Vaccines are crucial for your puppy’s health. The DHPPV vaccine, commonly referred to as the “distemper vaccine,” is part of your puppy’s core vaccines. It is a combination of vaccines in a single injection that includes protection against canine distemper virus, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza.
Vaccine Schedule
If your puppy’s mother has a healthy immune system and has been properly vaccinated, he will likely receive antibodies sufficient to protect his body from many diseases until he is weaned. Each puppy is different, but in general a puppy should begin his vaccinations when he is weaned around 6 weeks old. Your veterinarian will administer a minimum of three DHPPV vaccines around three to four weeks apart to properly vaccinate him against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. His final dose will occur when he is approximately 16 weeks old.
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Writer Bio
Christina Stephens is a writer from Portland, Ore. whose main areas of focus are pets and animals, travel and literature. A veterinary assistant, she taught English in South Korea and holds a BA in English with cum laude honors from Portland State University.