Preferred Vaccination Schedule

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• First shots at 9 weeks old, MLV Parvovirus/Distemper ONLY.
• Second shots at 12 weeks- MLV Parvovirus/Distemper ONLY.
• 16-20 weeks: MLV Parvovirus/Distemper ONLY.
• 24 weeks (or older, if allowable by law), Killed Rabies Vaccine, given ALONE, not in conjunction with any other vaccines.
• 1 year: MLV Parvo/Distemper Booster. Also at 1 year, but at least 3-4 weeks apart from the other, Killed Rabies Vaccine, afterwards, every 3-5 years as allowable by law.
• No vaccines against Leptospirosis or Bordetella.

Leptobactrin - do not recommend.

Corona Virus Vaccine - do not recommend. If required by trainer or kennel, give at 18 & 22 weeks.

Bordetella Vaccine - do not recommend. If required by trainer or kennel, give at 22 weeks.

Rabies Vaccine – not to be given at same time as any other vaccine or during stress or surgery. 

•  Don’t administer drugs, flea preventive, heartworm preventive or wormers. The exception to this is topical flea prevention, which is what we strongly recommend using (only IF you have trouble with fleas; your dog may not need flea preventative all year!)
• Don’t give any vaccines to a bitch "in season". 
• Don’t give any vaccines to a pregnant or lactating bitch.
• Don’t incur undue stress. 
• Don’t introduce air travel. 
• Don't board outside the known home.

Don’t vaccinate under stress; corticosteriods inhibit lymphocyte metabolism and cell growth. Adrenalin releases lymphocytic AMP (cyclic) which is immunosuppressive. Stress decreases the activity of natural killer cells.

Don’t vaccinate within 2 weeks of surgery. Anesthetics are immunosuppressive. 

Don’t vaccinate before 6 weeks of age. MLV vaccine can cause encephalitis in pups under 4 wks. 

Don’t routinely vaccinate older animals.  Administer a biannual vaccine at 1/2 dose each 6 months IF necessary. 

Don’t administer multiple virus vaccines to dogs and cats in multiple animal households. Virus shedding can create increased virus particles in the environment. 

Don’t vaccinate sick animals or those who have been exposed to disease. 

Don’t vaccinate during glucocorticoid therapy. Be cautious with butazolidin, estrogens and insecticidal drugs including heartworm preventives. 

Don’t vaccinate animals with tumors, heart or kidney disease.
 

The diagrammed schedule is based on Cornell Research of the early 90’s reported by Dr. W. Jean Dodds, currently a holistic veterinarian in Southern California.