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My 3-year-old dog needs vaccines. Can I give them myself at home?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 3 years and 3 months old | 60 lbs

So I have been an awful dog mom! I have had Buster since he was 10 weeks old and he has never had any vaccines except for his Rabies shot. He is now 3 years old. I would like to administer the shots myself. What shots does he need? And am I able to administer them myself?

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1 Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on October 3rd, 2017

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!

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