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My puppy hasn't had shots or deworming. What's the first step?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | unspayed | 4 months and 25 days old | 18 lbs

My breeder has never dewormed nor vaccinated my puppy. How do I start with its health.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on December 31st, 2019

First, have her examined by your veterinarian. He or she can administer or dispense a dewormer. It will likely need to be repeated in 2 and 4 weeks. Afterwards, start her on a monthly preventative for heartworm and intestinal parasites. A topical or oral flea and tick preventative can also be started.
Discuss with the vet what Cherry's lifestyle will be. This will determine which vaccines she will get. Core vaccines include distemper/parvo combination and Rabies vaccines. She will need 3-4 distemper/parvo vaccine every 4 weeks. The rabies vaccine she can get now. It will be repeated next year, then every 3 years.
Lifestyle vaccines include Lyme disease, leptospirosis, canine flu and bordatella (kennel cough). These are given based on her risk of exposure. You can discuss their use with your veterinarian. She can be spayed at about 6 months of age.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ana M, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on March 20th, 2019
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tootsie. I recommend that you make an appointment for her to see a veterinarian. Vaccines are typically started between 6-8 weeks of age in puppies. A fecal test will be performed and deworming medication is typically given. Heartworm prevention is commonly started at 8 weeks as well. I hope this information helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on November 25th, 2016
Bulli will need a DAPP vaccine as soon as possible (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza) - this protects against parvo and distemper, which are the two most common serious illnesses we see in puppies this age. If Bulli is 3 months old now, this vaccine will need to be boostered in 4 weeks. He should also have a Bordetella vaccine (kennel cough), and a rabies vaccine in 4 weeks also.

For deworming, he should be dewormed once now and again in 14 days to get rid of all life stages of parasites that may be present. It's recommended to have a fecal sample checked by your vet after doing this, to ensure that no further deworming is needed.

Costs will very quite a bit from one area to another (and even between clinics in the same area), so you will need to call a local vet clinic near you for an accurate estimate of prices.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jenny, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 5th, 2017
You can repeat the deworm after 2 weeks. If there was a heavy worm burden then it may not have gotten them all. Also, make sure your dewormer has praziquantel to cover tapeworms--they get these from eating a flea. Her vaccines will be due every 3 weeks until she is 16 weeks old. A veterinarian has to administer the rabies vaccines typically between 12-16 weeks of age depending on your state laws and the size of the puppy. You vet can also do a health exam to make sure everything is normal at this time.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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