You’re a responsible dog breeder. You take care of the necessary registrations and certifications and are careful when you make lineage selections for new litters. You make sure your dogs are well-fed and cared for and that they have all their shots. Or do you? Are you aware that maternal antibodies can interfere with the effectiveness of the canine distemper vaccine in puppies 6 to 12 weeks of age? With the threat of canine distemper in our area, you may want to consider adding measles vaccinations to the vaccination protocol for your litters.
Since measles and canine distemper are similar viruses, a vaccination against measles has been found to be effective in helping produce cross-immunity against canine distemper when administered to puppies whose maternal antibodies would interfere with the effectiveness of the canine distemper vaccination. Used only in situations where canine distemper is a recognized issue, the measles vaccine can provide protection against canine distemper in nursing puppies and those whose maternal antibodies are still too high to allow the canine distemper vaccination to be effective. However, this vaccination is only recommended for a single dose and only for puppies under 12 weeks of age. After that age, maternal antibodies have waned enough to allow the canine distemper vaccination to provide effective protection against the disease. This vaccine isn’t the right choice for every litter or every situation, but it should be considered if there is an issue with canine distemper in your household or kennel or if the threat of contracting the disease through exposure to wildlife carriers has increased or remains high.
With puppies up to 4 months old and unvaccinated dogs most at risk of acquiring canine distemper, and with no cure available once the disease is contracted, it makes sense to provide your puppies the best possible protection. Talk to us about whether adding the measles vaccine to your vaccination protocol is the right choice for your litters.