Puppy vaccine reaction: Is it safe to give the next shot at home?

Good on you for wanting to get Buster's vaccines! While you can get the vaccines he needs from a tractor supply store, I never recommend it. Tractor supply stores are notorious for handling and storing vaccines improperly, and I have colleagues with numerous stories of dogs coming down with parvo and distemper who had been vaccinated with vaccines from stores. It's too much of a risk, and if he did come down with something serious like parvo, it would cost you so much more to treat than the cost of having a vet give the vaccine. In addition, diseases like parvo and distemper have no cure, and are very often fatal. It's best to take him into your vet to get the DHPPi combination vaccine (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza). I hope this helps!

I personally do not recommend giving vaccines yourself at home. Owners frequently give them wrong, and places where you buy them, like Tractor Supply, often store the vaccine incorrectly, rendering them ineffective. I cannot tell you how many pets I've seen come down with parvo and distemper who have been vaccinated at home. Bandit's health is up most importance, so I would have him vaccinated by a vet. Best of luck.

We don't recommend buying vaccinations at feed stores or pet stores b/c we cannot guarantee that they were properly stored and are therefore going to fully protect your pet. With that said, we also cannot legally instruct you on how to administer these vaccinations either unfortunately. THe best and safest option for your pet is to get vaccinations done by a licensed professional. Even a vaccine clinic can offer low cost options for your furry friend if cost is a concern. Jacky is such a cute little puppy. I hope that you are able to find adequate veterinary care for his soon to complete his puppy vaccinations. Best of luck and take care.

I do not recommend this. It's your choice, but their health is too important to take risks. Puppies usually are just fine at a clinic, people get their vaccines done all the time with no issues. I have found owners who try to give them at home often do it wrong, rendering the vaccine ineffective. In addition, places that sell vaccines to owners sometimes store the vaccines improperly. leaving them ineffective. I cannot tell you how many dogs I've seen get parvo and distemper who have been vaccinated at home by their owners. It is your choice, but I strongly urge you against it.

It's a good idea to have the vet give the core vaccines if the vaccine history is unknown. There are plenty of things that can go wrong with the handling and administration of vaccines, so it's best to have it done by a professional; and it won't be harmful to have it done again. I hope that helps and all is well with Aspen.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If at all possible you would want to take Chevy to a veterinarian so they can discuss the best vaccines and vaccination schedule for your area. She also needs a rabies shot and that has to be given by a licensed veterinarian or licensed technician. Vaccines given by your vet are tracked, handled and stored properly, and the manufacturer will stand behind the product if there is an adverse reaction or event. The problem with just buying the vaccine from a feed store or catalog raises the questions of shipping, storage conditions, quality of the product, and lack of back up from the manufacturer if something did happen. Vaccinations are vitally important to Chevy's health so they should be done by a professional so you can have piece of mind. I wish you the best.

You can purchase certain vaccines at farm supply stores. This, however, is not recommended because shipping, handling and storage under prior conditions cannot be guaranteed. Improper storage can decrease efficacy. Additionally, a pet should be examined first before any vaccine to confirm good health. It is never recommended to vaccinate a sick pet. Lastly, vaccine administration should be done properly to ensure efficacy. The only vaccine that cannot be purchased OTC is the rabies vaccine.