Instructions to Give Puppy Shots
Puppy shots can be an important part of maintaining your puppy’s health, especially if you live in urban areas or travel with your puppy. They can also be expensive when administered through your veterinarian’s office. Learning how to give puppy shots yourself can save you money and allow you to fit vaccinating around your schedule.
Suppies:
- Vaccines, purchased either online or the veterinarian's office, or local farm store
- Syringe with 22 gram needle (one for each shot)
- Alcohol and cotton ball
- Treat for puppy
- Mix the vaccine solution. Your kit will have two vials: one with liquid and one with powder. With the syringe fully depressed, place the needle into the liquid vial and draw the syringe plunger up, pulling the liquid into the syringe. Put the needle into the powder vial and depress the plunger. Shake the vial to thoroughly mix the ingredients.
- Place your puppy on a firm surface, such as a counter or table. Have someone help to hold your puppy still.
- Draw up the skin at the base of his neck and rub with an alcohol soaked cotton ball to disinfect.
- Insert the needle into this tent of skin quickly but gently. Your puppy probably will not even feel this, so do not worry about hurting him.
- Depress the plunger with slow and steady pressure, being careful not to be too forceful.
- Remove the needle and gently massage the vaccine into the skin. There may be a bump, but it will subside.
- Apply a cotton ball to the injection site if necessary to stop any slight bleeding.
- Praise your puppy and give him a treat.