If you have a tiny little dog, you’re probably wondering, can you give puppy shots at 5 weeks? And the answer is no, this is not recommended.
Typically, a puppy should start taking its vaccines from 6-8 weeks. That’s when the puppy should be weaned and ready physically for the shots.
At 5 weeks, most puppies are still too small. Additionally, their moms are usually still feeding them, which could interfere with the efficacy of the vaccines.
Why 5 Weeks Is Too Early for Puppy Shots?
At 5 weeks, the puppies of most dog species are still so small. They can barely wiggle around their mama, and often depend on her completely for sustenance.
There are three reasons why you shouldn’t give puppy shots at 5 weeks.
- Passive Immunity
Newly born puppies usually get a gift from their mothers as soon as they start feeding. The mother’s milk contains colostrum, which is rife with antibodies of various common pathogens.
These antibodies protect the puppies by giving them passive immunity. This is perfect for the young ones, as at that early age, their immune systems are still largely undeveloped.
- Possible Intolerance
Until the puppies are weaned around their sixth weak, they usually have a small body mass, mostly undeveloped biological systems, and a highly vulnerable state.
This is clearly not the best time to introduce a heavy drug into their bodies.
Vaccines are known to be beneficial to puppies. But still, they contain substances that might be overwhelming for the little ones.
This includes:
- A mild version of the pathogen
- Preservative materials
- Chemical adjuvants
- Some metals, like aluminum and mercury
- Formaldehyde
A strapping puppy in its 8th week would probably respond better to these chemicals than a 5-week pup.
Contrary to that, the 5-week-old puppy might not take the immunological reaction too well. The poor thing could become really sick.
Additionally, a puppy with an intolerant immune system could develop more serious health issues in the future.
Long-term side effects of early vaccination:
- Developing allergies
- Getting digestive problems
- Thyroid gland dysfunction
- Joint diseases and progressive arthritis
- Some types of cancer
- Vaccine Inactivation by Maternal Antibodies
The passive immunity that puppies get from their mothers is known to interfere with vaccines.
That’s because the puppies’ immune system perceives the vaccine itself as an intruder. And as such, the antibodies they have from their mom intervene.
This reaction often neutralizes or weakens the intended effect of the shots.
You might’ve noticed that some vaccination schemes contain repetitions of the same drug every two weeks.
Many vets do this to make sure that the vaccine eventually triggers the puppy’s immune system.
When to Start Giving the Puppy Shots?
Until the puppies are weaned, they should be relatively safe. That’s a great benefit of the passive immunity they get from their mothers.
This usually takes 6 to 8 weeks for most dog breeds. There are exceptions though, and some dogs are weaned much too early, at 4 or 5 weeks.
In an interesting turn of events, scientists observed that this immunity declines quickly, and steeply, as the puppies reach their 10th week.
This leaves the puppies vulnerable and susceptible to contracting all kinds of diseases. Some of these infections could be in their immediate surroundings.
Thus, the best time to give the puppies their shots is after they are weaned, and before their passive immunity is completely depleted.
Vets and scientists mostly agree that this time is from 8 to 10 weeks.
What Are the Most Important Shots for Puppies?
Some vaccines are considered highly important for all puppies, regardless of where they live. That’s because these shots provide protection from common diseases.
Other vaccines are more related to specific locations, for example, urban or suburban. Or, they could be seasonal as emergent diseases come up at certain times.
Most puppies take parvo, distemper virus, Parainfluenza Virus, and Adenovirus. These are introduced at 6-8 weeks.
Is There a Vaccination Schedule for Puppies?
Good doctors typically assess the state of each puppy in a case-by-case manner, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach
Many factors should be considered before planning the core, non-core, and immediate shots that a puppy needs to get.
Here are some of these considerations.
- The puppy’s age, size, and weight.
- The puppy’s general health
- How long the mom fed her puppy before weaning.
- The immediate environment of the puppy.
- The mother’s vaccinations and medical history.
- The litter size and health
- Whether or not the puppy goes out.
- Is the puppy socializing with other pets? dogs? people?
Can You Take a 5-Week Puppy Outside?
Socializing your pet dog from its early days is incredibly important. It’s good for its temperament, personality, and general cognitive development.
However, A 5-week-old puppy, that hasn’t yet taken its shots, could be vulnerable to disease. So is there a way to take this little puppy outside?
Taking the Puppy to the Vet
This errand could be necessary to make sure that the puppy is alright. Also, if you feel that your puppy might be sick or something feels odd, you’d have to take it to the vet.
The irony here is that the vet’s clinic is a high-risk place for a puppy! Especially, a young unvaccinated one.
That’s because dogs go to the vet when they’re sick, and they spread their pathogens all around the place.
So if you need to go there, just try to book an early appointment when all the surfaces are still sanitized. Also, if possible, carry your puppy the whole time.
Taking the Puppy to the Dog Park
At 5 weeks it’s not really recommended to take the puppy to any public park, and most of all, not to the dog park!
That’s where dogs’ fecal matter, urine, saliva, and dander would be all over the place. If a single dog has an infection, this could have serious consequences.
Taking the Puppy for a Walk in the Woods
While nature usually looks clean and nice, you should be well aware that numerous wild animals live there.
The pathogens that could be endemic and harmless outdoors, might be quite aggressive to a puppy’s immune system. For example, heartworms come from mosquito bites.
You can use a carrier though, and take a short walk on a sunny day with your puppy.
Taking the Puppy to a Friend’s House
Dealing with humans is an integral part of socializing your pet.
There are some inherent risks in that visit too. Especially, if there are other pets at the friend’s house.
It’s best to be safe than sorry. You might want to wait until the puppy has received the basic shots before taking it outside its home.
Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.