Are shots really necessary???

[lulababy]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

No Vet. can "make" you get shots for your dog if you don't want. Some have never attended the siminar's that tell them about the studies and the effect over inoculating has on animals.

My Vet doesn't recommend shots but every three years. There was a 10 year study done on over inoculating and found that most dogs were protected for up to 8 years. When my girls reach three years after their last shot, I am going to have the titer test done instead just to see if they need anything.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1377004

http://dogs-cats-and-more.com/Vets_R...cinations.html

what is the titer test??

last time my puppy went to get shots she waas out of commission.. whining and crying whenever you touched her back for 3 whole days!!! but ti my knowledge she only got one shot (but it was combined)... i didnt know i had any kinda choice with how much she could get at a time

[Ellie May]

No, they aren't all necessary. Rabies is required, so I won't say much about that but the others are optional. Groomers can require them though. DHPP is important but doesn't have to be given every year. I don't give Ellie kennel cough since she's so sensitive and I just don't like it. I groom her myself anyway. It really takes hours of research to decide which ones should and should not be given.

[MyAngel]

I would think that if your little one needs these vaccines that I would not have them done all at once. I feel it is too much for their systems to handle and the side affects. Most groomers do require update vaccines. You decide which vaccine you want and reschedule for the others. You do not have to get them all the same day. Also does anyone consider the dose of vaccine ex: same dose for a large dog as a small dog?

[cockerduchess]

When Tia got her last set of shots I was really worried about her having a reaction so I asked my vet about the lower doses and he said he could do it but wouldn't certify her as getting her rabies shot. She got the parvo/distemper, rabies & kennel cough and done great she was sleepy and kinda out of it but around 12 hours later she was back to her ol hyper self.

[meglaulanmar]

Well, I think they are over vaccinated later in life but at a young age they really need them all. However, you said that your dogs aren't really in contact w/ other dogs... that can't be true if you are taking them to the kennel and the vet... that is the MAIN place they pick up diseases! Talk to your vet, not your groomer, about your concerns!

[ladyj]

The shots aren't nearly as scary as the diseases they prevent. You can spread the shots out over two or three vet visits, which is what I do. I don't give my dogs the leptospirosis vaccination. My vet agrees with that and if there ever is a suspected case of it in my area, my vet will let me know and I will then get my dogs vaccinated for it. They have had the vaccination in the past, but I don't give it to them any more. Even if your dog never goes anywhere except out in his own yard on occasion, you don't know what animal has walked across the yard and left some kind of disease. And there are lots of other dogs at the vet's office and at the groomer's. I've seen dogs with parvo and distemper and it isn't pretty. You don't want to go there.

[livingdustmops]

This might help:

http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf

[janc]

Originally Posted by Jan & the M&M's

Maggie is two years old, and we did all the shots just a little bit over a year ago, except for kennel cough which was six months ago.

I know I need to just have them do it, I'm being irrational, just scared because she is all I have to cling to right now. She was fine before, no reason for me to think she will have a reaction, I'm just panicking. She's adorable, by the way, of course, all of them are - you can see pictures of her on my website - http://jansdailydish.blogspot.com - just scroll down and you will see her.

I also have a scrapbook at http://millyscraps.com, or you can access all this from my index page - http://munchiebusiness.com.

Thanks for making me think more clearly, I certainly don't want to take any chances with her. She's a healthy, happy little bundle of love. Oh what would we ever do without our Yorkies...

Jan

Wow, just love your sight. Will have more time this aft. to look at your recipes. Beautiful Yorkie!

[ali]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

No Vet. can "make" you get shots for your dog if you don't want. Some have never attended the siminar's that tell them about the studies and the effect over inoculating has on animals.

My Vet doesn't recommend shots but every three years. There was a 10 year study done on over inoculating and found that most dogs were protected for up to 8 years. When my girls reach three years after their last shot, I am going to have the titer test done instead just to see if they need anything.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/front/1377004

http://dogs-cats-and-more.com/Vets_R...cinations.html

I have worked at an animal hospital too and my vet also believes that after the initial boosters, shots should only be given every 3 years. She is the kind of vet who leans more on the natural side of medicine and believes that most vacc. last at least 5 + years.

[Jan & the M&M's]

i'm glad you enjoyed my site, it truly is a labor of love. i have such fun with it.

jan
http://munchiebusiness.com

[hha]

Originally Posted by meglaulanmar

Well, I think they are over vaccinated later in life but at a young age they really need them all. However, you said that your dogs aren't really in contact w/ other dogs... that can't be true if you are taking them to the kennel and the vet... that is the MAIN place they pick up diseases! Talk to your vet, not your groomer, about your concerns!

the vet is where mine got kennel cough

[Brooklynn]

I have my puppies vaccs when they are 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 15 weeks and they are given 1/2 shots and I don't give Rabies shots until they are a year old and I make sure I give baby benedryl before and after a rabies shot. Then I vacc again one more time and that's it for the rest of their lives. I do give kennel cough when I have travel to dog shows. I DO NOT GIVE LEPTO! It's not in our area so I do not give that vaccine. Rabies shots are good for 3 years. Most of my dogs stay home with the exception of my show dogs. My vet doesn't pressure me into giving shots unless I make the decision. If I have to travel by plane with one of my dogs then I give the rabies shot if it's due but not until necessary and usually I don't have to worry about that.
I think they are over vaccinated in my opinion when they get older. But I always tell puppy buyers to go with what their vet recommends. And I groom at home so I don't have to worry about a groomer. I have 8 yorkies to groom so I do it myself!

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

[rontiss1]

Originally Posted by Lovin3Yorkies

Whenever I took mine to Petsmart they either wanted a copy of the rabies certificate or if I forgot to bring that they would call my vet & confirm that a rabies shot had been given, my normal groomer does the same thing.

Yes, when I take my two girls to the groomers, Petco, they asked me for her rabies certificate, etc.

[trini&coco]

-MO-We always give our Yorkies only 1/2 of the dose of each shot as was recommended by our vet. I do not like giving it to them but know they must have it for THEIR protection. I do not take my Yorkies out much (without their stroller ) as their are so many bigger dogs in my area, some off leash too but anytime we (humans ) walk outside we are bringing those germs into the house and exposing our Yorkies to them. I agree in splitting up the shots between visits. We also do not give the lepto vaccine, it can be very dangerous from what I have read but lepto is not a concern in our area. If it was, I am not sure what I would do. I have also read about shots lasting more than their 1 year and we are going to revaccinate ony every 3 years but I do agree that they should have all their shots as puppies, for their protection...I guess I should also add that I groom them myselves

[Kris Christine]

Especially with Yorkies, which are a smaller breed of dog, making them more prone to adverse reactions to vaccines such as Leptospira, it is important to educate before you vaccinate.

What many dog owners do not realize is that the distemper, hepatitis, and parvo vaccines are what is called MLV's -- modified live virus vaccines and these vaccines convey long-term duration of immunity (DOI). There is no point in giving redundant boosters because it does not increase your dog's immunity and needlessly exposes your dog to the risk of adverse side affects, some of which can be life-threatening -- why would you want to pay for something for which your dog derives no benefit and which has the potential to harm them?

On Page 18 of the 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines (links to guidelines at bottom of post), it states that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” The first entry under Appendix 2 of the AAHA Guidelines “Important Vaccination ‘Do’s and Don’ts” is “Do Not Vaccinate Needlessly – Don’t revaccinate more often than is needed and only with the vaccines that prevent diseases for which that animal is at risk.” They also caution veterinarians: “Do Not Assume that Vaccines Cannot Harm a Patient – Vaccines are potent medically active agents and have the very real potential of producing adverse events.”

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association's 2007 Vaccine Guidelines (link to guidelines at bottom of post) state that "DOI after vaccination with MLV vaccines is 7 years or longer, based on challenge and serological studies."

The American Veterinary Medical Association's 2001 Principles of Vaccination states that “Unnecessary stimulation of the immune system does not result in enhanced disease resistance, and may increase the risk of adverse post-vaccination events.” They elaborate by reporting that: “Possible adverse events include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders, transient infections, and/or long-term infected carrier states. "

The point here is do not redundantly vaccinate your dog, even if the redundant vaccinations are being administered free of charge -- the consequences of a potential adverse reaction will cost you and your dog dearly.

Excellent information on veterinary vaccines is available at the sites below:

Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm

World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)

The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm .

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf .

Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/