That certainly sounds like a wise approach, I do think though, it's unwise to suggest that vets are making decisions based on the pocketbook, and as I said before, if this were true, they would all be recommending titers, not vaccines.

I think it really depends on each vet individually... some are good, some not so good...

I think vets recommend yearly vaccines for all sorts of reasons.

Some do want the money (they aren't going to talk too many clients into titers - they can barely talk them into heartworm testing - and yes, I'm serious about that - not all clients are excited to spend money on labs - but they know that "shots" are "needed").

Some do it out of fear of disease.

Some really just want to get the animal in for an exam. I know with some of my family, they wouldn't go in if they were told that an exam was needed, but they will go in for "shots".

And some work for a boss (head vet) that tells them what they need to recommend.

By now, vets should know better. I'd have a hard time going to one that won't support at least the AAHA protocol. I'd wonder where else they are behind the times.

Some vets are very concerned about their wages and others are not. If a vet was insisting that my dogs get DHP yearly, I would not allow said vet to touch them.

And my major point is: This is why it is so important for owners to educate themselves on the new vaccine protocols. You need to know the pros and cons of any and all vaccines and whether they are/aren't appropriate for your dog in your situation (lifestyle, where you live, etc)

Many folks use Petsmart vets...I had to one time in a pinch and they totally overvaccinated my cat 3 years ago... he still isn't 'right'. Petsmart provides a lot of data on vaccines, and to do that they push as many vaccines as possible on unsuspecting clients.

I also go one step further.... I check the vaccine in the vets office... techs usually prepare them and leave them in the room for the vet to administer to your pet. I insist on reading the label, everytime, before it is injected into my pet. Once they ran out of DHPP and were going to use DHLPP instead. I refused and told them to reshedule me when they got their stock of DHPP in.

A big red flag for me is if there is more than one vaccine drawn up and waiting, as I am very strict with only getting one vaccine at a time.

When we choose a vet... same as hiring him/her. They work for you, do not be intimidated. You can always turn around and walk out, if they insist on doing anything you do not want.

I do think open discussion of issues is warranted, but some vets just don't want to take the time... this would send me looking for a new vet.

Although it is of course impossible to say why your pup died of cancer (RIP:() I wouldn't doubt if it was FROM over-vaccination. Lots of studies linking cancer to vaccines.

I will say that in personal experience, the longest living animals I knew were not given yearly shots, and the ones who died young-ish WERE. Of course that's a small % of dogs, but what I've noticed. Uncle had a Siberian Husky that probably didn't get shots except for at 1 year old and never again, and died at almost 16. Dads family dogs all lived to be 15-17, also hardly given any vaccines. My grandma's cat has had no vaccines since a kitten and he's healthy at 17, whereas her dog was loaded up EVERY year with everything under the sun and died of sudden cancer at 9. There's more but I won't list them all out -- just a trend I'VE personally noticed.

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I agree with Ellie May in that people think shots are necessary. Nobody that I know even knows what a titer is. And... if people assumed that vaccines were good for 7+ years, would they even come in to GET a titer? I highly doubt it. Why get a titer if they are basically telling you that vaccine is good for life... most owners wouldn't care to find out the immunity.

Most people just assume yearly shots are required, or necessary, because it's been drilled into our heads. Almost like spaying & neutering really. It's a big marketing scheme (not that I'm against s/n, but still, most just blindly accept that it's a fact of life, and don't question). We hear things so many times and it suddenly just becomes normal without question.

I know my grandma just felt like it was required. I'd see her or whatever and ask about her dog and she'd be like "oh I need to schedule her vet appt, she needs updated on her shots" without second thought.

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I'm wondering if I should even go back to vet and get Deucy a DA2PPCV+VL vaccination. It is past due and I still can't decide whether to or not. They also give him a rabies shot when they give the first one I described. Does ANYBODY else give their 5 pound yorkies these shots on a regular basis??

Awaiting answers to that I can decide.

IMO - absolutely NO! That is WAY too many vaccines period (especially in one sitting).

How old is Deucy? If he's just turning one year old, I would arrange to get a DHP booster and then rabies on a different day.

If he's over one year old, it's your call, you could either never vaccinate for DHP again ... (and just do rabies as per law) or follow AAHA protocol of every 3 years. But either way, that long combo shot you listed out is completely unnecessary.

I like Dr. Jean Dodd's protocol and will follow this.

If you haven't yet, read the other 3 pages of this thread for lots of other info.