I have an almost 11 week old pup who was due to have his second vaccination this coming Monday. The vet phoned me today and said that due to the current situation they were unable to do it.  They have rebooked for two weeks time as they said I had another two weeks leeway before he would have to start again.
What worries me is that in reality this situation could go on for months and if they cancel again I am left with a pup that will be unable to go out for the forseeable future, and that wont be good for his mental health (or mine)!
They say they are following government guidelines but if they are just guidlines and not set in stone surely there could be some flexibility.
Am I within my rights to insist that it is done?  I have been with this vet for 10 years and in fairness they have always been absolutely wonderful with my dogs. I have a good relationship with them and dont want to sour this, so I really dont know what to do.

In all honesty, your more likely to pick up coronavirus if you go out now, but if you and your pup stay home for the time being, then you should both be o.k.

I suppose you could always ask if they would be prepared to do him in car park - ie tie puppy to fence- retreat back 2 metres- vet come out and jab - pay on phone?

> Am I within my rights to insist that it is done?

You can't insist that it is done, vets are private practices, you can't make them work.

My own vet like most I think is only doing emergency appointments, I approve of this, I'd rather they see as little people as possible and keep themselves healthier longer in case of emergencies.

It's not ideal I know but I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait it out, there will be thousands of people in the same situation.

When things do go back to normal and you get to the vets he won't need to start again, nobivacs own datasheet says that one inoculation after 10 weeks of age is sufficient.

BVA have given vets very clear guidance. Vaccinations past the first vaccine should be postponed. Your vet and their staff need to see as few people as possible so they are healthy and able to see true emergencies. Trying to insist they vaccinate your puppy would be selfish

They are also.trying to restrict visits and the number of staff needed to save ppe .as most members of staff do not live together and will need to get close to each other to treat animals.ppe more than usual is needed.
It may sound like a drop in the ocean but every bit used other than by healthcare workers takes away from those who need it to treat us and stay safe. As told by my vet btw

I would.bear with it all and just have the one injection when the vets are able to do it .not start over as chumsong advised. Some vets are rather confused about this aspect of vaccination protocols

BVA and Puppy Vaccinations

Should we carry out routine vaccines:

"It's important to remember that the current lockdown period is for three weeks and the vast majority of pet vaccinations it is not urgent for them to be carried out in that time period. Adult boosters can and must be postponed for now. The vast majority of primary vaccinations in puppies and kittens and other naive animals should also be delayed in order to protect human health in relation to halting the spread of Covid-19" Continues .. (see link)

Something else that people may not be aware of is that the BVA asked Vets to hand over any PPE and anything else that could be adapted to help hospitals with their fight against CORVID-19.

I'm afraid I much prefer my vets and staff stay healthy should I need them for a true emergency.   We are lucky that so far, the Gov. hasn't decided to shut down vets as well as everything else!   I'll have to check but I don't think my vet is doing any vaccination, puppies or boosters atm. 

I'd not want to have to tie a puppy to a fence, leave him a safe distance for the vet to come out and vaccinate and then go in again.   How traumatic could that be for a puppy.

I'd suggest lthat as the second set is really only a booster of the first, most puppies would be ok to be left - but not going off the owner's property.   Yes it might set back socialising, but frankly we are all having to adjust our lives at the moment and it's better for us to remain healthy.   It's all frustrating as heck but eventually we will come through this even if it's a total unknown.

I have just checked my vet's online info and they don't mention puppy vaccination.   Only flea and worming treatments which they are mailing out when needed (cheaper online!!).  They have consolidated appointments with the main branch here in Bude but will by appointment, still see clients unable to get across from the other sister-practices at those practices.

Yep as my comment above

Anne, it's really important (for your pup's sake) that you understand how vaccinations work in the first place... I'll get onto that in a minute. 

>What worries me is that in reality this situation could go on for months and if they cancel again I am left with a pup that will be unable to go out for the forseeable future, and that wont be good for his mental health (or mine)!

So firstly:  Even in NORMAL TIMES (not coronavirus!) there are FAR more dogs put to sleep due to behavioural issues resulting from poor socialisation, than the tiny tiny number that contract one of the VERY FEW diseases we vaccinate dogs for.  And we are not in normal times - we are in a time where the opportunity for socialisation is massively reduced over what it usually is, so pups are at an even more increased risk of poor socialisation.  Therefore, if you want to reduce the risk of your dog dying (being PTS) or having a less than optimal life, get socialising your puppy - as best you can given the current restrictions - right away.  Heck, at 11wks, you are going to start leaving the socialisation period.  If you're really worried, carry the pup on pavements or in parks, but if that's all you have available right now, I'd be putting the pup down frankly. 

Secondly, you use the very worrying phrase:

>unable to go out

Which always sets my alarm bells ringing.  Even a baby puppy with zero vaccinations at 8wks old, should be "going out" - they should just be being carried in a shoulder bag everywhere.  They should not be staying at home, and seeing nothing novel, until vaccinations have finished. That is a recipe for disaster.  Nothing about the coronavirus changes this.  At the very least you should have been carrying your puppy with you daily on your outings.

Thirdly, your puppy has had ONE vaccination and that - for many puppies - is perfectly sufficient to completely protect them.  If the maternal antibodies have worn off, your puppy will be completely protected - as much as a puppy that's had both vaccinations.  Unfortunately you don't know if the maternal antibodies have worn off or not, but instead of restarting vaccinations from scratch when this is over, just get a titre test done.  Find a vet which offers Vaccicheck titer testing and test your pup to see if he is immune already to distemper, parvovirus and hepatitis.  Many puppies will be, even after just one vaccination.  If so, you DON'T NEED MORE VACCINATIONS, let alone starting them from scratch: http://vaccicheck.com

Your puppy will not be covered for leptospirosis, since this requires two vaccinations which are 4 weeks apart (unlike any of the other components of the vaccine which just require ONE dose, at a time when maternal antibodies have worn off).  BUT - many of us CHOOSE not to vaccinate for lepto, because that vaccine is responsible for many vaccine reactions, is not a core vaccine and is not even routinely given in the US or North America.  Personally, I don't give it to my dogs and insist my vet leaves it out.  So I really wouldn't be concerned if you don't vaccinate for lepto. 

At the end of all this mess, you're going to see all kinds of vet surgeries offering 'vaccine amnesties' to poor unsuspecting pet owners - who think they are getting a great deal restarting their pet's vaccinations from scratch.  When really the poor animal doesn't need this at all, is going to end up over-vaccinated and at risk of vaccinosis and vaccine related disease. 

To state it simply:

1)  The only diseases you need to ensure a dog is vaccinated for, are DHP - distemper, hepatitis and parvo.  Those diseases require ONE VACCINATION.  Not two.  Not two within a certain period of time.  Not two if you've gone over a year.  Not two in a 'vaccine amnesty'.  Just ONE, given at a time when maternal antibodies have worn off. 

2)  If you don't know whether your ONE vaccination occurred when maternal antibodies have worn off, do a titer test with Vaccicheck when vets start to see clients again.  Don't allow them to restart a course of vaccinations from scratch and over-vaccinate a puppy.  Insist on a titer test so you know where you are.

3)  Any vets saying you need to have TWO vaccinations or the second one needs to be within X amount of time from the first, are only saying that because of the Leptospirosis component of the vaccine.  It's the only part that requires this.  And it's a part which is very controversial and which many of us go to great lengths to avoid because we consider it to be excessively risky.  So IMO you can happily skip it:  This isn't a reason to start from scratch or revaccinate within a certain time etc etc etc....

Thank you for all that helpful information, I appreciate it.  Pup is now too heavy to be carried, I am looking at getting a puppy stroller if all else fails.
I have been letting him walk round the front drive and garden to get him used to some noises, and we have a lot of very heavy tractors come past our house as we are in a rural area.
The lepto does not worry me overly as if I did take him out we wouldnt be going near any watercourse.
The vet has booked him in again for next thursday, but I am pretty sure thay will cancel again. Hey ho just have to do the best I can, . Thanks again

As I've said, one vaccination should be enough (lepto apart?) followed by a booster 12 months on if you can't get the second done 2 - 3 weeks after the first set.   Let's hope it's all over in 12 months time!!    Of course the only way to be sure the first set took, is via titres.

I also hope we have a vaccination or drug cure as in HIV-Aids because for the life of me, I can't see anything being safely put back to how it was before, until nobody in the entire world isn't Corvid 19 free or immune.   And that's totally unlikely to be the case.  Now it's out there, it's out there.

There is also every chance mothers immunity is still active and can be up to about 16 weeks .ofcourse u cant tell without testing but at least odds are in your favour

The advice from RCVS has changed today and most vets will be doing puppy vaccinations and 1st boosters again, boosters for adults dogs are still postponed.

Thanks chaumsong.  He was booked in at my normal vets last thursday but they cancelled again.  I rang another practice a ten minute drive away and they said that second vaccinations were classed as an emergency and they had no other clients there so I could take him in right away.
It was all done very safely.  Pup was in a carrying case and the vet saw us arrive so I put the case outside the front door and stepped well away while the vet and the nurse carried the case inside.  Same lrocedure in reverse to bring him back outside when it was done. I paid over the phone before we left the car park.
The vet was perfectly happy with the way it was done and now I am happy too!

> The advice from RCVS has changed today and most vets will be doing puppy vaccinations and 1st boosters again, boosters for adults dogs are still postponed.

Obviously this news hasn't reached us down 'er in the SW because the original instrustions re actually seeing your dog, still apply.   Still no mention of vaccinating puppies/boostering.   The virus can remain on the fur of dogs.............................

Not for vaccinations but I've had to take my cat to the vet twice in last 2 weeks .he has kidney disease.
Vets were brilliant. Took him from the car in his basket while I stepped away from the car and the reversed the procedure when he had been seen
He stayed in overnight in drip etc .all consult and payment by phone.  When I got him home i wiped him down with a soapy cloth then sone water to his annoyance .same with his basket

It doesn't say vets must vaccinate but they can do from 14th April

> Obviously this news hasn't reached us down 'er in the SW because the original instrustions re actually seeing your dog, still apply.

Obviously the vets still have to practice social distancing, for your safety and theirs, so you have to phone first and if they need to see your pet you stay in the car in the car park and they'll fetch your pet, phone you from the consulting room and then return pet to the car.

Contact your Vet again. The situation and guidelines are changing and updating all of the time. My own Vet is now doing puppy/kitten 1st Vaccinations.