[Britster]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Nancy there are many vets who indeed care about their bottom line - getting a client in every year for the "booster." There is also the fact that many vets stand in stubborn opposition to what the science says. And the science is that dogs have no benefit from re-vaccination if they are already immune. Not one vet school in the US says annual vaccines are necessary yet many vets continue to do it. I find that a middle of the road approach works for me and my pets -- I follow AAHA recommendations and choose a vet who decides what individually is best for each of my dogs rather than a vet who is either milking my wallet for stupidity or just behind the times.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

That certainly sounds like a wise approach, I do think though, it's unwise to suggest that vets are making decisions based on the pocketbook, and as I said before, if this were true, they would all be recommending titers, not vaccines.

I agree with Ellie May in that people think shots are necessary. Nobody that I know even knows what a titer is. And... if people assumed that vaccines were good for 7+ years, would they even come in to GET a titer? I highly doubt it. Why get a titer if they are basically telling you that vaccine is good for life... most owners wouldn't care to find out the immunity.

Most people just assume yearly shots are required, or necessary, because it's been drilled into our heads. Almost like spaying & neutering really. It's a big marketing scheme (not that I'm against s/n, but still, most just blindly accept that it's a fact of life, and don't question). We hear things so many times and it suddenly just becomes normal without question.

I know my grandma just felt like it was required. I'd see her or whatever and ask about her dog and she'd be like "oh I need to schedule her vet appt, she needs updated on her shots" without second thought.

Originally Posted by Ellie May

I think vets recommend yearly vaccines for all sorts of reasons.

Some do want the money (they aren't going to talk too many clients into titers - they can barely talk them into heartworm testing - and yes, I'm serious about that - not all clients are excited to spend money on labs - but they know that "shots" are "needed").

Some do it out of fear of disease.

Some really just want to get the animal in for an exam. I know with some of my family, they wouldn't go in if they were told that an exam was needed, but they will go in for "shots".

And some work for a boss (head vet) that tells them what they need to recommend.

By now, vets should know better. I'd have a hard time going to one that won't support at least the AAHA protocol. I'd wonder where else they are behind the times.

Some vets are very concerned about their wages and others are not. If a vet was insisting that my dogs get DHP yearly, I would not allow said vet to touch them.