Are there risks to vaccinating my puppies at home instead of a vet?

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.

I never recommend giving vaccines at home. First off, vets and places like boarding facilities typically do not recognize vaccines given at home, so Jasper would be considered unvaccinated. Places that sell vaccines such at Tractor Supply often store the vaccines wrong, rendering them ineffective. In addition, owners can and do give them wrong. I can't tell you how many cases I've seen of dogs coming down with Parvo and distemper who have been vaccinated at home. Take him into the vet to get it done correctly. Plus, by law he needs rabies, and that can only be given by a vet. I hope this helps.

An initial vaccine should only be given after a full wellness check by a vet to ensure there are no concerns or contraindications and that the puppy is healthy enough to receive vaccines. Subsequent vaccines may be given by a vet check, or a suitably experienced person under a veterinary prescription. Be aware that any vaccines not given by a vet can it be certified should it be required for boarding etc

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!

You may be able to buy some of the vaccines online, but the rabies vaccine will likely not be available for you to buy. Purchasing vaccines online exposes you and your pet to the risk of ineffective vaccines due to improper handling and storage.

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.

They are likely safe, however it is difficult to say definitively. If the vaccines are not stored properly, they will be ineffective leaving your pet open to infection. When vaccines are shipped to a veterinary clinic from a supplier or manufacturer, they are shipped and stored under refrigeration properly until use. Furthermore, depending on sales, the vaccines in feed stores may be at or past their expiration date which may also affect efficacy. Lastly, it is always recommended to have your vet examine your pet prior to vaccination to ensure good health and proper administration of vaccines. A sick pet should never be vaccinated.