Annual Vaccinactions - why are some still doing them?

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

lol, I'm sure it would.
Thankful for emergency medicine!
Now when Ellie does get vaccines (obv. never lepto) (just rabies now), we premed with Benadryl and wait at vet's for 1/2 hour. She just keeps checking her gums for us. Needless to say, I hate vaccine days!

hey c is the benedryl or antihistamine shot given 30 min prior to vaccine? and is it best to wait one hour after vaccines given in your car or at office in case dog has a reaction? Thank God none of mine had a reaction and no one warned me either to hang out with them after when they got their puppy shots good thing i stayed home that day but what if i went to work and something went bad

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by dwerten

do some more homework do not take just one opinion as this is the vaccine that has the most reactions and remember it does not cover all strains

Thank you, I will. From what I have been reading here I think when I see the results from the titers it will show that they don't need it anyway. I am definitely going to research more before they get any more shots besides rabies.

[Ellie May]

Dogs are seniors at age 6-7, but toys live longer, so it may be considered later for them. Whatever the case, yearly or twice yearly bloodwork should still start at age 6-7.

ETA: Ellie does have a liver problem which makes her likelihood to react to vaccines higher. We did not know about the problem at the time. Or did the vaccine cause the liver problem? It's a mystery.

And it's a good lesson in giving minimal vaccines at once. I was so scared for awhile that it could've been rabies that did this because everything was given together. We are now pretty certain it was lepto, but if they would've been separated, there never would've been a question.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

Thank you, I will. From what I have been reading here I think when I see the results from the titers it will show that they don't need it anyway. I am definitely going to research more before they get any more shots besides rabies.

the titer is for parvo distemper only - it will not test for lepto

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by dwerten

hey c is the benedryl or antihistamine shot given 30 min prior to vaccine? and is it best to wait one hour after vaccines given in your car or at office in case dog has a reaction? Thank God none of mine had a reaction and no one warned me either to hang out with them after when they got their puppy shots good thing i stayed home that day but what if i went to work and something went bad

I'd hang around for at least 1/2 hour and stay with them for the day (I'm overprotective after our experience). Benadryl is usually reserved for those who have had a reaction in the past; otherwise, talk to the vet about it. It is usually given by injection 15-20 minutes before.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

Thank you, I will. From what I have been reading here I think when I see the results from the titers it will show that they don't need it anyway. I am definitely going to research more before they get any more shots besides rabies.

To complicate matter further, some of us don't do or have stopped doing titers because they only show humoral immunity (antibodies), not cellular. A dog with a low titer is not necessarily unprotected. Maybe better than nothing, but considered a waste of money by some. In our case, it was a waste (imo).

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by dwerten

the titer is for parvo distemper only - it will not test for lepto

oh, ok got it now. thanks

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Dogs are seniors at age 6-7, but toys live longer, so it may be considered later for them. Whatever the case, yearly or twice yearly bloodwork should still start at age 6-7.

ETA: Ellie does have a liver problem which makes her likelihood to react to vaccines higher. We did not know about the problem at the time. Or did the vaccine cause the liver problem? It's a mystery.

And it's a good lesson in giving minimal vaccines at once. I was so scared for awhile that it could've been rabies that did this because everything was given together. We are now pretty certain it was lepto, but if they would've been separated, there never would've been a question.

I do annual lab testing on all of my pups...no matter the age. That also includes heartworm testing yearly! Lab values are often the first indication that there is a problem brewing...I totally believe in the importance of yearly lab work!

I do not automatically start doing them every six months unless there is a reason for it. ie: renal changes .. Then, some of them are tested every 3 months...or every 6. Just depends on their health.

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

To complicate matter further, some of us don't do or have stopped doing titers because they only show humoral immunity (antibodies), not cellular. A dog with a low titer is not necessarily unprotected. Maybe better than nothing, but considered a waste of money by some. In our case, it was a waste (imo).

I would be interested in having it done once just to see if it is high. I'm not sure what you mean by cellular. Can you explain?

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

oh, ok got it now. thanks

hey and just to make you feel even better - the reason most of us know more about this stuff is because we have dogs with health issues

I probably would have never joined groups like this had my dog not been sick and almost died as i was clueless to all this stuff so i commend you for doing this research to help your dogs.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I do annual lab testing on all of my pups...no matter the age. That also includes heartworm testing yearly! Lab values are often the first indication that there is a problem brewing...I totally believe in the importance of yearly lab work!

I do not automatically start doing them every six months unless there is a reason for it. ie: renal changes .. Then, some of them are tested every 3 months...or every 6. Just depends on their health.

agree all of mine get annual blood, urine and fecal

Now dd bc she has issues she gets blood work every 6 months

Thank goodness heartworm is not an issue here so i always say we cannot move for that reason lolll

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I do annual lab testing on all of my pups...no matter the age. That also includes heartworm testing yearly! Lab values are often the first indication that there is a problem brewing...I totally believe in the importance of yearly lab work!

I do not automatically start doing them every six months unless there is a reason for it. ie: renal changes .. Then, some of them are tested every 3 months...or every 6. Just depends on their health.

I would also, but the vet sites seem to indicate age 6-7, so not sure how to get people to do it more. lol. I pick my battles because I don't have enough energy (psychologically) to do it any differently. I do push the yearly heartworm testing thing and preop bloodwork though.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by dwerten

agree all of mine get annual blood, urine and fecal

Now dd bc she has issues she gets blood work every 6 months

Thank goodness heartworm is not an issue here so i always say we cannot move for that reason lolll

Check Health and Diet section for a post by LadyMom today. It is a growing concern in CA. I'd be considering meds!

[Doodlebug]

I am so sorry that you have had to learn all of this because of health problems. How awful. But you have done so much to help your babies, I admire you so much. I can see how much you love your babies and I love mine so much I don't want to ever do anything to harm them. By the way I am going with 10 for being a senior. Daisy will be 7 in Aug. She is still a baby to me. lol

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

To complicate matter further, some of us don't do or have stopped doing titers because they only show humoral immunity (antibodies), not cellular. A dog with a low titer is not necessarily unprotected. Maybe better than nothing, but considered a waste of money by some. In our case, it was a waste (imo).

yes this is true. I still do them as i like spending money JK no seriously i like to know that they are high and luckily they are all high BUT if they were low i would not vaccinate since all have had one year booster. I vaccinated my demi when she had low titer but only because she had not had one year booster as she is a rescue and they did not finish her puppy shots so i wanted her to be protected. Since they are cheap with jean only $50 I do them just for my own peace of mind to see how high they are as she is pulling blood anyway for annual blood work. You could always do it one time after vaccines after one year booster and see that it is high then not do them to save money. It is all what makes you comfortable.

C is right though a low titer again does not mean the immunity is not there. Some dogs and people no matter what will test low even right after a vaccine. I think it states that in videos as well