Protecting Your Puppies: Vaccination Advice from Vets 2 Your Pets

Raising a litter of puppies is an exciting and rewarding experience, but as any breeder knows, it also comes with plenty of responsibility! From keeping an eye on their development to preparing them for their new families, there is a lot to organise in those first few weeks.

At Vets 2 Your Pets, we understand just how busy life with a litter can be. That’s why we bring veterinary care directly to you, helping you get your puppies vaccinated, microchipped and health checked without the hassle of transporting the entire litter to a veterinary practice.

Our aim is simple: to make preparing your puppies for their new homes as straightforward as possible, while giving each puppy the care and attention they deserve.

Why are vaccinations so important for puppies?

Puppies are born with immature immune systems and rely initially on antibodies received from their mother, particularly through colostrum during the first hours of life.

This early protection is valuable, but it does not last indefinitely. As maternal antibody levels decline, puppies become increasingly vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Routine vaccinations help puppies develop their own immune protection against potentially serious illnesses, including:

Canine parvovirus – a highly contagious viral disease that can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and life-threatening illness, particularly in puppies, where the mortality rates can be very high.

Canine distemper – a serious infection that can affect the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems and lead to life-long complications in survivors.

Infectious canine hepatitis – caused by canine adenovirus and capable of causing severe disease, particularly in young dogs.

Leptospirosis – a bacterial infection that can cause serious kidney and liver disease. Leptospirosis is also a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. Vaccinating dogs against leptospirosis helps reduce the risk of infection and transmission, protecting not only dogs but also the people who care for them.

Vaccinating puppies does not only help protect individual animals. Maintaining good vaccination coverage also helps reduce the spread of infectious disease within the wider dog population.

When should a litter start vaccinations?

Puppies usually receive their first vaccinations at six to ten weeks of age, followed by a second dose three to four weeks later. A booster vaccination is recommended at twelve months, with annual vaccinations thereafter.

Since maternal antibodies can interfere with how effectively a vaccine works, but wear off at slightly unpredictable rates, puppies normally require more than one vaccination as part of their primary course. This helps increase the likelihood that they develop appropriate protection as those maternal antibodies decline.

We use Nobivac vaccinations for puppy litters, a widely available vaccine brand that makes it easier for new owners to arrange subsequent vaccinations with their chosen veterinary practice.

We can also help you plan your litter’s initial vaccinations around their age and expected rehoming date, ensuring each puppy receives the appropriate care before leaving for their new family.

Getting puppies re-home ready

Preparing puppies for their new homes involves more than simply arranging their first vaccination.

New owners want reassurance that their puppy has received appropriate veterinary care, while breeders need to meet their legal responsibilities and provide accurate health records.

That’s where our Vets 2 Your Pets re-home ready package comes in. Our mobile veterinary service brings together the essential elements of preparing your litter for their next chapter, providing the opportunity to examine each individual puppy, all during a convenient home visit.

Microchipping: Meeting legal responsibilities

In the UK, puppies must be microchipped and registered on an approved database by eight weeks of age and before they are transferred to their new owners, unless a veterinary exemption applies. As a breeder, you are responsible for ensuring your puppies meet these requirements.

We can microchip every puppy during our visit, saving you the trouble of arranging a separate appointment. If you wish, we can also take care of the initial microchip registration with Pettrac.

This means one less administrative task on your list, and you’ll have the reassurance
that your puppies have been properly identified before leaving for their new homes.

Individual health checks and certificates

Every puppy deserves an individual examination before joining their new family.

During our visit, our vet will examine each puppy, assessing their general health and development, including their eyes, ears, mouth, heart, lungs, skin and body condition.

These examinations provide an opportunity to identify any concerns that may require further investigation or monitoring, as well as ensuring each puppy is fit to receive their vaccination.

Following the examination, you’ll receive an individual veterinary health certificate for each puppy, which you can pass on to their new owner. This provides valuable reassurance for both you and the new family, demonstrating that the puppy has received a veterinary examination before rehoming.

Of course, a health check is a snapshot of a puppy’s health at that time rather than a guarantee against future illness, but it remains an important part of preparing puppies for their new homes and giving them the best start with their new families.

Vaccinations and documentation

We can administer each puppy’s first vaccination as part of the same visit, provided they are clinically fit and have reached the appropriate age. Every puppy will then receive a vaccination certificate documenting the vaccines administered and the relevant details needed for their future veterinary care.

This gives new owners a clear record to share with their chosen veterinary practice, helping them arrange the remaining vaccinations at the appropriate time.

With individual health certificates, vaccination records and microchipping organised, you’ll have the essential veterinary documentation ready to hand over to each puppy’s new family.

Convenient veterinary care without the fuss

Anyone who has tried organising a veterinary visit for an entire litter will appreciate the practical challenges involved!

Finding suitable transport, safely travelling with several puppies and managing them in a busy waiting room can turn a relatively straightforward appointment into a stressful experience.

With our Re-Home Ready package at Vets 2 Your Pets, there’s no need for any of that.

We arrange a convenient appointment, with our vet coming directly to your home at the agreed time. No travelling with the litter, no waiting rooms and no unnecessary disruption to your puppies’ familiar routine. There’s also the added benefit of reducing their potential exposure to infectious diseases in public environments before they have completed their vaccination course.

Your puppies can stay together in familiar surroundings, with mum nearby, while we carry out their examinations, vaccinations and microchipping. It’s professional veterinary care, delivered where it suits you and your puppies best.

Preparing puppies for life beyond the litter

Of course, veterinary care is only one part of preparing puppies for their new homes. The first weeks of life are also crucial for behavioural development. Introducing puppies to different people, household sounds, safe surfaces, gentle handling and age-appropriate experiences can help them become more confident as they grow.

Although puppies that have not completed their vaccination course should avoid unnecessary exposure to potentially contaminated environments, they can still benefit from carefully managed socialisation at home.

When the time comes for your puppies to leave, it’s also worth reminding new owners about the importance of continuing their preventative healthcare, including completing their vaccination course, parasite prevention, regular veterinary examinations and updating their puppy’s microchip registration.

Providing clear information at handover helps new families understand their responsibilities and continue the good start you’ve given their puppy. With Vets 2 Your Pets, we provide the essential documentation surrounding the puppy’s health check and vaccination status, which can be passed on to the new owners, to help them with their onward journey.

Why choose Vets 2 Your Pets for your litter?

We know how much time, effort and care goes into raising a healthy litter. We also know that breeders have enough to think about without having to organise multiple veterinary appointments.

Our mobile veterinary service is designed to make this part of the process easier.

Rather than bringing your puppies to us, we bring our veterinary expertise to your doorstep, allowing you to arrange their initial vaccinations, individual health checks and microchipping during one convenient visit.

You’ll also have access to our experienced team of qualified veterinary nurses when making your enquiry, helping you understand your options and arrange the right care for your litter.

From ensuring your puppies meet their microchipping requirements to providing individual health and vaccination certificates for their new owners, we’re here to help make the rehoming process as smooth as possible.

Have a litter on the way or getting ready for their new homes? Let us take some of the work off your hands. Get in touch with our team to find out more about our services for breeders