Let’s talk about the business end first… puppy vaccines.

Vaccines are such a controversial subject these days, at least human ones are. Even dog vaccines come in to question now though… mainly the question of, do we over- vaccinate our dogs?

Typically puppies get vaccines at about 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. There are basic vaccines given, and then various add-ons in different parts of the state, country… and world… depending on what’s prevalent in the area.

My thought is, get your puppy/ dog vaccinated. And until they are fully vaccinated, don’t expose them to unvaccinated dogs, or areas where unvaccinated dogs or wild things have been…which is just about everywhere. Also, be careful what you track into the house on your feet.

Later, when it comes time to get vaccine boosters, there are some options to have titers done. If the dog is shown to still be immune, a booster can be skipped. Sadly, the cost of doing titers is many times higher than the booster itself.

The following is a list of what Star Light and Blue have been vaccinated for:

Distemper, caused by a virus, and the death rate in unvaccinated dogs is about 50%. It attacks the respiratory, digestive, and brain/nervous system of dogs.

A type of hepatitis , which affects the liver.

Parvovirus, very serious and highly contagious, with a death rate of about 90% in unvaccinated dogs. It attacks the digestive and immune system, causing debilitating diarrhea and vomiting.

Bordetella, a bacteria that causes respiratory disease in dogs. Also called Kennel cough. It’s highly contagious through direct contact and through the air. Dogs can pick this up at doggie day care, if they are boarded, and at dog parks. the vaccine is given as a nasal spray.

Dog flu, which spreads among dogs much as human flu spreads among people.

Leptospirosis, a bactreial disease that attacks the kidneys and liver in dogs and can be transmitted to humans.

(Those last two are regional where we live.)

Star Light completed all that about a week ago. Phew! Now she can come out of her little stroller and go for short walks, and she will be starting a puppy class, mostly for socialization, in another week.

She’s already been with friends dogs whom I know are fully vaccinated.

Yesterday my friend Terese who has a puppy about the same age, and fully vaccinated, came over for a play date here in the back yard. It was wild and crazy non-stop running, rolling, and tumbling around for almost an hour, then they were both ready for naps!

Afterwards Star was a grubby puppy and she got a bath in the tub. The most efficient way I’ve found to do this is to spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the side of the tub.

Now she’s fluffy and she smells nice, and she’s all ready to meet her Auntie Laura and Uncle Joel for the first time, later today!