Shots and Stuff

[Amber]

So, Maigee will be due for her annual check-up/vaccinations/etc. in the beginning of February.  It is always easy to remember because I got her at my birthday.  Anyway, I know there is a great debate about to vaccinate/not to vaccinate or to do it less often or whatever.  So, I'd like to pick your brains and see what you think or what you do about vaccinations.  I know that she had the 3-year rabies last time and that was three years ago, so I know that is one, then I'm not positive, but the others I believe are annual.  I'll have to double check my records later.

[Magesteff]

This year Max got distemper and the bordatella nose drops. He is not due for Rabies until next december.

[springingpups]

I do rabies as often as required by law - here it's every three years.  The other vaccines I do every three years (AHAA recommends three years or longer between distemper/parvo vaccines for adult dogs).

I never vax for bordatella, since it's not a serious illness except for in very young or immunocompromised dogs.

[Roxie]

I follow the same regime as Springing Pups for adult dogs.

I do my own routine vaxes though for about 10 bucks. I buy the vax over the counter at a farm or vet supply. The vet does the rabies (per state law) every 3 years for $19.00 total. So that is about $20.00 for vaxes every 3 years.

I only do Bordatella as required for boarding  which is rare.

[blkpanther0001]

I follow the same regime as Springing Pups for adult dogs.

me to, Same as Roxie. 

[labs4ever]

Well, I am the only one so far that does bordetella. I didn't know that it is recomended differenlty. 

i get Sophie's bordetella every year, rabies once a year, as well as that vacanation that is for that disease coyotes and raccoons can spread. Can't think of the name right now.

She gets her distemper shot with the three in one vacs once a year too.  She is due in February and  I have her on the vet list with Pets for ever. (that is who walks her three days a week and who helps with transport to the vet) the great thing is she gets to go to CSU vet hospital and because of the program I only pay TEN bucks per visit. I am lucky I know.  and it is only for routine stuff.

[k1maplewd]

I do 3 series (8wks,12wks,16wks) puppy vax for DHP (distemper, hepatitis, parvo), booster for that at 1 year, rabies at age 6m, booster in 1 yr for rabies required by law.  Then in 3yrs titer for DHP and revax for rabies every 3yr as required by law.  Don't do lepto or bordatella or lyme.  Every year run the 4DX SNAP test for heartworm, lyme, erlichiosis and anaplasmosis to check for TB disease. 

[labs4ever]

lepto! that is the vaccination I couldn't think of. I do that one because we have a lot of raccoons and foxes around here so just to be on the safe side.....

[Kirsten]

The vaccinations set needed will vary by location and how much and to where you travel.  Your own vet is the best adviser on what vaccinations you should have her given.  There may be a break out of something locally that wouldn't ordinarily be vaccinated for in other areas.  The Lyme disease vaccination is one that is standard in some areas and not in others.

The one certain one is rabies.  All states except Hawaii require it and you need a certificate that indicates the type of vaccine given, the manufacturer, and the lot number, as well as the veterinarian's signature.  Keep it in a safe place as you may need it to travel.

Do not just vaccinate for everything possible.  Each vaccination challenges the dog's immune system.  Each carries risks.  You have to weigh the risk of the vaccination against the risk of contracting the disease it protects against.  Choose those vaccines needed for the risks present in your area  and in areas you plan to travel.

One thing about Bordatella.  If you do vaccinate for that, it needs to be done every six months, and should be done with a nasal cannula as opposed to an injection.  The nasal form gives better protection.  Most boarding facilities require proof of Bordatella vaccination as a condition of boarding the dog.

[Kirsten]

I do the set of 3 puppy vxns with first year booster.  State law requires the rabies vx at 3 months, but with my vet's consent I push that to 4 months.  After the first year booster set, I vaccinate every three years, again with my vet's agreement that this is adequate protection for my animals.  I stop vaccinating altogether when the animal is elderly, allergic, or ill.  Cole is due for boosters this year, but he'll never receive another vaccination.  His health is too fragile, compared to his risks of contracting something.  With all of the vaccinations he has received in his life, it is likely that he still has adequate protection, and even if he didn't, his exposure to sources of infection is minuscule.  His vet is giving him a veterinary exemption for the rabies because of his health.  I got a similar exemption for Zak, my cat, who had a violent allergic reaction to his second rabies vaccination.  Zakky was an indoor cat and his risk of contracting rabies was practically nil.  By not vaccinating him, I risked that if he bit someone he would have to be quarantined at my vet's office.  I accepted that risk over the risk of the vaccination.  Same with Cole.  Like Cole's going to wait 13 years to get around to biting someone with his practically nonexistent teeth. 

[jacksel]

Both my dogs are vaccinated as little as possible, as much as 'needed. Meaning Lepto each year, kennelcough (not sure what you call it?) each year, and the rest every 3 years I think.

[Kirsten]

kennel cough = bordatella

The vaccination for bordatella is good for only 6 months.  Kennel cough is what it sounds like, a bad cough.  A healthy adult dog should come through it fine, just like humans manage colds.  I only vaccinate for it when I have to board or show.  That doesn't mean it is bad to vaccinate for it regularly.  It's just a matter of risk analysis.  I would prefer to risk my dog being out of commission for a couple of weeks to the risk of vaccinosis or other complications from the vaccine because bordatella doesn't scare me much.

Sis' kitties just got their 2nd rabies vaccinations.  Allergic reactions rarely happen on the first inoculation, and when they do happen, it is usually on the second.  My Zak had a reaction on his second rabies shot and so did one of my sister's cats.  Rabies is a necessary vaccination in the US (it is required by law).  But I would not want to risk an allergic reaction for something that was neither prevalent in my area nor life threatening or permanently damaging.  I personally prefer the risk of the dog feeling icky for a while to the risk of him having an allergic or other bad reaction.  But I prefer the risk of vaccination to the risk of my dog dying a horrible death.  That's me and my dog.  Everyone needs to do what they feel is in the best interests of their own dog and after consulting their own veterinarian who best knows the animal's health status and risks based on geographical location.  If a person feels a vaccination is in their dog's best interest, then they should do it (I do vaccinate for several things that scare me enough I seriously want to reduce their risk of getting it).  There is no right or wrong of it, no black and white, all or nothing.  It's all about playing the odds and just doing what you think is best in the circumstances.

[BlindMag]

For adult dogs I do Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Parainfluenza every 3 years (which is the rabies requirement for my state) after they have had an initial rabies shot as pups, and they had all puppy shot series. I deworm twice annually for tapeworms, and alternate between bordetella nose drops and bordetella shots, (every 6 months intranasal, annually for the shot). However the only one of these I administer myself is the bordetella intranasal when using it.

[Amber]

Thanks everyone for the help!  I have always just trusted my vet to explain everything to me and then we make a decision together.  The problem at this moment is that 1) I'm living in a new area where risks and things may be different and 2) I have a new vet here who I've seen twice but still don't know really well.

[Tameesha]

October 2011 the AAHA updated their recommended vaccinations for dogs. This also includes giving shots less often.

This the the main website for the new revisions (October 2011) https://www.aahanet.org/library/caninevaccine.aspx

This is the actual new manual they put out for veterinarians and owners https://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/CanineVaccineGuidelines.pdf

Please discuss these new guidelines with your veterinarian and see what he/she recommends for your dog.