German Shepherd Vaccination Schedule

Wondering about the best vaccination schedule for your German Shepherd? It can be confusing. Puppies usually start their vaccines at six weeks old. In this post, I’ll go over the main core and non-core vaccines your puppy needs.

Let’s get started.

Key Takeaways

• Start vaccines at 6-8 weeks with the DHPP shot to protect against distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus.
• Give follow-up vaccines at 10-12 weeks and 14-16 weeks, including rabies at 4 months.
• Non-core vaccines like Bordetella, Leptospirosis, and Lyme may be needed based on your dog’s lifestyle.
• Annual booster shots are essential to keep your German Shepherd protected from diseases.
• Vaccinating your dog keeps them healthy and guards against serious, life-threatening illnesses.

Essential Puppy Vaccinations

I make sure my German Shepherd receives all essential vaccines to build strong immunities. These shots protect against common canine diseases and keep my puppy healthy.

Distemper

Canine distemper affects my dog’s nervous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. The canine distemper virus spreads through aerosols and droplets from infected animals. My German Shepherd may show fever, coughing, or diarrhea if infected.

Vaccinating against distemper starts at 6-8 weeks as part of the DHPP vaccine. Booster shots maintain immunities and protect against this serious disease.

Hepatitis (Adenovirus-2)

Hepatitis (Adenovirus-2) is part of the DHLPP vaccine. It protects the liver and other organs. This virus causes infectious canine hepatitis. It spreads through contact with infected urine, feces, or saliva.

My German Shepherd can get sick with fever, vomiting, and liver damage. Vaccinating my dog helps prevent this serious disease. I rely on veterinary care to give the right injections on schedule.

Keeping up with the vaccine schedule ensures my dog stays healthy. Next, I’ll talk about Canine Parvovirus (CPV-2).

Canine Parvovirus (CPV-2)

Canine Parvovirus (CPV-2) spreads through contact with infected dogs or their environments. It targets puppies and unvaccinated dogs, causing severe symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

Without quick treatment, it can lead to dehydration and even death. I saw how important vaccines are when a friend’s puppy got CPV-2. The rabies vaccine and boosters help protect against this virus.

Veterinarians recommend starting vaccinations early to keep your German Shepherd safe from CPV-2 and other diseases.

Next, let’s explore the Rabies vaccine and its importance.

Rabies

After the Canine Parvovirus vaccine, rabies vaccination is next. In California, I gave my German Shepherd a rabies shot at 4 months old. This vaccine is legally required. A second rabies vaccine is needed at 12 months.

Then, every three years, I update the rabies vaccines. Rabies is deadly and spreads through bites from rabid animals. Vaccinating my dog protects our family and prevents the spread of this virus.

Non-core Vaccines for German Shepherds

Besides the essential shots, my German Shepherd may need Bordetella, Leptospirosis, and Lyme vaccines to stay healthy—learn more to keep your dog safe.

Bordetella

I ensure my German Shepherd receives the Bordetella vaccine to guard against kennel cough. Bordetella bronchiseptica spreads easily, especially in boarding facilities. This contagious disease causes severe upper respiratory infections.

My dog’s first shot comes at 12 to 14 weeks old. The second dose is given when he turns one year. After that, he gets booster doses every year. Keeping up with this schedule helps prevent pneumonia and other respiratory issues.

I’ve noticed fewer signs of illness since vaccinating him against Bordetella.

Leptospirosis

I include the leptospirosis vaccine in my German Shepherd’s schedule. This dog vaccine protects against a serious bacterial disease. Treatment can cost up to $8,000, and recovery isn’t guaranteed.

I start vaccinating my puppy no sooner than 14 weeks old and give annual boosters. This guards my dog against diseases that can spread to people and keeps him healthy.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. I vaccinate my German Shepherd at 10 weeks old. The second shot comes 2 weeks later. Every year, I give her a booster to keep her protected.

This schedule helps prevent infections from ticks and keeps her healthy.

Vaccination Schedule for Puppies

When my puppy is six weeks old, we start with the first set of vaccines to guard against illnesses like distemper and parvovirus. Then, at two and four months, we bring her back for more shots to keep her fully protected.

6-8 weeks: Initial shots

At 6 to 8 weeks, my German Shepherd puppy got his first DHPP shot. This vaccine protects against distemper, canine adenovirus-2, parvovirus, and parainfluenza virus. These diseases can cause serious issues like intestinal infections and respiratory tract infections.

Getting the DHPP shot early helps prevent dog flu and other harmful viruses. The vet gave the vaccine subcutaneously. I made sure my puppy was weaned and healthy before the appointment.

After the shot, I watched for any side effects, such as swelling or a mild fever.

10-12 weeks: Follow-up vaccines

At 10-12 weeks, I took my German Shepherd for the second DHPP vaccine. This shot protects against canine distemper virus (CDV), infectious hepatitis, and parvovirus. My vet also gave rabies shots to prevent zoonosis.

I started heartworm prevention and discussed Lyme disease vaccines. Using pet insurance helped cover the costs of these dog vaccines. Keeping up with this schedule stops viruses like canine influenza and coronavirus from infecting my pup.

14-16 weeks: Additional vaccines

At 14-16 weeks, I give my German Shepherd the 3rd DHPP shot. This vaccine protects against distemper, hepatitis (canine adenovirus 2), and parvovirus (CPV-2). The final DHPP shot is usually given at 16 weeks or later.

I also consider vaccines like leptospirosis and Lyme disease. These protect against tick-borne diseases and leptospirosis bacteria. If my puppy visits animal shelters or spends time outdoors, these vaccines are important.

Ensuring all shots are done helps immunize my dog against serious infectious diseases and reduces the risk of adverse reactions.

Annual Booster Shots

Every year, I take my German Shepherd for booster shots. These include essential and optional vaccines to keep him healthy.

Core and non-core vaccine boosters

I ensure my German Shepherd gets all necessary vaccines each year. Core boosters include distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and rabies. These protect against serious diseases like canine adenovirus 1 and the virus that causes parvovirus.

For non-core boosters, I vaccinate against Bordetella and Lyme disease annually. If my dog is often around other dogs, I give a Bordetella booster every six months. Leptospirosis and canine influenza vaccines are also part of the yearly shots.

These vaccines help prevent infections like acute respiratory infection and upper respiratory tract infections. Regular boosters keep my dog safe from heartworm disease and other threats.

Conclusion

Keeping my German Shepherd healthy starts with the right vaccination schedule. I begin with shots at 6 to 8 weeks and continue every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks. Each year, booster shots keep my dog protected from diseases.

I also discuss optional vaccines with my vet to fit my dog’s lifestyle. This routine ensures my German Shepherd stays strong and happy.

FAQs

1. What vaccines are essential for a German Shepherd?

German Shepherds need vaccines for diseases like canine coronavirus, canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus 1, and B. bronchiseptica. These vaccines protect against various influenza viruses and other infections.

2. When should German Shepherds be vaccinated?

Puppies start getting vaccines at 6-8 weeks old. They receive booster shots every few weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. Adult dogs need regular titer tests to check their immunity levels.

3. What are the risks of vaccinating my German Shepherd?

While vaccines are safe, some dogs may have side effects like anaphylactic shock or bloating. It’s important to monitor your dog after vaccination and consult a vet if you see any signs of illness.

4. How do vaccines protect German Shepherds from diseases?

Vaccines help German Shepherds build immunity. For example, the coronavirus vaccine protects against canine coronavirus, and the bivalent vaccine covers two types of flu strains. This helps prevent infections.

5. Do German Shepherds need a titer test for their vaccines?

Yes, a titer test measures your dog’s antibody levels. It helps determine if your German Shepherd needs a booster vaccine or can wait longer before the next shot.