Now that you have your little four-footed bundle of joy, you will need to make sure he/she is fully protected from unnecessary sickness and disease. That’s right, just like new-born human babies, your Pitbull puppies will also need to be vaccinated or have their shots administered so they don’t fall sick easily.
In this article, What Shots Do Pitbull Puppies Need?, we’ll explain the various stages of your Pitbull puppy’s life that are important for him to get his shots.
We’ll also explain the different types of shots he needs to have and some of the diseases they are prone to getting and how these shots help to prevent them.
You don’t need to worry about the vaccination schedule your Pitbull puppies will need as your vet will be happy to provide you with the much-needed advice.
Factors That Affect The Types Of Shots Your Pitbull Puppies Receive
Typically, your pitbull puppies will start receiving their shots between the 6th and 8th weeks of their life. From this time on, a new set of boosters and vaccines will be administered every three to four weeks till your puppies are between 16 and 17 weeks of age.
It’s important to note that some puppies may require extra boosters approximately when they hit the week 20 age mark. It’s even truer for breeds which are tan and black.
It’s also important that you discuss with the Vet in order to draw up the ideal schedule and vaccinations for your specific situation or puppies. This is because puppies are unique and there’s no one method that works for all.
The types of vaccines, duration, and timing of the series of shots given to your Pitbull puppies will depend on a variety of factors.
We’ve listed some factors which tend to have an effect on the types of vaccine a puppy receives, these include:
1. The age of the puppy.
2. The number of puppies present in the litter.
3. How long and how properly the puppy was nursed.
4. The immunity and vaccination status of the puppies’ mother.
5. The nature of the surroundings the puppies were brought up in and how clean it was.
6. The other vaccinations they may have been administered already from either the shelter or the breeder. Also, what time period they were administered.
7. What area of the country they came from or they’re currently residing.
8. The standard of living your puppies will have e.g. will they be outdoors with you and be involved in activities like fishing, hiking, etc. or will they be put into doggie day-care, visit a groomer often? Etc.
Vaccination Schedule For Pitbull Puppies
1. Between The 6th And 8th Weeks
Sometimes your Pitbull puppies may have gotten already some of the shots before you go and get them. Confirm with the organization or people you’re picking up your puppy from first. (Unsure of where you can adopt ha pitbull puppy from? find out in our article, Where Can I Adopt a Pitbull Puppy? Click here to read it).
This is so you can know which shots your Pitbull puppies may have received. You will also need to find out when they received the shots.
It’s critical that your vet has this information so that they know the best approach and structure to apply to the first set of shots your puppies will receive. They also need to know in terms of any additional shots which should be administered for your puppy’s initial and booster shots.
Vaccinations Your Puppy May Get At This Stage
1. Canine Influenza Virus Also Known As Dog Flu
This is classified as a non-core vaccine and with two types of these vaccines that can be administered. They both protect against two types of strains of canine influenza virus.
When your puppies need it, they can get this shot at 6 weeks or 8 weeks old and it will also depend on what type of shot they currently receive.
Whatever the case may be, they will need to get a booster anywhere in about two to four weeks after the initial shot. It will also depend on what type of shot they currently receive to ensure they get the best defense.
2. DA2P Also Known As A Distemper Or Parvo Shot
This is classified as a core vaccine and it is a combination shot which protects your puppy from diseases such as parvo. Other diseases it protects against are adenovirus which is essentially a canine infectious hepatitis and canine distemper.
This shot may be applied as a DA2PP and it’s the same. However, it also has added defense against Parainfluenza which is a non-core but important vaccine.
3. Bordetella Also Known As Lyme Disease
This is classified as a non-core vaccine and it’s one of the initial shots which can be administered to the puppy at about this age if desired or necessary. It can be administered via injection, oral, or intra-nasally.
Between The 9th And 12th Weeks
Depending on the age of your Pitbull puppies when they were picked up by you, this might be your puppies’ first time to visit a vet. It may even be their second, regardless, it’s a critical visit.
Vaccinations Your Puppy May Get At This Stage
1. Bordetella Also Known As Kennel Cough
This is classified as a non-core vaccine and it’s one of the initial shots which can be administered to the puppy during at this period if desired or necessary. It can be administered via injection, oral or intra-nasally.
2. Canine Influenza Virus Also Known As Dog Flu
This is classified as a non-core vaccine with two types of these vaccines that can be administered. They both protect against two types of strains of canine influenza virus.
If it is the first shot of this vaccination your puppies will receive, they will require a booster anywhere between 2 to 4 weeks later. It will also depend on what type of shot they currently receive to ensure they get the best defense.
3. DA2P Also Known As A Distemper Or Parvo Shot
This is classified as a core vaccine and it is a combination shot which protects your puppy from diseases such as parvo. Other diseases it protects against are adenovirus which is essentially a canine infectious hepatitis and canine distemper.
This shot may be applied as a DA2PP and it’s the same however it also has added defense against Parainfluenza which is a non-core but important vaccine.
Between The 12th And 16th Weeks
At this age, the immunity gotten from your puppies’ mother will most likely start to reduce as their immune system develops more.
The booster vaccines they receive during this visit to the vet are critical in building your pup’s immunity. It will also assist in keep them protected against the diseases listed below.
Vaccinations Your Puppy May Get At This Stage
1. Rabies
This is classified as a core vaccine and can be administered once your Pitbull puppies are more than 13 weeks in age. The local and state regulations control the age when all dogs have to be vaccinated against rabies.
2. Lyme
This is classified as a non-core vaccine and it is one of the early vaccinations administered 2 times in a series when your puppy is still under one year old.
3. DA2P Also Known As A Distemper Or Parvo Shot
This is classified as a core vaccine and it is a combination shot which protects your puppy from diseases such as parvo. Other diseases it protects against are adenovirus which is essentially a canine infectious hepatitis and canine distemper.
This shot may be applied as a DA2PP and it’s the same however it also has added defense against Parainfluenza which is a non-core but important vaccine.
4. Leptospirosis Also Known As Lepto
This is classified as a non-core vaccine and it is one of the early vaccinations administered in a 2 part series during the first year of your puppies’ life.
It’s important to note the following about this disease:
- It can be distressing to your dog.
- It can be distressing to you because this disease is zoonotic which means that even though it’s an animal disease, it can be transferred to you.
- All dogs stand a risk of catching this disease even those that stay indoors for most of their lives. This also applies to dogs that rarely leave the backyard of their homes.
- Don’t be surprised if your vet highly recommends this shot is administered as a core vaccination. They may also suggest the original series of shots are administered earlier i.e. between weeks 9 and 12.
5. Bordetella Also Known As Kennel Cough
This is classified as a non-core vaccine and it’s one of the initial shots which can be administered to the puppy during this age if desired or necessary. It can be administered via injection, oral or intra-nasally.
Between The 15th And 17th Weeks
Vaccinations Your Puppy May Get At This Stage
1. Lepto Booster
This is classified as a non-core vaccination.
2. DA2P Booster
This is classified as a core vaccination.
3. Lyme Booster
This is classified as a non-core vaccination.
Please note that the vaccinations/shots we’ve included above are classified as either non-core or core.
The Difference Between Non-Core And Core Vaccines
Non-Core Vaccines
There are conditions or diseases for which vaccines are available however because of how limited they are in their geographic distribution i.e. they don’t affect every part of the country to the same degree, they are not automatically suggested for all dogs.
Other reasons they are not automatically suggested for all dogs as shots are particular lifestyle risk factors and lesser severity.
These diseases usually include Lyme disease, dog flu (influenza), Parainfluenza, Lepto and Kennel cough. The vaccinations which defend dogs against these diseases are classified as non-core vaccinations.
Even though all dogs don’t necessarily need them, they can be quite beneficial to a lot of dogs in a lot of situations.
Core Vaccines
Some diseases which affect dogs are quite infectious, quite common and can be devastating. Many of these diseases can also be spread easily and or have the capacity to spread to human beings.
This is why vaccinations for these diseases are categorized as core vaccinations to be administered to all dogs regardless of their lifestyle, geographic location, and other factors.
These diseases include Rabies, Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis and Parvo. The vaccinations which defend against these diseases are classified as core vaccinations.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the Canine Infectious Hepatitis, Parvo and Distemper are usually given as the combination of the DA20 vaccination.
Do Pitbulls Have To Take Shots For The Rest Of Their Lives?
The short answer is no, they don’t. However, the long answer is a little more complicated. This is because after your Pitbull puppies are done receiving their early puppy shot series, they’re still not quite done with their shots.
They will need booster vaccinations for the rest of their lives well into adulthood.
How often they get vaccinations and the type they receive for the rest of their lives will be determined by the following factors:
- The area you live.
- The areas you travel to accompanied by your puppies/dogs.
- How common some diseases are where you live which usually varies on what time of the year it is.
- A variety of additional factors.
For a few conditions and some dogs, a blood test which measures the amount of antibodies in his/her system known as a titer may assist in knowing the intervals for vaccination. Some owners may prefer to get this done and if this is the case, you will also need to speak to your vet.
Why Do Puppies Get Their Shots In Series?
You may be wondering why puppy shots come in series and why the timing is so important.
The truth is that every puppy varies. For example, a puppy that was part of one amongst 3 in his litter may have managed to suck more colostrum from his mother. Colostrum is the first milk the mother produces and is rich in antibodies. This is in contrast to another puppy who was one amongst 13 in his litter.
Hence, for this reason, puppies are given their shots in series of early and booster shots over a period of time i.e. the first few months of the puppy’s life to ensure they get the finest level of defense to several kinds of diseases.
