[BakersDozen]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

I have also heard from a couple of breeders that give half doses, the logic being that since a Yorkie is so small, you don't want to give them as much as a bigger dog. With vaccinations, though, don't you need a certain count of the virus to provoke the immune system response, regardless of size? In this case, it seems to me that giving half doses of vaccine is a flawed logic but would love to hear other's input.

This is what was said by a vet and researcher at a seminar I attended a couple of years ago (he was with OSU, I think, I have the paperwork somewhere and need to look that up. I am 100% sure of his comments on the half doses, since it was a particular question of mine at the time.) His whole lecture was on immunizations, as that is his field of study. He said that many people are giving 1/2 doses to small dogs, even many vets are recommending it, but that they are erroneous in their thinking. He said for the vaccine to work, the full dose must be given, otherwise it does not provoke the immune system fully, so it's no better than not giving it at all.

This is the only info I have on it, and I realize it's not authoritative since I don't have the references.