VET Q & A : Shots in the Dark

Q : We were recently adopted by a stray puppy. We don’t know whether she’s had her vaccinations. Would it hurt her to have puppy shots if she’s already had them?--R.N.

A: Your veterinarian will be able to help determine the age of your new pet by checking the development of its teeth. Usually, a puppy starts getting its first distemper combination and parvo vaccinations at about eight weeks, and the vaccinations are repeated at about three-week intervals until the puppy is 14 to 16 weeks old. Dogs need such booster shots as do children. Your new puppy should at least get its first vaccination and a booster three weeks later, no matter how old it is now. It won’t hurt the dog, even if it already has had all of its shots. At 16 weeks, it should get its first rabies vaccination. At one year, dogs should get a booster for the distemper combination, parvo and rabies vaccinations. From then on, distemper combination and boosters should be given every year. The state of California requires a rabies vaccination booster every two years.