We collected our new puppy from the breeder two weeks ago and, as expected, he had been given his 1st vaccination.  The paperwork stated that he needed the 2nd vaccination 2 - 4 weeks after the first.

We made an appointment to go to a new(ish) vet locally rather than drive to the vet we have used previously.  On arrival, as our details were being confirmed, the receptionist stated that the puppy was too young at 10 weeks to have a 2nd vaccination and that vaccinations should be done as follows: 1st vaccination at 10 weeks with the 2nd at 12/13 weeks and the dog 'allowed out' two weeks after the 2nd.  We pointed out that this was not our first dog and that the breeder had assured us he could be vaccinated (2nd) at 12 weeks.  When we booked his puppy classes we were informed he should have 2nd vaccination at 10 weeks and after two weeks would be able to attend puppy classes.

Is the 'new' vet just trying to make money or has the schedule for vaccinations changed?

The reason I ask is, when we left the new vet with the puppy NOT having a vaccination I then phoned our old vet who managed to fit us in at the end of evening surgery and assured us that as the 1st vaccination had been given at 8 weeks it was perfectly okay to give the 2nd at 10 weeks and we could then wait two more weeks before taking the puppy out as normal.

Any comments/feedback/input would be greatly appreciated.

Robkay 

We had this with Hudson (now aged nearly 3) my vet said that he had had his first vaccination at too young an age. However, the breeder was a qualified vet nurse and had stated catagorically that she had checked with the vet at her practise and everything was fine. I MADE my vet do more research and eventually, after much grumbling, he agreed to give the second vaccination when I said it was due and to NOT restart the whole course. Needless to say I did not stay at that vets ;)

We had our bitch vaccinated at 8 and 10 weeks old with no problems :) It is common procedure at our vets. Our dog had his first vaccination at 6 1/2 week old with the second injection due at 10 1/2 weeks (though he wasn't done until 12 1/2 weeks but all the rest of the litter had the second one done at 10 1/2 weeks and were fine).

I think that different vets use different vaccines, I know our vets didn't stock the type of vaccine used on my youngest, but they got some in for me. We've recently moved but I kept the same vets as I know and trust them (though I have got details of a vets in my local area who are willing to see mine in the event of an emergency).

It depends on both the particular vaccine regime each vet uses, and when the pup was removed from its mother. If it was still (as is common) running with its mother and having the occasional 'comfort suck' it will still have been receiving maternal antibodies (alway assuming the bitch's immunity was up to scratch) through the bitch's milk and so vaccinating too early would have been pointless. 

My vet wouldn't give my homebred pups their first injection till they were 10 weeks old for this very reason.

I have always had my Cavaliers:
1st injection at 8 weeks and 2nd at 10 weeks.

Some vets say they can go out 1 week after 2nd jab and sonme say 2 weeks after.

I know my vets give vaccinations at 8 and 12 weeks and are then yearly boostered. I have heard that there is a call for boosters to be done every three years but how would this affect people who wish to board their pets while on holiday

My boarding kennel owner has said that if the vet says the next booster is due in three years she will accept that.

Leptosporosis still needs a yearly booster. Information is on the Intervet site.

My vet has done a two yearly Distemper booster for as long as I have gone to him- from early eighties. Lepto and Parvo are yearly.

More of a problem is the pet insurance companies who have not yet given an opinion as far as I am aware.

As far as I understand it, the first vaccination given in a puppy course is Leptospirosis only (The 'L' in the 'D', 'H', 'P', 'L', 'PI'). The second dose given approximately 3 weeks later is the 'D' (Distemper), 'H' (hepatitis), 'P' (Parvo-virus) & 'PI' (Parinfluenza)followed by a second shot of 'L'. Some vets also give Bordatella ('B') but this is not really essential.

Therefore, I cannot see why it would ever be neccesary to restart the puppy course again, Leptospirosis is already repeated in the second batch of vaccinations!

It is correct that the first vaccination should not be given prior to 9 weeks of age in most cases, because the maternal anti-bodies are still present up to this age and any vaccination given stands the chance of being 'overwritten' by the mother's anti-bodies.

It is disputed whether Leptospirosis vaccination is really necessary, the strain that the vaccination protects against is very rare nowadays and the more common ones are not included in the vaccination. There is also evidence that the efficacy of the Leptospirosis vaccination is as low as three months in duration.

The three year period recommended by Intervet is the minimum period that the vaccination is effective for. We actually vaccinate our dogs as puppies, again 12 months later and not again for the remainder of their life.

If they are not immunised by two courses, then they never will be.

Snomaes, do you mean that your dogs have no more vaccinations against anything at all after the one at 12 months?  I only ask because I have not had Saffy vaccinated this year, but was a bit concerned that I should have the Lepto one done.  I don't really think any vet around here would only do that though and that's why I have had nothing done.

Fiona

<Snomaes, do you mean that your dogs have no more vaccinations against anything at all after the one at 12 months?>

Yes, we have a puppy course of vaccinations at 10 & 12 weeks and a booster between 14-18 months. We have not vaccinated again after this period for about the last 6 years.

We only have the puppy vaccs done - they don't even have the first booster. I believe both my dogs are healthier because of this. Although we are registered with a local vet, his surgery isn't a place we visit too often. ;)

<....but was a bit concerned that I should have the Lepto one done.  I don't really think any vet around here would only do that though>

Any vet should be able to vaccinate with Leptospirosis only. Leptospirosis is the only vaccine that is commonly available on its own.
Whether it is worthwhile is debateable due to the short term cover (much less than twelve months, sometimes as low as three) and the strains of Leptospirosis protected against (not very common in the environment).