Puppies are born with almost no functioning immune system of their own and rely on maternal antibodies absorbed from their mother's first milk (colostrum). Those antibodies fade over the first weeks of life — but they also block vaccines from working properly, which is why puppies need a series of shots rather than one. This 2D companion drives the exact same protection-curve model as the 3D version, drawn as a flat timeline instead of an orbiting scene.
The exact week maternal antibodies fade varies puppy to puppy — which is precisely why vets give a series of core shots roughly every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, ensuring at least one dose lands after maternal interference has cleared.
This is a simplified educational illustration, not veterinary advice — always follow your vet's actual schedule.
A 2D flat timeline that animates a puppy-to-adult age slider, an antibody-protection curve, and core/non-core vaccine due-markers — the same schedule model as the 3D version, redrawn on a plain canvas.
Maternal antibodies decline over a puppy's first weeks, creating a vulnerable window before a series of vaccine doses builds lasting immunity, with periodic boosters maintaining protection into adulthood.
Drag the age slider and watch the protection curve rise and dip, blue (core) and amber (non-core) markers glow when a dose is due, and the dog icon grow. Adjust lifestyle risk to change the non-core schedule.
Vets space puppy shots roughly every 3–4 weeks because no one knows exactly when an individual puppy's maternal antibodies stop blocking the vaccine — several doses guarantee coverage.