pills given at your vet. We administer ivermectin this way because it is easier for us. It is also cheaper because we use the medication before the vial expires (for a one dog family the medicine would expire before it could be used resulting in no savings) When it comes to my dogs I will not skimp on treatment or medications, but I am unwilling to throw money away for pretty packaging.
Heartguard is a pretty popular brand of heartworm preventative. Click below to be taken to a site selling heartguard tablets. Scroll over to active ingredients and you will see the only active ingredient is ivermectin.
http://www.1800petmeds.com/Dog+Heartgard+Chewables-prod368151.html
If you use Heartguard plus, note that they use pyrantal poamate. This is a very common intestinal dewormer. We also use pyrantal poamate on our puppies if you look at the schedule near the end of the page.
The dosage of ivermectin per dog is given by mouth and is very small. A 100 lb animal will be getting 1cc or less of this medication. This is also why we have a veterinary floor scale and weigh each dog before administering medication. We mix it onto a piece of white bread with a bit of honey as it is pretty bitter. My dogs have no problems taking it. Dutch, our Doberman female doesn't like bread, so we actually administer her's inside of a marshmallow. Plenty of breeders also just squirt the ivermectin directy into the mouth. I do not like this as it usually makes my dogs drool and I am not quite sure if they received the full dosage.
Our puppies start ivermectin at 6 weeks. No matter if it is the dead of summer or winter we administer this drug year round.
A little goes a long way! This vial of ivermectin will treat 25,000lbs of dog for heartworm. We make sure to record each dosage given and experation date of product. Always use a new syringe to draw from container.
Ivermectin is also used as an ear mite medication or to treat mange in dogs. I don't fool with diagnosing these two, but I do remind my vet that I have ivermectin on hand when I go into the office.
Ivermectin is also used as an ear mite medication or to treat mange in dogs. I don't fool with diagnosing these two, but I do remind my vet that I have ivermectin on hand when I go into the office.
Intestinal worms
FenbendazolePanacur C (fenbendazole) is a broad spectrum parasiticide used to treat hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms in dogs. It is also used by veterinarians to treat other parasites.
We use Fenbendazole to treat worms in puppies and our adult dogs. This product must be used for three days to be effective. If we provided paperwork stating that we administered panacur or fenbendazole, please note that it was a three day treatment unless otherwise noted. We administer 222 mg/g per 10lbs. |
This information sheet is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian