The Vaccine Protocol that I use is based on the extensive research of Dr. Jean Dodds and what I have found to be true about their overall health, susceptibility to disease and immunity because of their diet, vaccines, exercise and genetics. The healthy diet of a well exercised dog can be more meaningful in maintaining them, free of disease, than vaccinations or medical intervention. Please, see the diet portion for some suggestions for a nutritionally balanced diet for a Swissy.

It is my belief that the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is sensitive to over vaccination. All 27 Veterinary Colleges now encourage a more moderate regiment of vaccinations. Each geographic area of the country has certain diseases are more prevalent than others. In your area, your dog will need to be vaccinated against those that would put your dog at risk. You will want to see to it that your dog has sufficient titers to protect against them those. When your puppy is born, the ‘first milk’ contains Colostrum which is full of immunity to a wide range of infections and diseases. Without this first milk, a puppy would grow sick and die within a few days of birth. After that, each puppy receives the same immunity as their mother from their mother’s milk and that immunity wears off around the 8th week, a few weeks after your puppy is weaned. Generally, your puppy will need it’s first vaccination at 7-8 weeks and, afterwards, they will ‘shed’ those diseases for about 3 days, as they develop the titers that protect them later. During that 3 day period, they should not be in contact with any canine that has not been vaccinated since the unvaccinated can actually get the disease from the newly vaccinated puppy.

They should be vaccinated at again at 12 and 16 weeks after the first shot given at 8 weeks. It is of no benefit to vaccinate more frequently than every 3-4 weeks. Vaccinating them after 16 weeks only wipes out the present titers and replaces them with new titers and is, therefore, unnecessary.

They will need a Rabies vaccine at 6 months or later. It has been found that once they have sufficient titers against Rabies, they may never need another Rabies vaccine. I recognize that most areas require Rabies Vaccines be given every 1 to 3 years. If you draw blood and submit it the local Veterinary lab to check for sufficient titers, you’ll get a statement that your dogs has titers which will prevent them from getting or having Rabies. I have done this and been prepared to present this statement if approached by the authorities about Rabies protection. I am not suggesting that you break the law, only you consider an alternative approach to prove that your dog has been vaccinated recently enough to have sufficient titers against Rabies. More over, there hasn’t been a case of Canine Rabies in my area for over 50 years. The last large animal to have Rabies in the NW was a Llama 20 years ago. We saw 3 cases of Rabies in bats in the last few years but we don’t have a lot of bats and if you and your dog aren’t spelunking at dusk, the chances of getting bitten by a bat are remote. The Rabies Vaccine is very strong and over vaccinating or vaccinating too young can make your dog extremely body sensitive, painful and ill. I’ve heard of organ dysfunction and hyperthyroidism because of over vaccinating.

Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs are often allergic to the Leptosporosis vaccine if given at a young age. If a young puppy is vaccinated with the Lepto vaccine, they can ‘puff up like a tick’, have labored breathing and even go into a respiratory depression and possibly die. Do not vaccinate your puppy with Lepto until they are a year or older and only if the area you live in has Cattle and Lepto is prevalent. I live in the Pacific NW, near Seattle, and there hasn’t been a case of Lepto here in many years. There is no reason to vaccinate a dog here for Lepto. Unless you and your pup live in cattle country and your area has had some incidences of Lepto, you may not need to vaccinate for Lepto either.

The Corona Vaccine is very severe and this is a disease that is rarely fatal. If your puppy or dog has a strong immune system and is generally healthy, it’s unlikely that your dog will be catching the Corona Virus. Since the vaccine is more harmful than the disease, and the disease isn’t usually fatal, I do not vaccine for Corona on my own dogs.

The Bordatella Vaccine protects the dog vaccinated from about 25 of the 125 Bordatella strains that are present in most populated areas. Bordatella, put simply, is a dog cold, and is not as serious as a sinus infection. They sneeze, get nasal discharge, icky eyes and may feel puny for a couple of days. They can catch Bordatella at the park, doggy daycare, training class…and some of those places often require that you immunize against it before your puppy is allowed to attend. If that is the case, Bordatella Vaccine that is given as a Shot is preferred over the Bordatella Vaccine that is ‘sckooshed in the Nose. The benefits of enrolling your 12-16 week old puppy at Puppy Kindergarten far out way the risks of vaccinating for Bordatella. The Midwest has a very severe strain of Bordatella that can kill, if you live in an area where that strain is present, I strongly recommend that you protect your dog against it.

In Summary:

Each puppy from here has gotten a DPV Shot three days before they leave at 8 weeks.

I recommend that you vaccinate your puppy at:

At 12 weeks: Give DPV. ________________

At 16 weeks: Give DPV or DA2PPV _______

After 6 months: Rabies _____________ Check Titers and only vaccinate if needed
Mfg.__________ number______________

Each puppy from my house is dewormed several times on this schedule:
Strongid-T: at 2, 4 and 6 weeks ___________, __________, __________
Panacur: 8 weeks _____________

De-worm your Swissy once a year and more frequently, if needed. A ‘fecal sample’ examined by your Vet may be required to get the prescribed Dewormer. There are several types of worms. Some need a specific Dewormer to be killed and expelled.

Proper nutrition and good exercise is a key to their overall health, immunity and longevity. Please, talk to me about your puppy's diet and condition as it matures.