Boosters and inoculations your puppie/dog needs!

[Sookie]

I wish someone would list all the inoculations and boosters a Yorkie should have, including those that are deemed either bad or unnecessary. I find that some of the stuff is called by different names and I, for one, get very confused!!

My Vet thinks that my Breeder gives too many shots to her puppies. I can't even figure out what she has had and what she needs, based on the fact that they are called different things - my breeder tends to call them by the manufacturer.

Can someone PLEASE make a list of all the shots a puppie needs and what boosters they need and at what age? Also, what is considered either unnecessary or totally a bad idea? Maybe this would be a good sticky and if it has already been done, please direct me! Also, are titers a better idea than boosters? I need more info. My breeder said not to have Matty given a Rabies vaccine before one year of age. That means I can't take her anywhere!! Kalina had her Rabies way before age one. I'm at a loss here...please help.

Thank you!!

[Ellie May]

I think the reason you are having such a hard time is because there are so many different opinions (they are opinions because there is very little scientific evidence for any of it...especially doing them every year). The generally accepted thing to do now (for Yorkies in particular) is puppy vaccines, one year booster and then every three years after that for DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza) and Rabies (depending on the state). Some vets aren't comfortable giving it only every three years and insist on DHPP annually. Ellie's vet will go every three years but she is more comfortable if we do titers to make sure. Ellie was low on distemper this time and we gave her just that not in the combo. Other people will tell you that titers aren't necessary... You won't get one good answer.

I don't give bordatella (kennel cough) at all. I think the risk outways the benefits when you are talking about giving it once or twice a year. Then again, your dog has a higher chance of getting pneumonia without it and people won't usually accept your dog to board/groom without it. Ellie's vet won't hospitalize without it but since Ellie is so sensitive to vaccines we are an exception.

Leptosporosis (the "L" in DHLPP/) is very dangerous for Yorkies. It should only be given where lepto is a severe problem in that area. Even then I don't think I'd do it.

Coronavirus (the "C" in DHLPP-C) is a totally unnecessary vaccine and should be avoided.

Giardia and Lyme's is optional and only used if your dog is at high risk.

Puppy shots are given three to four times. I prefer starting at 8 weeks and doing them 3 times every 4 weeks. That would be at 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Some vets will start at 6 weeks (I think it's too young for small breeds) and some give four sets (which is too many I think, especially if you start when they are atleast 8 weeks).

Some breeders do say wait a year to do rabies but others say 6 months. I would go with 6 months otherwise your dog is stuck home. In some states the law says your dog has to have it by 4 months and in that case I would not give it that early. The rabies is then given one year later (by law) and either every one, two or three years depending on your state.


This is what I would do and it doesn't mean it's the only right answer:
Rabies: Go with the law but don't start til atleast 6 months.
Bordatella: You will probably have to (even some vets insist on this for hospital stays). It has to be given 1-2 times yearly depending on your groomer's and vet's requirements and how often your dogs are exposed to other dogs.
Leptosporosis: No, if at all possible to avoid.
Coronavirus: No
Giardia: No but depends on the area.
Lyme's: No but depends on the area.
DHPP: This one is tricky. I would do puppy shots followed by a one year booster. You can then decide if you want to do titers every year and skip vaccinating unless necessary (Dr. Jean Dodds recommendation). You could just do the vaccine annually (which is too much). Or, you could do it every three years or whatever you and your vet decide.

[gutu28]

Ellie May..thank you SO much for this information! It really has helped me a lot! What about the Parvo vaccine?

[spruitt7]

I had a very bad experience with Riley's shots. I told my vet that I didnt want Riley to have the Lepto shot. Well afterward, I asked what shots he had, just to make sure I knew what he got. Well she told me Lepto was in it! I got so upset. She told me she realized I didnt want it, but it wouldn't hurt him. Well we went home and he had an allergic reaction to it. It was really scary!!!

Is it ok to give Riley another rabies shot. He received one in August by his breeder, but I lost the papers. In order to get him neutered, he needs it and I don't have proof that he has had it.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by spruitt7

I had a very bad experience with Riley's shots. I told my vet that I didnt want Riley to have the Lepto shot. Well afterward, I asked what shots he had, just to make sure I knew what he got. Well she told me Lepto was in it! I got so upset. She told me she realized I didnt want it, but it wouldn't hurt him. Well we went home and he had an allergic reaction to it. It was really scary!!!

Is it ok to give Riley another rabies shot. He received one in August by his breeder, but I lost the papers. In order to get him neutered, he needs it and I don't have proof that he has had it.

Please, Please, Please file a grievance against her. I am thinking that is against the law. You said no and she did it anyway. I am so mad for you and would never go back there.

I would not give two rabies in a year. It is a dangerous shot. I understand your situation and you might not have a way around it but I couldn't put Ellie's life into anymore danger than it is in by even giving one.



I really should have explained why I say no corona. Coronavirus is mainly a puppy disease. I read in one place that it has never happened to a dog over eight weeks old. Well, if you are starting vaccinations at 8 weeks it makes no sense to give it. Even if adults do get it occasionally it is not common. It is just like a three day cold. There are side effects with the vaccine and the "disease" itself isn't a threat as far as I know.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by gutu28

Ellie May..thank you SO much for this information! It really has helped me a lot! What about the Parvo vaccine?

The parvo vaccine is part of the DHPP combo.

[gutu28]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

The parvo vaccine is part of the DHPP combo.

OOhh, ok..what else is part of that combo?

[Yorkieluv]

Here is Dr. Dodds recommended vaccination schedule:
http://www.wellpet.org/vaccines/dodds-schedule.htm

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by gutu28

OOhh, ok..what else is part of that combo?

distemper, hepatitis and parainfluenza

This is the combo that they try to slip the lepto (L) and corona (C) into.

For the record (it bugs me that we can only edit our original posts for 5 minutes), I am not telling anyone to break the law and not do rabies early (four months). Actually, some vets may work with you and let you slide and do it at six months in the states where it is required earlier. You will either have to find an understanding vet or do it too early.

[Yorkieluv]

DHPP includes Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus...

[spruitt7]

Originally Posted by gutu28

OOhh, ok..what else is part of that combo?

I think DHLPP stands for Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

Here is Dr. Dodds recommended vaccination schedule:
http://www.wellpet.org/vaccines/dodds-schedule.htm

I would like to go with this protocol but I also want to stick with Ellie's current vet. She wouldn't go for this...

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by Yorkieluv

Here is Dr. Dodds recommended vaccination schedule:
http://www.wellpet.org/vaccines/dodds-schedule.htm

I swear by Dr. Dodd's vaccine protocol. It's been adopted by twenty-seven vet schools.

Fortunately, my vet agrees with it. Vaccinations make up about 15% of the profits in a vet practice so many vets are hesitant to adopt this safer protocol because of their bottomline.

Over vaccinating your pet is very dangerous:

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-.../chang_vac.htm

http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-...nnual_vacs.htm

[Mere_de_Jambo]

Originally Posted by spruitt7

I had a very bad experience with Riley's shots. I told my vet that I didnt want Riley to have the Lepto shot. Well afterward, I asked what shots he had, just to make sure I knew what he got. Well she told me Lepto was in it! I got so upset. She told me she realized I didnt want it, but it wouldn't hurt him. Well we went home and he had an allergic reaction to it. It was really scary!!!

Is it ok to give Riley another rabies shot. He received one in August by his breeder, but I lost the papers. In order to get him neutered, he needs it and I don't have proof that he has had it.

Can you not ask the breeder where Riley was vaccinated so that maybe you can get a copy of the record? If not, maybe you can do a titer test which would give some proof that he has been vaccinated for Rabies so you don't have to over-vaccinate him.