Vaccination schedule for Chihuahuas by age: how and when to do it

Vaccinations for Chihuahuas are mandatory preventive measures. This allows you to protect your pets from infections that the animal can contract absolutely anywhere.

Many breeders of dogs of this breed prefer to ignore the recommendations of veterinarians, explaining this by the fact that the four-legged friend does not have any contact with other dogs.

In this regard, the question often arises about whether there is a need for vaccination and how to carry it out correctly without causing harm to the pet’s health.

Why do you need to vaccinate your pet?

There is a misconception among novice dog breeders that if a pet does not interact with other dogs and does not walk in parks with other dogs, then it does not need routine vaccination. Veterinarians never cease to convince such skeptics otherwise. Pets need to be vaccinated for several reasons:

• most dog infections are transmitted by airborne droplets or through excrement, so a person can bring them into the house along with shoes, on clothing, etc.;
• many diseases are dangerous not only for the normal functioning of dogs, but also for the human body;
• A Chihuahua puppy has an extremely vulnerable immune system.

Modern veterinarians strongly recommend vaccinating Chihuahua babies against the following diseases:

• rabies;
• carnivore plague;
• infectious hepatitis;
• parainfluenza;
• leptospirosis;
• adenoviral infection;
• viral enteritis.

Vaccination of Chihuahuas is especially important for representatives of the breed who often attend exhibitions. Such pets need not only excellent immunity from diseases, but also a veterinary passport with vaccination marks, confirming the dog’s safety in terms of infectious diseases.

Is it worth getting vaccinated against coronavirus and leptospirosis?

Professional breeders and dog handlers do not recommend injecting the coronavirus vaccine for two specific reasons:

• The vaccine provides limited protection against coronavirus.
• Coronavirus is a relatively mild illness, with many infected dogs showing no symptoms.

It's also worth noting that only puppies under 6 weeks of age show symptoms of coronavirus disease. Therefore, there is no benefit in vaccinating an older individual. Thus, if there is no coronavirus epidemic in your region, then there is no need to vaccinate your Chihuahua puppy against infection.

Owners should think carefully before vaccinating their Chihuahua dog against leptospirosis. Caused by the bacterial pathogen Leptospira, leptospirosis is transmitted to dogs (and people) through direct contact with contaminated urine, feces, water, or soil. Fleas and ticks are also carriers. The infection affects the kidneys, causing kidney failure and inflammation.

Current leptospirosis vaccines do not protect against all of the more than 200 species of the pathogen. For some species, the vaccine has an effectiveness rate of 50 to 75% within one year. Breeds such as Chihuahuas are also at greatest risk of a severe reaction to the leptospirosis vaccine, including anaphylactic shock.

Therefore, in the table above, I did not indicate vaccines such as Nobivac Lepto and Nobivac LR, where L and Lepto stand for leptospirosis. Immunization of Chihuahuas against these diseases is at the discretion of the owner. If you are concerned about leptospirosis and coronavirus, consult your veterinarian to discuss the effectiveness of vaccination and the risks associated with it.

The written arguments are the personal opinion of the administration, a recommendation, and not a call to refuse vaccinations for these diseases!

Vaccination calendar

A Chihuahua puppy is vaccinated according to a vaccination schedule specially developed by veterinarians for this breed. The vaccine should be administered exclusively by an experienced specialist in a veterinary clinic or office, which will protect the pet from complications of the procedure.

The first vaccination is usually given to puppies at eight months of age. Some dog owners prefer to vaccinate small Chihuahuas by the end of the first month of their life, but doctors do not welcome this practice, since such human actions often result in dire consequences for the puppy. About a week and a half before the vaccine is administered, the dog must be dewormed by giving an anthelmintic (preferably in the form of a suspension). Many veterinarians advise driving away worms using drugs such as Drontal Junior or Milprazone. The first vaccination helps protect the puppy from the most dangerous canine diseases, including distemper, enteritis, parainfluenza, adenovirus and leptospirosis. To implement it, the drug Nobivak dhppi is used together with Nobivak Lepto, which are well tolerated and rarely cause side effects.

It is advisable to give the second vaccination to the dog at 12 weeks of its life. At this time, the pet is administered the same drug as the previous time. Such actions allow you to consolidate the results of the first vaccination and develop strong immunity in the puppy’s body. 1.5 weeks before the injection, the pet should undergo preventive deworming. The third vaccination is recommended after the replacement of baby teeth (at approximately 8 to 11 months of age). Then every year Chihuahuas need revaccination, which is carried out at the same time.

How to prepare a puppy for vaccination?

First of all, you must pre-register for vaccination. Having agreed with the veterinarian on a specific date and time of the appointment, you can begin preparing your pet. So, the preparatory activities are as follows:

1. 10-14 days before the vaccination (no matter what it is), it is necessary to worm the Chihuahua puppy. The fact is that worms interfere with the proper absorption of antigens, thereby greatly reducing the effectiveness of vaccination. Another reason why you need to worm your dog is to increase the risk of adverse reactions and post-vaccination complications. Recommended drugs are Drontal Plus or Procox.
2. You also need to treat your puppy for fleas 10-14 days in advance.
3. On the day of vaccination, you need to feed your pet as fully as always.
4. Three hours before vaccination, you need to measure the puppy's temperature. Its increase may become a contraindication to vaccination.
5. It is necessary to examine the mucous membranes of the Chihuahua puppy and assess its health condition. It is necessary that the dog is completely healthy.

Some veterinary clinics offer home-based vaccinations. This is much more convenient than taking a Chihuahua puppy to the clinic and subjecting it to unnecessary stress. But before inviting a specialist to your home, you need to make sure that the clinic has a license.

Rabies vaccination

Rabies is one of the most feared infectious diseases known to mankind. Its pathogens are equally dangerous for representatives of the animal world and humans. The disease is one of the fatal pathologies, so its prevention is one of the main tasks of modern epidemiology.

It has been proven that rabies vaccination is most difficult for Chihuahua puppies to tolerate. It is after this that negative consequences and complications most often arise. Therefore, vaccination that protects the dog’s body from rabies should be done at the age of at least 12 months and only after comprehensive vaccination against viral infections and leptospirosis.

Vaccination schedule: when and what to do

Since puppies have an increased susceptibility to many infectious diseases, unlike adult dogs, they need to be provided with some protection, which will reduce the likelihood of contracting an infection of bacterial or viral origin and strengthen the immune system.

Vaccination is carried out according to the vaccination calendar established for the Chihuahua breed.

First

This is done when the animal reaches 2 months of age. To do this, the specialist administers two types of vaccine: DHPPI+Lepto or Nobivak Lepto .

Thanks to these drugs, it is possible to prevent the development of such dangerous pathological processes as carnivore plague, parainfluenza, enteritis and leptospirosis. Injections are given intramuscularly or injected under the skin.

The price of medicine with syringes will vary from 500 to 700 rubles. Vaccination of a Chihuahua in a clinic without the drug included in the price ranges from 300 to 500 rubles.

If the dog was purchased at 2 months of age or older, then the previous owner must be required to provide a passport with a stamp on the first vaccination.

Second

Revaccination is performed 30 days after the initial one. In this case, the veterinarian uses the same drugs, which allows you to consolidate the previously obtained results.

Third

According to the vaccination schedule, the final revaccination can be done only after the teeth have been completely renewed. (age six to seven months). Medicines – Nobivak DHPPI or Nobivak Rabies.

For rabies

According to most veterinarians, such a vaccination is recommended when the puppy is one year old, not earlier, since it is difficult to tolerate.

In most cases, the doctor prescribes the drug Eurican LR. This vaccine is active for 36 months. However, due to the fact that the disease poses a serious danger not only to the pet, but also to human health, in the future it must be done every 12 months in the spring.

Rabies vaccinations are allowed only in special veterinary clinics that have the appropriate license to provide such services..

Algorithm of actions when missing vaccination

Sometimes it happens that the puppy’s owner missed the vaccination and failed to give his pet the necessary injection on time. In such cases, you need competent consultation with a specialist regarding further tactics for managing your four-legged pet. If the delay in vaccination did not exceed two weeks, the doctor will most likely decide to administer the vaccine once. In case of more significant deviations in the timing, it is recommended to vaccinate as for puppies, that is, with subsequent revaccination.

Answer

Vaccination of animals against rabies comes first among other preventive measures. In the described case, the relevance of vaccination is undeniable; it is planned to travel outdoors, where contact with animals, including wild ones, is possible.

Rabies is one of the most dangerous infections that equally affects animals and humans. The main source of infection are sick animals - dogs and cats, and in rural areas, in addition, wild animals. Pets often become infected with rabies after being bitten by a fox or encountering a hedgehog.

Today, no medicine has been created to cure an animal from this dangerous disease. Animals infected with rabies die.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of a sick animal through saliva and enters the blood. It spreads throughout the body in the blood, affecting the central nervous system. The task of rabies prevention is controlled at the state level.

Quarantine

After vaccination, a four-legged patient needs a special quarantine. During this time, for 2 weeks, the puppy’s owner must closely monitor the health of his pet and, in case of the most minor deviations, immediately contact a veterinarian.

Quarantine after vaccination includes:

• complete refusal to walk outside and take water treatments;
• maximum limitation of any contact between the Chihuahua and other animals;
• control that the dog does not scratch the skin at the site of vaccine administration.

The body's reaction to vaccination

Vaccines are effective in preventing and preventing infectious (and viral) diseases, but have side effects. Most of them are weak, appear a few hours after vaccination, and disappear within 1-2 days. If any of the side effects listed below persist for more than 2 days, contact your veterinarian.

Relatively safe post-vaccination side effects:

• redness and slight swelling at the injection site;
• slight increase in temperature (+0.2-0.9 °C);
• loss of appetite;
• drowsiness and decreased activity;
• runny nose and sneezing;
• local pain in the injection area.

Mild side effects in the form of an allergic reaction can be alleviated by using antihistamines: Diphenhydramine, Suprastin or Benadryl. The dosage varies depending on the weight of the animal. The calculation is carried out in a 2:1 ratio, i.e. 2 mg per 1 kg of body weight.

Dangerous post-vaccination side effects also occur, which require emergency veterinary care.

Dangerous post-vaccination side effects:

• anaphylactic shock;
• severe periodic vomiting and diarrhea;
• cyanosis of the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue;
• labored breathing;
• urticaria (allergic rash);
• severe itching;
• swelling of the face and neck (Quincke's edema).

Consequences after administration of the vaccine

Like any intervention, Chihuahua vaccination can have a number of undesirable reactions and consequences, which every puppy breeder must be prepared for in order to respond to their development in time. Veterinarians include such complications of vaccination:

• a slight increase in the animal’s general body temperature, decreased appetite and weakness in the first days after the injection;
• the appearance of a lump at the injection site;
• lack of interest in food, favorite toys, owner.

If such changes occur, the owner of a Chihuahua is obliged to consult a doctor to clarify the severity of the consequences of vaccination and correct such pathological disorders.

How the vaccine works

No vaccine provides 100% guarantee of effective protection against external pathogens, viruses and infections. However, vaccination is an important preventive measure aimed at a protective reaction and strengthening the immune system against viruses against which a medical drug has been developed. Some drugs protect against one disease, others against several (combination vaccine).

When creating a vaccine, virologists kill or chemically replace the original pathogen so that it is not capable of causing disease. This is a methodical process because... the virus or bacteria must still contain its original protein molecules (antigens) for the dog's immune system to produce antibodies. A vaccine containing a strong pathogen may cause the disease rather than prevent it. On the contrary, a pathogen that is too weak will not offer adequate protection.

Cost of vaccination

The price of preventive medications for Chihuahuas depends on several factors:

• manufacturer of the vaccine;
• the region of its distribution;
• seller's pricing policy.

On average, the cost of vaccination in our country is about 200-250 rubles. for Nobivak and 150-200 rubles. for Eurikan.

What to do if you missed a vaccination?

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is very easy to forget about the need to vaccinate your pet on time. Sometimes owners remember this much later than expected and do not know what to do next.

Regardless of the situation, there is no need to panic. Consultation with a specialist is important here. After calculating how many days have passed since the last vaccination, he will make a decision.

NOTE!

If your pet is less than two weeks behind schedule, then one vaccination will be enough. If we are talking about more impressive periods, then the Chihuahua will have to go through the vaccine and revaccination with a break of a month, as it was in puppyhood.

General concepts

Don't rush into vaccination, otherwise it may simply not work. The immune protection the puppy receives through its mother’s milk disappears gradually. After this, the Chihuahua exhibits its own defense. If you get vaccinated too early, the risk of disease will increase.

Ten to fourteen days before each vaccination it is necessary to carry out deworming, that is, driving away worms. Otherwise, the vaccine will not work. The first time this procedure is done at three weeks, the second time at five weeks, the third at ten weeks. In the future, it must be repeated every three months. For this purpose, we can recommend the Drontal Junior suspension or Pratel tablets. The drug should be given to the Chihuahua in the morning on an empty stomach. The instructions included with the medicine will help you calculate the prescribed dose.

The first and second vaccinations should be given with the same drug. Always check the expiration date of the vaccine. Read the instructions to find out how to properly store the drug so that it does not lose its properties. Also read about possible complications in a dog after an injection.

Begin checking your Chihuahua's temperature three days before each vaccination. Thirty-nine degrees is the normal temperature for a dog.

The day before vaccination, you should not wash your dog.

At what age should the vaccination be given?

Chihuahuas are handed over to new owners at two months of age. At the same age, puppies receive their first necessary vaccinations.

Some breeders also vaccinate very small, one-month-old puppies. This measure is not mandatory, therefore vaccination earlier than two months is called “zero” vaccination.

In addition, many veterinarians encourage taking your time. The immunity of puppies is very fragile and is not always able to cope with the development of immunity against the vaccine. In veterinary practice, there have been cases where an entire litter of Chihuahua puppies died due to premature vaccination.

Tolkachev Andrey Mikhailovich

Chihuahuas are often brought to me for appointments that do not have a single vaccination on their veterinary passport. This is a big omission on the part of the owner. A dog of this breed needs not only a balanced diet and vitamins, but also all the necessary vaccinations.

Features that are useful to know

There is no difference in the vaccination schedule, diseases for which vaccinations are given, and doses of drugs administered depending on the breed of dog. Breed does not affect the choice of vaccine.

You need to prepare for successful routine vaccination:

1. Daily monitoring of the pet’s condition is required - monitoring the temperature, stool, and general condition. This is important because vaccinations are only given to healthy puppies.
2. After consultation with a veterinarian, deworming is carried out before vaccination.3. Your pet needs to be provided with a nutritious, healthy diet not only before vaccination.
3. A time interval (three to four weeks) between vaccinations must be observed.
4. On the day of vaccination, the puppy can be fed as usual.
5. Veterinary specialists vaccinate only clinically healthy animals.

A sick puppy is not vaccinated until he is in good condition. Vaccination is also not given to pregnant dogs and puppies under two months of age. At the 8th week of life, the pet must receive at least one vaccination. The vaccine against parvovirus enteritis is administered first (at 6 weeks).

There are many drugs for vaccination, both foreign and domestic manufacturers. For everything to go well, you need the advice of an experienced specialist. Having compared the individual characteristics of the animal (age, weight, health status), the doctor will draw up a schedule for all mandatory vaccinations in accordance with the standards and select the necessary drug.