I totally agree!

Personally, it would be a no brainer for me. If my pups enjoyed day care, they would get their vaccines. Keep in mind that reactions are rare! Not saying that they cannot happen....and if a reaction happens to one of yours those numbers would not mean much. Just saying.

I like when hospitals are AAHA accredited. It shows me that they meet minimal standards as far as their business goes. There are a ton of bad AAHA vets though. They are not obligated to use the same protocols that AAHA stands behind or anything. I've seen a couple really bad AAHA vet offices. While I'd have to wonder why an office isn't accredited and it would bother me, I also would not make this part of my decision when choosing a vet. I'm thinking of three AAHA accredited vet offices right now where the owners would not be touching my dog - ever. Bedside manner isn't hte only problem in these cases either.

Bedside manner, though, is a very large deciding factor in choosing a vet for me. Unless it's a really good specialist and I only have to deal with them a few times, I want somebody who has an amazing personality. I don't like dealing with people who aren't interested in being kind and non-condescending.

Maximo, you could just ask why they aren't AAHA. They may tell you. :) Go with the vet you are really comfortable with. Good vets will work with you on a vaccine schedule and not make you feel guilty for not doing it annually b/c they care about their clients' feelings. :)

This is pretty much the way we are leaning.

Lily has had a vax reaction. It was to the lepto vax when she was a puppy and we didn't know any better. We ended up rushing to the ER at around 11pm bc she was in anaphylactic shock. It was the longest 10 minute drive of my life. Needless to say, I will never, ever give another lepto shot.

I kind of feel the same way as you.

Jackson got his puppy vaccines, and also had a reaction to lepto that was pretty bad at his 12 week appointment (so we won't ever get lepto again) but he got his 1 year boosters (DHPP and rabies). Vet told me they were good for 3 years. So he will be due again in 2012 too. He is obviously getting rabies because it's required by law but I'm still unsure about the DHPP. Like you, I will just make that decision when it comes down to it I guess. He will be 4 years old then. I think every 3 years is WAY better than every year and I may end up just doing it (DHPP) because we ARE constantly around other dogs at dog parks, stores, and just everywhere in general and I don't feel like that's way over-vaccinating. I mean some dogs are getting the WORKS, like every shot imaginable all in one day EVERY YEAR. So I feel pretty safe with the minimal shots every 3 years.

I wouldn't vaccinate yearly. If my dog enjoyed daycare or I had to board and they were required every 3 years, I'd be doing it. But if your vet agrees with a protocol with less vaccines, they can always write a letter to the facility. Some defer to dog's vet.

There is a facility here that requires them every year. Just nuts. My vet wrote a letter for someone and they rejected the notion that it should only be done every 3 years. The people loved the day care and went ahead and had the shots given. I could not believe it.

That is crazy. You know about how I vaccinate here and E's vet thinks places would still let her in with a letter. They have taken one from her before b/c it is a medical opinion.

I would not vaccinate yearly for daycare. That is just waaaaay too much imo.

Sometimes you need a current shot record for the dog before it can fly to some areas. Others need to keep their dogs up to date on shots if they kennel, because all kennels insist on annual vaccines. Then there are those that do the annual shots simply because their Vet. says it's needed.

My Vet. doesn't do annual vaccines and suggests a titer test when the dog is around 5 to 8 years old. My Chihuahua who was 16 when she died of a stroke (never a sick day) had a shot at 3 months old that made her go into convulsions. She never had another shot her entire life. Two of my Yorkies are 6 years old and one is 4 years old. Their last shots were done on their one year booster.

Read these interesting articles.

Still vaccinating your pet every year? - Health - Pet health - Creature Comforts - msnbc.com


Veterinarians Debate - Are Pet Vaccinations Necessary? - Dog Health Report - Dog Care - Dog Health Problems Solved!

RELEASE: Annual dog vaccines may not be necessary, says UW veterinary immunologist

PETS DON'T NEED SHOTS EVERY YEAR

Sounds like you are in the exact same position.

At this point, I'm pretty sure we will continue with the every 3 year schedule. We do have to do bordetella yearly though.

We won't ever be doing the Lepto shot again either. One ER trip and 10 minutes of CPR were more than enough for me. Longest 10 minutes of my life.

Am still pretty new to this subject and about vaccinations, but until I read this, I didn't know how many people are not vaccinating yearly. Are the chances of reactions as great as getting the disease if you don't get the yearly vaccinations? My vet requires yearly vaccinations if you want to bring your dog to that clinic and won't let me board without the vaccinations yearly. Does that mean he in it for the money and does not care about Tibbe? Are the vets that vaccinate yearly that callous and greedy?

Some vets have been slow to change. I don't think it is greed. I think it is usually the older vets who were trained one way; but I could be wrong in that assumption. I would suggest you read the following and then consult with your vet. Ask him why he is doing them yearly.

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

I wouldn't want to assume it's greed. Sometimes it's an honest fear that less vaccines could lead to an outbreak of disease. Every 3 years for DHP is now considered safe and fair now though.

Sometimes vet hospitals have that rule about no hospitalization without yearly vaccines. And sometimes not all vets in the practice agree. It would be the boss's choice what protocol to follow. So if you don't see the owner of the practice, then maybe the vet you see doesn't agree with the rule and can change the protocol for you if you bring it up. Some vets aren't allowed to bring up the topic but can talk about it if the owner of the animal brings it up.

If it's the boss you see, then you can pretty safely assume this is their stance. If they were unwilling to work with me, then I would move on. I have never been forced to vaccinate yearly after expressing my views on the subject. And even with hospital rules, I have never been forced to do DHP annually to hospitalize my pup. Unless they have seen dogs on the AAHA (3 year) protocol getting distemper and parvo, then I just don't see any excuse to force doing it annually. Vets like that and I just wouldn't get along really well. I'm very big on continuing education. If they refuse to move ahead with this, what else are they refusing to move ahead in? Anesthesia? Newest technology? I just don't believe all of these vaccines yearly are good for my pup and won't put her through it.

Thank you. I'm going to read that article. I've seen my last two vets work so hard to try to save dogs, take in homeless and ill dogs, seen their caring ways, their attention to detail, working late at night and both their thoughtful ways with both Jilly and now Tibbe and it sobers one to think that they've been just slow to change. They've both seemed so informed when I question each of them about the vaccinations and mention what I've heard and read over the years but each of them has said that all things considered, the reasons for yearly vax still so outweigh the chances of not doing them that I tended to trust them as they were far more expert on the subject than I could ever be. Both vets have insisted insisted on dividing the doses up and offer the Medrol, etc. If they aren't properly informed and up-to-date on vaccination protocols, how can I trust either of them with proper diagnosing or surgery or - anything? It surely has to be more than slow to change. I think they think they are right not to change yet.

Ohhhh, my goodness. It is about 1:45 a.m. and my eyes are completely crossed. I have been reading vaccination articles, statements and forums since about 6:15 p.m. I think Tibbe packed up his bags and left as I've had my nose in the computer all night. Are there any actual studies we the people can read about the overall long term pro's and con's? I see mentions of studies results but are any available along with sponsorship provenance for just us folks? I have Googled and Binged this subject to death and I am done for the night. I'm going to bed and then tomorrow have to do a little office work from home but hope to get back to this Wednesday and start at it again. Thanks for all of the posts!