Puppy immunisation without injection

[roaringwater]

I'm really hoping for some help because I am extremely worried about how to solve this.

We have a puppy, who came from a breeder who was very anti injections and so vaccinated all the litter by tablets rather than jabs. This didn't worry me at the time. However, due to circumstances absolutely beyond my control, we are going to have to be away for a week and no kennel / boarding service will take a dog without proof of vaxx.

Breeder says she cannot give me any proof as it's just done at home not at vets.

Presumably, the vet can't give the injections because the puppy has already had the tablets.

What on earth can I do?

You can re-start the vaccinations no problem, but there'll be a gap between the vaccinations and the kennel being able to take them - I believe it's a week or so after second vaccinations, so about a month after their first lot of jab.

I've never ever heard of vaccination by tablet - are you sure your puppy is even vaccinated? It sounds incredibly dodgy to me. I would be taking them to the vet tomorrow and getting them jabbed up.

In all my years of raising dogs I have never ever heard of this. Ever. Either I am about to be today years old and learn of this or your pup isn't actually covered.

That's a new one on me as I have not heard vaccinations by tablet form.

What make/tablet did they say they have been given?

My honest opinion is that it sounds fishy even if it is possible to have vaccinations by tablets (awaits a vet to respond on that) as you have no proof.

I would be going to your vet and telling them what your breeder has said and take their advice.

I would be getting your dog vaccinated ASAP as whatever he’s had I’m pretty sure won’t be the cover you get from usual vaccinations .

Presumably your breeder uses homeopathic nosodes. I'm sure your vet won't see any clash there, and will just administer the usual vaccine regime. As a PP said, there will be a gap until the kennels will accept your dog though.

Yeah, tablet vaccination isn’t a thing.

she’s pulled a fast one on you and not had them vax.

even if it were, it won’t cause any harm giving another vax course.

i would be reporting the breeder though as it’s illegal to sell non vax pups.

Is your breeder lucensed?

The only tablet ‘vaccinations’ are homeopathic nosode nonsense so you are free to have your puppy properly vaccinated, and as soon as possible as they currently have no protection at all.

Licensed even.

Your vet will start a vaccination program assuming your dog hasn't been vaccinated at all (which sounds like might be the case).

When do you need to go?

You don’t say how old the puppy is but I’d also be checking with your vet about a worming schedule as I doubt the breeder gave those either .

I'm surprised this hasn't been picked up by your vet? Have you been for a vet check yet? We went with a few days after picking our puppy up to make sure he really was fit and healthy and to ensure no issues like heart murmurs etc.

I don't think the breeder is 'pulling a fast one' - presumably they believe that homeopathy works, or they just wouldn't vaccinate at all.

And no, it is categorically not illegal to sell an unvaccinated puppy in the UK.

It is not just kennels you need to worry about. Your pup is unvaccinated. If it contracts one of the diseases vaccination prevents it is likely your insurance (assuming you have it) will not cover treatment for them, or any subsequent long term conditions caused by them, and you could be in for some huge vet bills.

What did your vet say when you registered/they saw the pup about the lack of vaccinations?

And no, it is categorically not illegal to sell an unvaccinated puppy in the UK

my mistake, i thought it was, along with microchipping.

speaking of, has the pup been chipped, as that is also an “injection”- don’t know about legality but fairly sure puppies need to be microchipped to sell them…

Your dog has likely ingested something with absolutely no relationship to a disease specific vaccine that has been scientifically researched and tested, but that maybe, might boost the immune system a bit. It’s like instead of getting vaccinated against polio or measles, we all just took a bit of echinacea one time as kids.

DH has just summed it up as the canine equivalent of anti-vaxx woo.

He's been this afternoon for the first jab - early posters freaked me out so I got straight on to our vet and they very kindly fitted me in at a moment's notice.

She scanned him for a chip too and yes, he does have one.

Breeder is licensed, yes.

I feel awful as we have been walking him as normal because we were told he had been immunised - in my absolute innocence, I honestly thought it was a legit thing.

Lesson learned.

Thank you for your genuinely helpful responses - I'm not going to post any more on this thread now because I'm really upset (not upset by any of your responses, just by the situation) and I know I need to go and get some headspace. Thanks again.

That's good news OP that you have seen your vet and got the process started.

I'm a vet and I have certainly heard some absolute bolloxology from breeders, both directly and via owners, but this takes the cake!
Imagine sending innocent animals out into the world and telling their well-meaning owners that they are protected against common fatal diseases when they are not. That woman is likely responsible for severe illnesses, deaths and enormous veterinary bills as well as increasing the prevalence of disease in the dog population. She should face consequences.
Did she have any other fantastic advice, I wonder?
OP, you might need to get a petsitter instead of kennels depending on the timing.