Whiskers & Tails Update with Dr Summer Heatly Puppies and kittens should be vaccinated with their core vaccines / shots every 3-4 weeks between the ages of 6 & 16 weeks, for example, at 6,10,& 14 weeks or, 8, 12, & 16 weeks. Puppies and kittens are born with some protective antibodies / immunity that is transferred from their mothers. These are referred to as maternal antibodies. Maternal antibodies are typically gone by the time the puppy or kitten is 14-16 weeks old. To minimize the risk of these maternal antibodies interfering with the vaccination process, the final dose of puppy / kitten shots should be given at 14-16 weeks of age. This is also the recommended age for the puppy and kittens first rabies shot. Once they have completed this first series of vaccines properly, they will then only need booster shots no more than one year later. Intestinal parasites, most commonly roundworms, are extremely common in these young animals and they should therefor also be dewormed every 3-4 weeks between the ages of 6 & 16 weeks. This can easily be done at the time of each of their puppy / kitten wellness appointments.
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 00:00:54 +0000
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