Puppy vaccinations

[HexesAndHormones]

Just got off the phone with the vet and feel y judged and not in a good way.

Puppy is 9 weeks old.
Had first fax with their vet a couple of weeks ago. Have the records.
Our vet receptionist was very sniffy. Stated it was far too young, shouldn’t have started then, they don’t routinely do that brand and will probably need to start all over in a couple of weeks time.
A quick google tells me it’s quite normal for fax to start 6-8 weeks and this brand is interchangeable with a different one (same stuff, different name). Obvs dr google needs to be taken with a spoon of salt.
I’ll talk to an actual vet but feel kind of held hostage to start all over again with a different brand, just because that’s what they do. . Or do I look for a different vet for the vaccinations?

What is different? Is it lepto? There is a difference there. Lepto covers different strains. Maybe ask to talk to someone who can find a solution. Can they order in what you need?

She said (begrudgingly) it could be ordered but there’s no point as too young so would be better to start again.

I’m assuming previous vet knew what they were doing?

Some vaccines can be combined, others can't, or can only be combined with certain makes. Not too young at all, if you start at 6 weeks then there will be two further vaccine visits required, if you start at 8 weeks then its two visits 4 weeks apart so just one more if not starting over.

If your vet offers a healthy pet club scheme, the cost of needing to start over is absorbed. Its worthwhile, as it generally covers the cost of vaccine, flea and worm control and further discounts. It varies from vet to vet but certainly worth considering.

6 weeks is two young to come away from their mum but i suspect your breeder will have done the first vaccine (as they should).

Of course, would need photto to advise further

First vax at 6 w 5 d. With breeder.

Will see what vet says and maybe phone the other one to see if they have the same stuff.

Pic for full disclosure.

It may be, due to the fact he had the vax at 6 weeks, he'd need two more visits anyway that it would be just as easy to start afresh. Just didnt explain very well?

We don't order in other vaccines as they need to be ordered in relative bulk and would advise either to start again or find a vet that gives compatible vaccine. So that decision would be influenced by whether or not you wanted to stay at that vet for whatever reason.

Most vets will give the L4 lepto vaccine as it covers more strains however some people prefer L2 so we keep a small amount of that in stock.

It’s not unusual by any means for a puppy to have first vacc done by the breeder, so I don’t know why she was sniffy with you, even if they don’t offer the same ones.
If there is more than one vet in your area I would ring round and see if they have more pleasant and helpful staff on the reception desk. Might well have the same advice but then you will know if it’s standard in your area.

Perfectly normal to vaccinate first between 6-8 weeks, My 10 week old puppy is just going in for her 2nd Vanguard 7 tomorrow after having the first at 7 weeks.

What vaccine was used initially? The vets should know if vaccines are compatible (many are not, like Wolfie says it's generally that vaccine a covers different strains of lepto than vaccine b, and the lepto portions need to match up).

Most UK available brands vaccinate with near identical DHP vaccinations, some include lepto 2 or lepto 4 as a combination.

If for example your puppy was done with Vanguard initially it must be vanguard used next, and depending on the age first vaccine was given the window for 2nd vaccine will be very specicially determined by the vaccine used. If your local area (not sure why, but it seems areas trend towards using certain vaccine brands and not others) doesn't have the same brand available or an interchangable one then restarting is no worry.

You can also ask to check whether local vets have a DHP portion that's usable with the first vaccine your pup got and they could restart lepto using a different brand at 10 and 12 or 10 and 14 weeks.

That makes far more sense than sniffy receptionist.

Pic didn’t show.

Twice for extra cuteness

And thank you. I was feeling like a bad puppymama and thinking it had all gone wrong.
(Yes, I have puppy induced paranoia)

Omg so cute x

Is there any particular reason you've gone for this vet? Because, if not, sniffy receptionist would make me think again.

It doesn't matter for this (although it's annoying) but, sooner or later, you're going to be phoning them up in a crisis. You need to know that the receptionist will be helpful then. Some are, some aren't, and it really matters.

If there are other options, and you don't have an overwhelming reason for pickign this practice, I would be at least trying elsewhere.

Posted twice as twice as cute! I recognise the puppy paranoia. I think I was less worried about my actual human children.

When I rang to book the second vax, the receptionist asked what she had already had because if it was X, they didn't do that and I would have to ring round to find a vet that did. Luckily she'd had the ones the vet provided, so all well, but there was no suggestion that she would have to start over if the first ones were different. Maybe look into a more friendly local practice!

Most vets will recommend using the same brand of vaccine for the puppy course. Vet practices buy vaccines in bulk quantities so will generally only stock one brand. Your options are:
(a) ring round local practices to see if anyone uses the required brand
(b) book appointment and accept that your pup will need another dose.
This happens commonly and is nothing to worry about, although annoying.