Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

santi · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Jalan Ipoh, KL

My friend just gave me a little cute puppy. I would like to take to the vet for vaccination but I think the puppy is too young for that. I heard people say there is something called "vaccination reaction" that might hurt the dog. Is it true? Should I wait a bit later say after 3 months before I send my puppy to the vet?

Thanks.

Dr ymgoh · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 1 Location: UPM Malaysia

I am not very sure what you meant by "vaccination reaction", but all of the approved vaccines have been tried and tested on their intended patients and therefore should be safe for use. Typically we advise pet owners to start their vaccinations when their pets are around 10 - 12 weeks old for few reasons. Firstly, the maternal antibody in puppies or kittens reaches its low point in providing adequate protection against diseases for them. Maternal antibodies are antibodies passed on by the mummy dog / cat to their offspring (often through colostrum or other means) and is capable of shielding against diseases until these little ones are about 10 - 12 weeks of age. Secondly, the same maternal antibody might interfere with the efficacy of the vaccination --- if this is what you meant by vaccination reaction. Thirdly, by 10 - 12 weeks of age the puppy's or kitten's immune system is mature enough and capable of responding to the vaccination and thereby offering sufficient protection against diseases to these little ones. However, these facts apart, it will be best if you can consult your friendly veterinarian directly for your queries.

santi · Joined: 01 Nov 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Jalan Ipoh, KL

I see. Thanks for your explanation. I will bring my puppy to the vet soon. My friend told me puppy needs to be get rid off the worm by taking the medical syrup.

I will ask the vet then whether to vaccinate or not.

lovelypup · Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 3

I got the same problem. My friend just gave me a puppy. I do not know what is his age. Should I just send it to the vet for a jab? Roughly how much does it cost?

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

The vet can tell roughly how old your puppy is by checking their teeth. For puppy without a clear history of background, I recommend you to keep him away from other dogs especially the strays and observe him for any illnesses before sending him for vaccination. What you can do now is stress management (ensure a good diet, comfortable, warm place, etc) and send your puppy for vaccination after 2 weeks if your puppy shows no illness. However, if your puppy fell sick during the observation period, consult your vet for treatment immediately. :D

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 5:42 pm Post subject:

Dear santi, it is really a good idea to send your puppy for early check up. Apart from vaccination, you puppy will need to be dewormed (get rid of the "cacing")...

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

Dear lovelypup, I agree with what Dr Tan said, if you are not confident in recognizing illness in puppy, an early check by vet is essential. By the way, you can have your puppy dewormed before the vaccination. Most vet will deworm the pet at time of vaccination, and the charge will be quite reasonable... :D

colincsf · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 12

my puppy is due for his second vaccination on jan 2006,the first was done by my friend when he sold me his puppy.so now the local vet that i will visiting soon say it cost about rm55 is it reasonable ??

btw when my friend gave my puppy the deworm thingie.that whole week he was like shiting worms out :shock: its was in white colour somemore kinda long also scary.i counted like around 6-8 worms during that week and there was a time he just shit out 2 worms only and 1 was still alive,yuck

Dr. TanDY · Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:05 pm Post subject:

Quote: he was like shiting worms out its was in white colour somemore kinda long also scary

At least the worms are not in your puppy's stomach now... That's the good thing about deworming.

Regarding the vaccination price, it depends on the clinic.

Ken · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 1

Hi,

i had a fren who bought a pet shih Tzu from Pets Wonderland. When he brought it to see his regular vet for booster, his vet told him that the first vaccine was given at 5 weeks. any side effects giving early vaccination to my fren's pet?

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

Ken wrote: Hi,

i had a fren who bought a pet shih Tzu from Pets Wonderland. When he brought it to see his regular vet for booster, his vet told him that the first vaccine was given at 5 weeks. any side effects giving early vaccination to my fren's pet?

As I know, pet magastores do not purchase puppies younger than 6 weeks old and at least one vaccination have to be done before they accept the puppy. Thus, I guess the vaccination may have been arranged by the breeder. Vaccination that has done too early in a puppy may not produce the desired immunity. Maternal antibody levels in the puppy may be still high to render the vaccine given useless. Maternal antibody levels in puppies reduce as they get older. It has to be reduced to a level low enough so that it does not interfere with the vaccine giving. This allows the body to mount an immune response and develops effective immunity against the diseases. Early vaccination before 6 weeks, thus, may just waste your (may be 'their') money and is unnecessary. And it may allow a 'window' where the puppy is not protected by the maternal antibody and there is no immunity produced from the vaccine. If we are talking about 'vaccine-induced reactions' as the side effect then every vaccines possess some risk to induce a reaction on the puppies when given. But so far, as of my experience, vaccine-induced reactions are limited to localized swellings and abscess formations. I personally do not commonly encounter any problems with the vaccines I used.

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

Here is a suggestion of vaccination and deworming schedule for dogs :wink: :

VACCINATION SCHEDULE:

6 WEEKS VACCINATE AGAINST:
DISTEMPER
PARVOVIRUS

8 WEEKS VACCINATE AGAINST: CORONAVIRUS
DISTEMBER
PARVOVIRUS
ADENOVIRUS/HEPATITIS
PARAINFLUENZA
LEPTOSPIRA

12 WEEKS VACCINATE AGAINST:
CORONAVIRUS
DISTEMBER
PARVOVIRUS
ADENOVIRUS/HEPATITIS
PARAINFLUENZA
LEPTOSPIRA

16 WEEKS VACCINATE AGAINST:
DISTEMBER
PARVOVIRUS
ADENOVIRUS/HEPATITIS
PARAINFLUENZA
LEPTOSPIRA

20 WEEKS VACCINATE AGAINST:
PARVOVIRUS

ONCE A YEAR:
YEARLY BOOSTER FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE DISEASES

DEWORMING SCHEDULE:

Deworm every 2 weeks started from 2-week-old until 16-week-old (4-month-old)
Deworm every month from 4-month-old until 6-month-old
Deworm every 3 months from 6-month-old onwards

HEARTWORM PREVENTION SCHEDULE:

Every month started before 5-month-old until adult
Monthly after adult (tablets/chewables) or annually after adult (injectables)

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

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Dr. TanDY · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject:

varanus wrote: Do you think it is a bit to late for 5-month-old to start heart worm prevention?

I think it was written there as:

Quote: HEARTWORM PREVENTION SCHEDULE:

Every month started before 5-month-old until adult
Monthly after adult (tablets/chewables) or annually after adult (injectables)

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

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