Yearly Vaccines, Good or Bad??!!

[Maximus]

Hi Guys,
Do any of you know what yearly vaccines we should get our dogs? You see, my Max is 1.5 years old now and weighs 3.1 pounds. I heard you are supposed to give them DHPP, Bordatella, Rabbies, Corona every year. (He had all his puppy shots before and rabbies and bordatella) But I also heard that small dogs (so small like some of ours) do not need rabbies every year and in fact, it can paralize them!!! And for Bordatella, I heard it's like a flue shot where there are so many strains that it can not really get anything prevented. I only take him to the dog park, no boarding facilities. I do not know what to do at this time, if I should just get him the DHPP and/or Corona or what??!!

Please help!! Let me know what I should get him. Thank you very much!

[Thorsmomma]

I'm not sure I have the answer to your question. I know that some people opt not to give there pets vaccinations due to numerous reasons, but my main concern would be the safety of your dog. If he is at dog parks, he may be able to pick up something if he isn't up-to-date on his shots. Have you done a search for Vaccines? I would try that because I remember a few months back there was a lot of discusion on weather or not to get shots for your dogs. Good luck.

[Marie]

The only vaccination that I heard is not good for Yorkies is lepto. Gucci had all her vaccinatins except the lepto. You are going to find people who agree and some that disagree about vaccination and other things like spay/neutering; i think you need to decide what is best for your pup.
I personally choose to vaccinate my baby for safety. I think the rabies shot is given yearly or every 3 years depending of your county or state.

[Babbie]

I am not a vet or anything like that but a while ago i had the same questions you have...i now have decided NOT to vaccinate Mojo yearly...now let me explain...

Vaccines are nothing more that the actual virus that causes the disease (ex. parvo shots contain parvovirus in it), now the vaccine can either contain killed virus or modified-live type.
Now, by giving the vaccine all we are doing is force the animal's imune system to creat a response and fight the disease causing virus (that is why sick dogs should never be vaccinated, the shot could simply make the dog sick when a healthy dog will have the strenght to fight it off and win against the disease).

The questions with vaccinations was simply that why we should vaccinate yearly if the dog can stay imune to the disease for way longer than that? The way i see is if i am yearly giving my dog something that will not change his protection to disease in any why...i really do not see the point!
Many studies were made regarding that and it was shown that in some case the imunity aquired through puppy shots last a lifetime...

Now over 30 states already accept the 3 year rabies shot, which, as far as i know, is the only vaccine required by the government.

My personal choice is to give my dog his rabies every 3 yrs, as required, and every 3 yrs get a titer test to check his imunity...As per bordatela (aka kennel cough shot), Mojo had it as a puppy as well but i can say that he will never get it again.

I believe dogs need vaccines but i also believe that over vaccinations are bad and can bring serious reactions to some pets...but that's imo, i added some links bellow in case you want to read more


http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-...titer_test.htm
http://www.doglogic.com/vaccination.htm
http://www.vetinfo.com/dogvacc.html#...n%20rethinking

[SnowWa]

I totally trust my vet as far as my dogs shots are concerned.

I do know that there are many different types of vaccines that are given for different reasons. Some of these shots (puppy shots, etc.) need to be given at certain times - other shots (boosters) need to be given yearly and some not even that often. I think my dog's rabies shots last for three years.

My vet has both my dogs' records and notifies me when they are due for any shot, and we get in and get them.

I have been going to the same vet office for more than 20 years, and they have taken care of all my pets. First the father cared for my pets and now his son does - as well as a wonderful young lady vet who joined the practice about 6 years ago. The vets know me well and know I have no preference between the two of them.....which is great because regardless of when I visit their office - one of my two favorite vets is there to take care of me. And, in the event of an emergency, I feel more secure as I have become fast friends with both of them and trust them equally.

Anyway - whatever shots are necessary for my dogs are given at my vet's discretion. And, now that my dogs are older, we really aren't called in for shots very often at all.

Maximus --- you need to establish yourself with a good vet and ask him or her these questions. These is their speciality, and they are up to date on which shots are available and which are necessary or optional and why.....


Carol Jean

[bugaboosmom]

JMO I have opted to vaccinate every 3 yrs. If I'm concerned about immunity I can have the vet run a Titer (blood test). If the dog has immunity Why re-vaccinate them?

[marian]

After doing alot of research, I decided not to vaccinate. This is a very personal decision and I do not think anyone can decide for you. However, there is alot of info out there as to why not to vaccinate. Please research it!!
If you do vaccinate, then please spread them out over several weeks-as you are shooting live viruses into these little dogs all at once. Vets probably won't want to but it really would be safer.

[Jan L.]

Originally Posted by bugaboosmom

JMO I have opted to vaccinate every 3 yrs. If I'm concerned about immunity I can have the vet run a Titer (blood test). If the dog has immunity Why re-vaccinate them?

That's what I'm doing and that was at my vet's suggestion. My state law says the first RV shot good for 1 year and after that every 3 years. What's funny about that is, the 1yr and the 3yr are the same vax. So the 1st is really good for 3yrs.

[chewysmom]

Originally Posted by Maximus

Hi Guys,
Do any of you know what yearly vaccines we should get our dogs? You see, my Max is 1.5 years old now and weighs 3.1 pounds. I heard you are supposed to give them DHPP, Bordatella, Rabbies, Corona every year. (He had all his puppy shots before and rabbies and bordatella) But I also heard that small dogs (so small like some of ours) do not need rabbies every year and in fact, it can paralize them!!! And for Bordatella, I heard it's like a flue shot where there are so many strains that it can not really get anything prevented. I only take him to the dog park, no boarding facilities. I do not know what to do at this time, if I should just get him the DHPP and/or Corona or what??!!

Please help!! Let me know what I should get him. Thank you very much!

I think you would be better served talking this over with your vet!!! Although we here at YT are dog lovers no doubt, this is not the place to cull sound medical advice. Please remember that people responding to threads are not vets.

That being said, welcome to YT and we hope to hear about pup's vaccination adventures in the near future!

[Dan & Corinne]

Many of you know our almost 3 year-old Jewel is battling Necrotizing Encephelitis or GME. After tens of hours of research and speaking with various Veterinary Universities, we learned that vaccinations may possibly have contibuted to her condition.

We just recently decided to minimize vaccinations for our 8 year-old Jazzie. But because we don't want her to be harmed, we had a vaccine titer bloodwork done to see if there are enough still in her system. Because of the test, she skipped her vaccination for this year.

It is however very important to keep them on Heartworm medication.