Why Are Vaccines so Important?

Vaccines are important because they build immunity in our pets against diseases.  Immunity is a complex series of defense mechanisms by which an animal is able to resist an infection or, minimally, resist disease and the harmful consequences of the infection.  There are two types of vaccines, live or killed, your veterinarian will determine which is best depending on your animal and environment.  Newborns do not have an immunity that is why the mother being healthy before conception and thru pregnancy is so crucial to healthy puppies!  New puppies get their immunity from the placenta and then after birth their mother's milk or colostrum.  Puppies  are given multiple doses of vaccines; there is no way to know when the pup loses his mom's immunity and then the vaccines are given multiple times, first for the priming and then second for the boosting of the immunity to make it last longer. Vaccines have been highly successful in protecting the majority of dogs against diseases such as distemper that were once common but now rare. 
(Information written by Ernest W. Ward Jr., DVM Copywrite 2002 Lifelearn Inc)   

Recommended Vaccination Schedule

6 - 8 weeks old
Physical Exam, Distemper Combination, Initial Fecal exam for intestinal parasites, Deworming, Heartworm prevention
9-11 weeks old
Physical Exam, Distemper Combination, Bordetella, Fecal, & deworming
12-15 weeks old
Physical Exam, Distemper Combination, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Fecal, possible Lymes Vaccine
16-18 weeks old
Physical Exam, Distemper with Leptospirosis, Bordetella, 1 year rabies, Lymes, Fecal
Annual Visit
Physical Exam, Distemper with Leptospirosis, Boretella, Rabies, Lymes, Fecal, Heartworm test, Heartworm/flea/tick prevention, other tests for wellness
(taken from Dix Animal Hospital client information sheet for preventive health schedule)