To Vaccinate, or Not to Vaccinate. That is the Question.
 

Are there any un-vaccinated Yorkies out there? I am trying to decide what to do with my pup. I had originally planned to vaccinate, but now I'm reading that there are a lot of health risks associated with vaccinations.

For those of you who have vaccinated your furbabies, is it wise to wait until they are a bit older and eliminate the need for booster shots?

Good question. I hate vaccines but would not want to stop all vaccines. If you wait til the immune system is fully mature, you may get away with only vaccinating with modified live vaccines once. This research is really still being done though. The problem with waiting is that the dog is totally unprotected as a pup. I would do puppy shots, one year booster and then decide from there. If the timing is right, you can get away with 2-3 sets for pup shots instead of 4.

Thanks for your fast reply, Ellie May.

How can I know when her immune system in fully mature?

To compound the issue, I live on a US military base in Korea. I'm sure there are some funky bacteria/viruses in Korea, and I don't want to risk any serious illnesses.

I like the idea of doing puppy shots, then the one-year booster. After that point, we'll be headed back to the States anyway. So here's another question. The pup is having her first 'well-puppy exam' with the on-base vet (English-speaking, thank God!) at 5.5 weeks old. If the vet wants to give her shots at that time, should I have him wait until she's 8 weeks? I am very concerned about her not having a compromised immune system, especially given that we live in Korea with the funky bacteria.

[I should mention that the pup is, of course, still living with her mother and the breeder at this point.]

I think most people consider the immune system mature at around 6 months.
Five weeks is waaaaay too young for any vaccines. She has maternal antibodies still and all the vaccine will do is interfere with them making the antibodies and the vaccine ineffective. I wouldn't personally consider vaccinating until 8 weeks but would much prefer 9 or 10. There may be a window of susceptibility here where the vaccine will interfere with the maternal antibodies but that can't really be helped. I would wait as long as "safely" possible...

If I had a pup in the US, I'd probably do distemper, hepatitis, parvo and parainfluenza at 10, 14 and 18 weeks and rabies at 16 weeks (if the vet wouldn't let me hold off on rabies due to Michigan law). Ten weeks may be too long to wait for some dogs though.

Okay, thank you. And just to clarify on the vaccination timeline, are all of the vaccines delivered in small doses at 10, 14, and 18 weeks, or would she receive just one vaccine each time? (A cocktail of vaccines given three times OR getting them individually one time each?)

The other issue that I'm contending with a potential fungal (??) infection on her chest. It's a small patch, and I have another thread going re: what the patch is, but there is a chance it's ringworm. If that is the case, should I assume that her immune system is already shot? Is it a wise idea to find another puppy, or can I build her immune system up?

I am going to have the vet do a test on the spot during the pup's exam, so I will be able to know what I'm getting into before I agree to purchase this pup. She is so sweet and I am really attached to her, and I don't mind doing some homeopathic/immune building remedies for her, but that being said, I don't necessarily want to get a dog who is destined to be unhealthy.

The only Vaccines i give my yorkies are Distemper and Rabies. I also try to Hold off as long as possible with the vaccines since the puppies still have their mother's immunity for awhile after being weened. Shots are a way to make money for vets as they mainly cause more harm than good.

I stopped vaccinating Maggie at 3 because every time she had a horrible reaction. At that time in the early 90's it was unheard of to not vaccinate. But she lived a long healthy life until 16. My vet now advises a titer test to see what is needed.

That's interesting because one of the women I've worked with at the vet clinic is *very* pushy with the vaccines. Well, pushy just in general. She basically ridiculed me for asking questions. Granted, she is not the doctor, so she doesn't have any real say in the matter.

llcornell,
What is a "titer test"?

Mine had all their puppy shots, but, the only shot the inside dogs get now are the rabi shots(which I wouldn't give if it weren't a law), actually don't do them as oftne as I'm supposed too. The 2 outside dogs get rabi shots and distemper.

I find no need for vaccines. i only vaccinate state required and i believe if a dog has a well balanced diet of raw meat and dry food free of fillers and by products it eliminates the risk of them catching many diseases and viruses. Try Researching on Holistic Dog care. :-D

I've never fed raw(probably never will), and even had a golden retriever live to be 18. she ate kibbles and chunks everyday and was never sick a day in her life(except the time I gave her some raw hamburger meat).

:-D i stay with Organic raw meats. I give my yorkies ground beef, chicken liver, wings and thighs bones and all. bones dont splinter if they are not cooked. i also give them raw eggs. none of my pets have ever been sick from it. its a great source of protein and i dont have to worry about big stinky poo. :)
i think the best part of their diet is that they dont have skin problems, rashes fleas, or worms. or even get them when they are around dogs with them. :animal36

I've worked at veterinary clinics for many years, and have seen too many pups die to easily prevented diseases-- some because their "holistic" breeder told the new owners that vaccines were bad. Vaccinate your puppies-- seriously. :/ Their immune systems are NOT capable of warding off diseases like parvo unless they are vaccinated, and if your dog ever so much as sets a paw outside your house, they are at risk of being exposed to things that could kill them. The vaccination protocol currently recommended by most vets-- vacs as pups up until past 14 weeks of age and then boosters to DHPP and Rabies every three years until a satisfactory titer is reached-- is designed to minimize the risks associated with frequent vaccinations while still keeping the dog protected from disease.

Beyond that, there is a public health concern associated with unvaccinated dogs. If your dog hasn't been vaccinated and it bites someone, depending on the state that you are in, you might be forced to have your dog euthanized immediately without any recourse.

Titers are simple tests that monitor the level of antibodies in your dog's blood. They can be used to determine if a dog has enough antibodies to protect them from a disease, and then your vet can avoid vaccinating for things that your dog is already well protected from.

i am currently in Vet school and no vaccines are not always the best to go. Parvo vaccine is like a flu shot. the virus is always changing. children dont receive shots every few weeks or months and dogs shouldnt either. plus most vets dont care how much a shot they give dogs. most give small dogs the same dose they would give to large dogs. i only give my dogs state required shots and maybe a couple to protect against outbreaks.
When i had my great dane she lived for 11 yrs on holistic care and was never sick. she lived well past the expected life span for a great dane and was really healthy.the only shots i have her were rabies.
My first dog was also a yorkie and i lost her 3 months after i got her from over vaccinations. actually i lost my 1st two dogs from over vaccinations before i went to holistic care. imagine your little pup suffering from 10 to 20 times the amount they need to build antibodies!