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Originally Posted by kjc  Food for thought: A Science-Based Vaccination Schedule For Your Dog And Cat
Giving a dog Benadryl and Metcam will make him comofortable after a vaccine. But the dog’s body is trying to tell you something, depending on his post vaccine symptoms. More severe symptoms should not be ignored, and IMHO a less frequent vaccine schedule would be discussed with my vet. Lyme vaccine only works 60-70% of the time, and there are topical tick repellants that can be used if you decide not to vaccinate.
I think the Flu vaccine helps to lessen the severity of the disease, but does not prevent a dog from acquiring the disease. With dogs that have problems getting vaccines, I would skip this one too and keep the dog in the house, or at least away from other dogs and areas that other dogs frequent a lot. |
Leaving my dogs in the house isn't an option. We enjoy pet expos and pet events and with Callie turning 11 I will not suddenly take something away from her that she really loves so she can spend what time she has left being sad in the house. Her immune system is also weakened due to Cushings so any help I can get from any vaccines to keep her healthy is better then none. Joey does lots of training classes and soon Penny will too so like I said keeping them stuck in the house isn't an option for us. Topical's also do not prevent a dog from getting Lyme disease. May times through Callie's life she has still gotten ticks on her and not all of them even died after biting. Lyme is a big thing in Maryland so I will not, not get that vaccine, there were several dogs on YT around the time mine got their vaccine that died from Lyme and I'm not risking it if there is a vaccine for it. I believe the flu vaccine keeps them from getting flu and even if all it did was lesson the flu that still is better then the full flu especially when you have an immune compromised dog. Joey is the only one of my dogs that had a reaction to a vaccine and it was when he was a 3 pound puppy and it wasn't a deadly reaction he just got painful and very lethargic. I will not chance it now and I give bendaryl before hand just encase and he gets metcam for up to three days after and is fine. He is a very sensitive little guy. I do DAP every three years as well as rabies those are not frequent but the Lyme and Bordatella are yearly and there is no way around that. Other then my classes I have put a lot of thought and care into what vaccines I give and don't give. I feel like I am doing best by my babies. Vaccines are very important and for those of us that like to do lots and lots of outings and dog event with our babies not vaccinating and locking them in the house isn't an option and not fun for them if they are used to outings and events.