Puppies have low immunity levels that make them susceptible to different kinds of diseases. The good news is, they can acquire immunity against these potential diseases through various shots. So, what are the shots a Boston Terrier puppy needs?
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What Are The Shots A Boston Terrier Puppy Needs?
Boston Terrier puppies need several vaccination shots like distemper, parvovirus, and rabies vaccines with follow-up booster shots. These shots will protect your dog from dangerous and deadly diseases in the future.
The role of vaccines is to introduce a weakened form of virus into your puppy’s body so that its immune system produces antibodies against that type of virus. In the next section, I will discuss the different vaccines and how important they are for your Boston Terrier puppies.
Distemper Vaccine
When your puppy reaches the age of six to eight weeks old, it’s time to give him a distemper shot. It’s boosted two times with an interval of three weeks each. This shot is of the core vaccines because the distemper virus is deadly and has no cure.
The distemper virus attacks the nervous system, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems of the living host. The symptoms include fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, twitching, paralysis with discharges coming from the eyes.
Parvovirus Vaccine
Parvovirus vaccine is administered to your puppy when it reaches the age of six to seven weeks old. Similar to distemper, this shot is also a core vaccine for your dog. It’s usually given in an interval of three to four weeks until your dog reaches 16 weeks old.
Parvovirus targets the gastrointestinal system of puppies. This problem results in the loss of your dog’s appetite, fever, diarrhea with blood, and vomiting. This virus attacks your dog with ages of below four months. Just like the distemper virus, it has no cure.
Hepatitis Vaccine
As your puppy reaches the age of 10 to 12 weeks of age, that’s the time to give him his hepatitis shot. It comes in a series of three vaccines given at an interval of four to six weeks. One booster shot is given after a year and after three years once your dog turns adult.
The hepatitis infection affects the kidneys, liver, lungs, eyes, and the dog’s blood reservoir in a highly contagious manner. Your dog will exhibit several symptoms such as stomach enlargement, pain surrounding the liver, slight fever, clogging of the mucous membrane, and vomiting.
Parainfluenza Vaccine
Parainfluenza vaccine is given to puppies ages 10 to 12 weeks old. Puppies with parainfluenza virus may show little signs of a dry and harsh cough with a nasal discharge. This virus targets the immune system that leads to the loss of cilia and can lead to severe pneumonia.
You can administer a coronavirus vaccine to your puppy at the age of six to seven weeks. This vaccine is non-core or only administered to your dog depending on your pet’s exposure and assessment.
This virus is different from the coronavirus in people. Initially, this virus affects the gastrointestinal system of the dog. Later on, it can also affect the respiratory system. Symptoms of this viral infection include diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. It has similarities with the Parvovirus, but this one is not as fatal.
Leptospirosis Vaccine
This vaccine is only given to your dog when exposed to the virus. Your vet will determine the necessity of giving this vaccine to your puppy. This vaccine shot is often given annually to get maximum protection. Unlike the previous viral infections, this one is caused by bacteria and is curable by antibiotics.
Most puppies are given a combination of all the mentioned vaccines in one shot. It saves your dog from multiple shots. This vaccine is called multivalent. The DHLPPCv is an example of a multivalent vaccine. The acronym stands for:
- D — Distemper
- H — Hepatitis
- L — Leptospirosis
- P — Parainfluenza
- P — Parvovirus
- Cv — Coronavirus
Rabies Vaccine
The anti-rabies shot is given to puppies at the age of three months. The next shot is when your puppy turns nine months old. The next vaccinations would be annually. Rabies attacks the central nervous system of its host. Most states impose a law requiring anti-rabies shots.
Other Vaccines
Aside from the recommended vaccines mentioned above, here is the list of other vaccinations that can give optimum protection for your Boston Terrier puppies.
- Bordetella vaccines
- Lyme disease vaccines
Vaccines Side Effects
Vaccinations might bring side effects to your puppy. In this section, I will talk about the side effects from mild to serious. I will also talk about what you need to do to help your Boston Terrier puppy in these cases.
Common side effects include:
- loss of appetite
- mild swelling and redness in the area vaccinated
- low fever
- decreased activity level
- sneezing
- coughing
- nasal discharge
These side effects shouldn’t exceed manifesting more than 24 hours. The respiratory symptoms mentioned above, however, last between two to four days when the vaccination used involves an intranasal vaccine. If the side effects persist more than the specified time, inform your vet.
On the other hand, the serious side effects of vaccinations include:
- fainting
- breathing difficulty
- severe cough
- swollen eyes
- puffy face
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- small, red and itchy bumps over the body
Usually, these side effects are rare but manifest within a few minutes or hours after your puppy was vaccinated. Due to the seriousness of the effects, these are considered medical emergencies and would require a vet’s attention as soon as possible.
It is advised to spend 30 minutes to 60 minutes at the clinic after your pet’s vaccination to address any serious side effects that could possibly arise. If your pet experienced any vaccination reactions before, inform your vet no matter how insignificant it is.
Schedule of Vaccines
The table below shows an example of a vaccination schedule for your puppies. Remember, other vets may have a different schedule of their own.
| Age | Recommended Vaccines |
| 6 to 7 weeks | First dose of multivent DHPPCv ( Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Coronavirus) |
| 9 weeks | Second dose of multivent vaccines |
| 12 weeks | Third dose of multivent vaccines |
| 12 weeks to 16 weeks | Rabies Vaccine |
| 16 weeks | Last combination of the vaccines |
Cost of Puppy Vaccinations
The average cost of vaccinations ranges between $75 to $100 including the core vaccines given at three consecutive ages — 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. Core vaccines include:
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Leptospirosis
- Parvo
- Parainfluenza
However, the rabies vaccine can cost between $15 to $20.
If you’re looking for a cheaper cost of vaccination, animal shelters offer cheaper vaccination costs, sometimes free.
Related Questions
What Are the Most Important Dog Vaccines?
The most important vaccines to give your dogs are parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper and rabies. These vaccines are the core vaccines. Other ones outside are only given depending on their exposure risk.
Can I Vaccinate My Puppy Myself?
Yes. Although there are vaccines that you can administer to your puppies, it’s still best to consult your vet.
Can a Puppy Get Parvo After First Shot?
Yes. Even though your puppy has vaccines, it can still get a parvo. However, the parvovirus shot reduces the risk of severe conditions. That is why it is recommended to give your puppy its first parvo vaccine when it turns six to eight weeks.
Conclusion
Since puppies are prone to various diseases due to their low immune system level, vaccinations are very important to protect them. However, not all vaccines are required. Some vaccines are only administered once your dog has a risk of exposure to certain types of disease.
