There are differing opinions on vaccinations schedules and types. Whatever schedule you and your breeder use it is important that you pup get vaccinations on time to practically eliminate the chance of him contracting a life threatening disease. All pups should be started by 6 weeks of age with a minimum or parvo and distemper vaccinations. In areas of high parvo incidence this may be started as young as 4 weeks of age.

By 8 weeks old the other vaccinations should be begun (this includes continuing the parvo and distemper.). Other vaccinations to be encouraged include: adenoviruses type one and two, hepatitis, parainfluenza and leptospira, given every 2 weeks until 14 weeks of age. ( some veterinarians like the 3 weeks schedule, but we prefer the 2 weeks )

Further vaccinations are available for lyme disease. giardia, bordatella and bronchiseptica, and measles, and of course after 12 weeks of age all dogs should receive a rabies inoculation.

Parvo:

Clinical signs may include severe diarrhea, fever, anorexia, lethargy. vomiting. loss stools may contain blood or mucous. Incubation period 3 to 8 days. Viral shedding may begin as early as day 3 before clinical signs develop. Recovered dogs may be carriers with    with viral shedding occasionally.  Transmission vectors include direct contact, indirect through fecal matter. The virus may live up to 2 years outside of the host. Most dogs recover with supportive therapy while some may die within hours of onset of clinical signs.
 

Distemper:

Clinical signs - initially a transient fever occurs 3 to 6 days after infection which may go unnoticed. Several days later a second fever which may  be accompanied by serious nasal discharge, ocular discharge and anorexia. GI and respiratory signs may follow. and are usually complicated by a secondary bacterial infection.
Neurologic signs may follow that include localized involuntary twitching, paralysis of the hind limbs or varying degrees of seizures. Neurologic signs may  be delayed for several weeks or months. Treatment is aimed at limiting secondary bacterial infection., with supportive care. Some dogs may recover. There is no treatment for the neurologic signs should they appear.
 

Lyme ( borreliosis):

A tick born bacterial disease of man and domestic animals, carried from animals to man by ticks and fleas.
 

Bordatella  bronchiseptica

This organism normally resides in the nasal passage and upper trachea and occasionally in the lung of most dogs without causing any clinical signs. Opportunistic infections may occur when respiratory defense mechanisms are compromised by a primary pathogen. (e.g. distemper, parainfluenza or adenovirus ) other insults (e.g.inhalation of smoke or noxious gas
 

Giardia:

An intestinal protozoal infection of the mucosal surfaces of the small intestine occurring mainly through a fecal to oral route. Contaminated water sources may contain cysts. Clinical signs may include weight loss and chronic diarrhea. Feces are usually soft, poorly formed, pale and contain mucous.
 
 

Strongyloidosis

A small slender nematode that inhabits the mucosa of the anterior half of the small intestine. Infections are usually associated with warm, wet, crowded unsanitary housing. The parasitic worms are all female. The eggs embroyonate quickly and most larvae hatch before being passed in the feces. The larvae develop into different types, some as free living worms that can mate others as filariform that can penetrate the skin or infect a host via  oral mucosa. Transmammary transmission is highly suspected but not proven.  Auto infection caused by larvae that developed to the infective stage within the GI tract can result in infections In which the dogs shed larvae indefinitely. Clinical signs may include blood streaked muchoid diarrhea, emaciation, poor growth rate,  too shallow rapid breathing and pyrexia..

Roundworm  ( ascariasis)

Large roundworms are common especially in puppies. One of the more important species of roundworms ( toxocara canis ) can be transmitted to man and can be fatal in young pups. The usual mode of infection for pups is transplacental transfer. Larvae can lie dormant if the pregnant dog and can then migrate onto the developing fetus. Some larvae can migrate to the mammary glands so the pups may be contaminated via the milk. During this perinatal period the immunity of the mother dog to ascarid infection is partially suppressed and substantial numbers of eggs may be passed. Clinical signs include lack of growth in pups and loss of condition, a dull coat and "potbelly", worms may be vomited and passed in the feces. In the early stages migrating larvae may cause pulmonary damage leading to complications by bacterial pnueumonitis. Ideally treatment for roundworms should be given at 2 weeks of age and every 2 to 3 weeks thereafter until the pups are 14 weeks of age. The mom should be on the same schedule.
 

Hookworm

Hookworms are transmitted through ingestion of infective larvae from the environment or in some cases from the colosrum or milk of infected bitches. Some types can enter through skin penetration followed by migration through the blood to the lungs where there are coughed up an swallowed to mature ion the small intestine. Clinical signs include  anemia, diarrhea with dark tarry streaks in severe cases, anorexia and emaciation. Blood loss of up to .1 ml in a 24 hour period following detachment of a single worm can occur. Serum seepage around the sites of attachment may reduce blood protein by up to 10 %. Hookworm infestation can be fatal especially in young pups.

Whipworm

The life cycle of the whipworm is direct. After infective eggs are ingested the larvae develop in the jejunal wall and the adults mature in the cecum on about 11 weeks. They remain in for up to 16 months. Eggs are passed in the feces and may remain viable for up to 5 years in a suitable environment. Clinical signs include  weight loss and diarrhea. Fresh blood may be seen in the feces of heavily infested dogs, while no signs may be seen in light infections.
 

Tapeworm

A parasite normally transmitted by the bite of infected fleas or through ingestion of eggs passed in fecal matter. Tapeworms infect the small intestine where they absorb food intended for the host animal. Clincal signs include when tapeworms have developed to the point of being passed in fecal matter;  they are evident as what looks like large flatten grains of rice. Other signs may include.  unthriftness, malaise, irritability, shaggy coat, mild diarrhea, capricious appetite and rarely intussusception of the intestine, emaciation and seizure.

There are other less common parasites that may affect your dog such as flukes, acanthocephalans ( thorny headed worms ), physaloptera ( stomach worm ), spirocerca lupi ( esophageal worm ).