Saturday, May 14, 2011

442. Vaccination queries from a Singapore girl

E-MAIL TO DR SING DATE MAY 5, 2011
2011/5/13...@hotmail.com>

To whom it may concern,


My name is ... and I am interested in keeping a dog. I understand that vaccinations against various infectious viruses and diseases are necessary for a puppy. I am also aware that the first vaccination should be administered at 6weeks old and the 2nd vaccination at least 1 week apart from the first vaccination.

I am Dr Sing from Toa Payoh Vets, www.toapayohvets.com. My reply is in CAPITAL LETTERS below.

FIRST VACCINATION CAN BE GIVEN AT 8 WEEKS IF THE PUPPY IS NOT IN A HIGH RISK ENVIRONMENT AND THEREFORE EXPOSED TO VIRAL INFECTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN A DOG BREEDING FARM, I ADVISE 6 WEEKS TO VACCINATE.

THE INTERVAL BETWEEN VACCINATION 1 AND 2 WILL BE 3 WEEKS APART ACCORDING TO THE VACCINE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN ONE BRAND. GENERALLY SINGAPORE VETS ADVISE 4 WEEKS' INTERVAL.

I would like to enquire about the 8-in-one and 9-in one vaccinations. Are they suitable for puppies for their 1st and 2nd vaccination, or are they meant for yearly vaccinations ? THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES AVAILABLE AND APPROVED IN SINGAPORE. THEY HAVE BEEN USED IN lst and 2nd vaccinations with relatively very few deaths of puppies after vaccination in puppies at 6 weeks of age.

Also, would it be advisable to buy a puppy from a pet farm (say, in Pasir Ris) as compared to a normal pet shop (since the pets there would have already been vaccinated)?
IN MY OPINION, IT IS BEST FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW, TO BUY A PUPPY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE SECOND/THIRD VACCINATION BUT THEY ARE NOT THAT CUTE AS THEY WILL BE OVER 3 MONTHS OF AGE. THEREFORE, IT CAN BE EITHER FROM A PET SHOP OR FROM A PET FARM.

IN ANY CASE, IN 2011, I WOULD SAY THAT ALMOST ALL PET SHOPS IN SINGAPORE GET THEIR PUPPIES SUPPLIED BY THE DOG BREEDING FARMS OR IMPORTED FROM AUSTRALIA NOWADAYS. YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BUY SOME PUPPIES FROM THE "ENDANGERED" HOME-BREEDERS BUT THE CHOICE OF BREED IS LIMITED.

I appreciate your time in reading and answering my queries.
IT IS INTERESTING TO GET QUESTIONS FROM THE PROSPECTIVE PUPPY BUYER'S SITUATION.

Thank you(:
Name


E-MAIL TO DR SING DATE MAY 12, 2011
Dr Sing,
Thank you for clearing my doubts. It helped me in deciding if I should get a really young dog around 2months plus. I was pretty worried. "Cuteness" isn't a big issue as long as the puppy is healthy (:

Thanks a lot again !

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