Your new puppy is a precious addition to your family. Keeping them on the proper puppy shot schedule will help ensure their health and your happiness for years to come. Kapolei Pet Hospital in Kapolei, HI, has the information you need to help you plan and stick to a pet vaccination schedule.

Shots shouldn’t start too early in a puppy’s life and need to be spaced apart. These carefully planned vaccinations will allow the dog to gradually build immunity. The typically recommended course includes visits that start at six to eight weeks. From there, each puppy shot will be administered about two to four weeks apart, with possible visits at nine weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. Dates can vary by a week or two, as long as the overall spacing is adhered to. This schedule is centered on combination vaccines that protect against a variety of the most common ailments; additional shots may be given at the recommendation of your veterinarian.

Which diseases will your puppy be immunized against? A typical combination vaccine, or DHLPP, includes protection against five conditions: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus (often simply known as parvo for short). These diseases attack organs like the lungs, liver, and nervous system, so keeping your puppy safe is vital. A vaccine for coronavirus, a digestive disease common in puppies, may also be included in this cocktail. Other shots your puppy will need include those for rabies and bordetella, better known as kennel cough.

A puppy shot won’t be effective forever. Your pet will need booster shots throughout their life, generally on an annual basis. However, getting the foundation set is the way to ensure a great start.

Kapolei Pet Hospital wants to make sure Oahu pets get the care they need. You can trust this local pet clinic to do right by your canine companion. Find out more about their other services for your puppy, including spaying and neutering, on their website. You can also keep up with them (and see cute pet pictures!) on their Facebook page.