Vaccines

[Vivien]

I have not posted here for a while I've been so busy, but there is a question I have that I can't seem to find a solid enough answer for on the internet. So I came here because you guys all know lots about dogs and most of you vaccinate them hopefully!!!
Everyone says something different for vaccines.
How often do dogs need all their vaccines-
I know rabies is yearly.
but the distemper/parvo vacc? Is it good for longer then a year, I've heard many controversys.
and the Bordetella Leptospirosis?

Shadow has gotten her shots yearly and it's time for her to go in to get them done again. Is it possible for a dog to be overdosed on vaccines?, I don't want her to be harmed by putting too much of a good thing it her.
If she needs all of them then she will get them all, but if some have a longer lifespan then would it be better to wait? Or better to be safe then sorry?.. she is 5 years old

ETA: sorry if this is in the wrong section- i wasnt sure where to put it, mods could you move it if its not in the right place? Thanks!

 

[colliewog]

There are many schools of thought on vaccination. But one proven answer is, yes, they can be over-vaccinated. The condition is called vaccinosis. Here's the American Animal Hospital Association's view on vaccination: http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?ID=196&sid=1

Personally, I vaccinate my puppies for DHPP and rabies, they get rabies and DHPP booster at a year old, then after that every 3 yrs for rabies. (The 3 yr rabies vaccine is accepted in my area, but not in all areas). If we're competing and traveling to a lot of strange places, I will give DHPP every 3 yrs, but if they aren't heavily exposed I only give rabies to the adults. I don't vaccinate for Lepto, Corona or Bordetella.

 

[BostonBanker]

Meg came to me as an adult with an unknown history of vaccines. She had rabies and DHPP at the shelter in WV before I got her. Since then, she has had one rabies vaccine (the one they gave was a one-year). I've had her titered for distemper and parvo every year, and in the past 3 years she hasn't needed a booster. I'll keep doing the rabies every three years as required by law, but hopefully that'll be it for her from now on. I'll keep pulling the titers for my own curiousity, but from what I've heard from friends who follow limited vaccine, I doubt she will need boosters at any point.

I don't vaccinate for ghiarrdia (which I know I spelled wrong), boredetella, lyme, or anything else.

 

[Miakoda]

I vaccinate with Rabies every year. I do an 8in1 vaccine for everything else every 3 years. And I never vaccinate for Bordatella unless my dogs are going somewhere where it's absolutely required.

Does that help?

 

[Vivien]

Thanks for the help! Now how do I convince my vet???

she has been giving shadow all these shots for the past 5 years
I don't even know how to convince her ...she comes in gives her the shots without telling us what it is... without even asking if its okay and then gives us the bill. When I've questioned her, the answer is vague and its always like..well if she goes outside your house she will be exposed to other animals and dogs, she needs these" sometimes i think Its the money she needs lol, but maybe not. Ill ask her again
and I am quite determined that this year I'll take her in just for her Rabies and see how that goes. I think it would be in the best interest for her. I don't want to put her in potential risk.
Wish me luck

 

[DanL]

The way you convince the vet is to tell her you want a blood titer done to check the dog's levels of immunity. If they come back ok, you don't vaccinate. She may or may not need them- giving them just to give them is potentially harmful to your dog.

If that doesn't work, find a new vet!

There is no such thing as a 1 year rabies vaccine. They are all 3 years. Doing it every year, unless required by law, is a waste. It's actually a waste to do it every 3 years as the dog most likely will still have immnunity, but it's the law so you have to do it.

Most older dogs (and cats) have had enough shots that they don't need anything any more. People get into this mind set of having to get vaccinations every year when they really don't.

 

[Mjjean]

Personally, I would find a new vet. If she does treatment without asking you and discussing with you the pros and cons, I think of her as a bad doc. Would you let your doctor just walk in a room and give you shots and a bill without discussing what shots, possible side effects, and alternatives?

God, posts like this make me want to go hug my vet!

Oh, and where I live, titers and 3 year rabies are NOT accepted, so you may need to check local law.

 

[corgipower]

Personally, I would find a new vet. If she does treatment without asking you and discussing with you the pros and cons, I think of her as a bad doc. Would you let your doctor just walk in a room and give you shots and a bill without discussing what shots, possible side effects, and alternatives?

God, posts like this make me want to go hug my vet!

Oh, and where I live, titers and 3 year rabies are NOT accepted, so you may need to check local law.

^agreed!^

I would never allow a vet to administer shots to my dog without a full explanation before hand. The vet I use works at a clinic and in a couple of emergency situations I've had to see a different vet at that clinic. I insisted on being informed. They learned very quickly that I wasn't going to sit there and let them do whatever they want. I also recently had to take them to a different vet's office for bordatella vax (long story there). This vet wanted to do a few other things to one of them. I asked a bunch of questions and in the end I told her "Nope. I don't want that done." End of story.

As for shot schedules, we puppy shots and their 1 year rabies. Then we do three year rabies and a booster adult shot. After that we do three year rabies and titer distemper and parvo. We don't do combo shots. We do distemper and parvo. We had to do bordatella recently because I needed to board them, but unless it's needed, I don't do it.

As for what's allowed for rabies, that depends on local laws.

I pretty much follow this.

 

[Miakoda]

The AVMA themselves changed the vaccination protocol (except for bordatella) to every three years.

I would try to talk to her at an appointment. Worst case scenario you leave with no shots and never return. But if you do like your vet, at least you tried to discuss the issue with her.

If you don't care for your vet, I would also suggest finding a new one.

Just for reference, we must always tell and explain to the owner what we are doing to their pet before we do it and even as we do it. I find that many owners relax and also understand things better when I explain the purpose of shoving a KY lubed stick up their dog's tuckus vs. rather them just stare shell-shocked. And my own boss was the one who told me to stop vaccination my 14-yr-old Cairn Terrier (we didn't even do the rabies). She lived to be 4 months shy of turning 20 and had no problems.

 

[Doberluv]

With my current dogs, I gave the puppy vaccine series and then a one year booster. And that was that. Over vaccinating (repeatedly throughout a dog's short life span is over kill)IMO and can harm the immune system and make it ineffective. Also, we live in a very unpopulated place and they're not too likely to come in contact with a lot of those things.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

^agreed!^

I would never allow a vet to administer shots to my dog without a full explanation before hand. The vet I use works at a clinic and in a couple of emergency situations I've had to see a different vet at that clinic. I insisted on being informed. They learned very quickly that I wasn't going to sit there and let them do whatever they want. I also recently had to take them to a different vet's office for bordatella vax (long story there). This vet wanted to do a few other things to one of them. I asked a bunch of questions and in the end I told her "Nope. I don't want that done." End of story.

As for shot schedules, we puppy shots and their 1 year rabies. Then we do three year rabies and a booster adult shot. After that we do three year rabies and titer distemper and parvo. We don't do combo shots. We do distemper and parvo. We had to do bordatella recently because I needed to board them, but unless it's needed, I don't do it.

As for what's allowed for rabies, that depends on local laws.

I pretty much follow this.

Yep! CP said everything I would.

 

[tessa_s212]

My dogs are all 8+ years, excluding Misha. MY two 'seniors', Cocoa and Marq, are not getting another vaccine for at least another 3 years, if ever again. Cocoa has been vaccinated yearly her entire life, and I'm sure Marq has had buttloads of vaccs as well, and I'm sure they are very well protected. I will obey the Rabies vaccination law, however.

 

[duncan15]

Honestly, one of my signs of a "bad Vet: is yearly rabies (by bad vet, i just mean one I wouldnt go to). Rabies and distemper should be 3 years after the first puppy shot. Bordatella, is actually 6 months, and if you board your dog a lot, it should be done twice a year.