Chihuahua Vaccination
Chihuahua vaccination is a very important aspect of keeping your dearest healthy. There are a large number of vaccines available for dogs in general. Which vaccines you have to give your dog largely depends on where you live. The place where you live determines to which kind of infections your dog will be exposed to. In Europen and the U.S. the most common vaccines are against the adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis (bacterial infection). In some parts of Europe and the U.S. it is also common to vaccinate against the corona and herpesvirus but also against the disease of Lyme. Dogs that can possibly come in contact with wild animals are also preemptively vaccinated against rabies.
Chihuahuas are a relatively healthy breed although they are still susceptible to some health problems. As the risks of diseases outweigh the risks of getting your chihuahua vaccinated it is always recommended to do so. We always advise getting your dog vaccinated at a veterinarian as smaller dogs have a greater chance of going into anaphylactic shock compared to bigger dogs. Please note that if you insert the needle into the muscle of your pup it can be very painful for him/her.
Chihuahua vaccinations are divided into core vaccines and non-core vaccines with core vaccines mostly being combination vaccines that prevent different diseases. Since April 2005 there is a combined vaccine for adenovirus, parvovirus, rabies and distemper that carries a three-year immunity duration approved by the USDA (link). The non-core vaccines include diseases such as parainfluenza, Lyme disease and coronavirus and are advised depending on the area you live in.
The protocol for vaccinating your chihuahua starts at 8 weeks old unless the mother herself is not properly vaccinated. The dosage should be adapted to fit the size of your Chihuahua. There are still some veterinarians that give the same dosage to a Danish as to a Chi. Be sure to inform yourself of which vaccines your pup has received and whether the dosage is adapted.
WEEK 6
The pup gets its first shot (which is often a combined vaccine against a range of diseases depending on your area).
WEEK 9
The second vaccine is given between week 9 and week 10
WEEK 12
The last combined vaccine is given between the 12th and 14th week.
WEEK 16
The pup needs to get dewormed, this is done to protect your dog against a number of parasites that settle in the guts. To get more info on parasites please click the following link.
WEEK 24
Your Chihuahua needs to get dewormed again, depending on your are this has to be done very month or every two months.
Consult a vet
Always get your information from your vet. Don’t count on reading everything on a website. This is general information that should give you an idea of what is coming. For proper vaccination consult a vet!
For more information you can refer to the other health/Care pages: