vaccines???
 

I've read so much lately about dogs being over-vaccinated esp tiny ones like ours. i was reading that it is a good idea to vaccininate every 3 years instead of 1.. does anyone have any thoughts on this?? does anyone vaccinate every 3 years??? do you notice any health differences?? layla has horrible reactions to vaccines and now i get them spaced out over a week so that she doens't have to deal with everything at once and the idea of only having to do that every 3 years sounds too good to be true. thoughts please :)

Does spacing the shots out work to lessen the reaction? My Pookie had a really bad reaction to the last set of shots (the second of the series) and I'm dreading having to do the last set of shots in the puppy series. I'm wondering if spacing them out helps.

Btw, our neighbor who has had 3 teacup poodles over the 30 years we've lived next to him says that the medical advice now is to only have shots every two years for small breeds.

well when they combine the booster and the rabies.. is when layla has problems.. so they suggest to give the booster one day.. and then a week later give the rabies... it is so much for their tiny bodies to deal with. my vet said that a yorkie gets the same dose as a great dane because they ahve the same amount of somehting or other.. but the yorkies obviously have a much more concentrated amount in their body.. poor layla can't breathe right and gets a fever.. you should suggest the spacing to your vet :)

that would be nice
 

That would be nice to be able to only vaccinate every 3 years! Cost a lot less.

Has that been made official?

Hmmmm...I've heard of the new 3 year rabies vaccine, but I haven't heard of doing all the other yearlies every 3 years. I'm going to ask our vet on Friday, that would be so wonderful!!!!!!

Sweetums, (love that name, btw:laugh:!), another good reason for the spacing is so that you KNOW which vaccine caused the reaction. I've even heard of some with teeny tinies that get 1/2 the vaccine one day and the other half a week later or so, then 1/2 of the next vaccine, etc. Talk to your vet about it, I think it's a good idea for the tiny ones especially to break things up a bit:thumbup:

nothing has been made official. .i have just read a lot of articles about it in magazines... written by vets. Especailly with our small pups who stay inside most of the day.. they don't need all of that every year... i'm sure your vet will have heard about it and will have an opinion... ask :) we are going to when i go in march for layla's one year booster... i'd love to hear from someone who does do this... see what they think!

I think its a good idea to separate the booster and rabies vaccine. Its easier for their little bodies to handle. I am not sure about the frequency of vaccination but I wouldn't do it yearly if my vet thinks its okay.

When I took Cali in for her distemper series booster there was a sign on the board that said due to new information they are giving the Dhllp? evry 3 years. So Cali got the shot and is good for 3 years same for her Rabies!!

there is no new vaccine. its the same old vaccine your pup has been getting. The thing that you can do is instead of getting it every year, you can space it out every other year. BUT, you need to get it done every year for the first 3 or so to build up the immunities in the system. Then you can get a blood test done to test for the antibodies in the system the next year to see if your pup needs to get it again. my cat is 6 and he only gets vaccines once every two years.

well i guess that is good news and bad news.. bad that we still have two more years of shots :( but i'll be happy when she is 3 and we can go every 3 years.. thanks so much for the info!

The new guidelines for core vaccines are puppy shots, boosters at one year and then every three years (some believe that is a compromise and protection lasts even longer). But, these are guidelines and every owner should discuss this with their vet and decide what is best for their dog.

http://www.healthypet.com/library_vi...x?ID=196&sid=1

You can download the guidelines here...

http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/Ab..._Canine06.html

I found it very interesting.

After all I've read and this last go around with my puppy getting a bad cough (on meds now), after her next years booster that is it for me. I have a 13 yr old who hasnt had a vaccine in years and she is fine with no coughing etc.....

Im not an expert but from all I read, without a test, they dont know for sure but the immunity should last a lifetime in the canine like it does for us humans. I dont get boosters anymore since I left the military.

Forgot to add - after discussing this with my vet, I am following the new guidelines but will also have titers done to see if and when the next shots will be necessary.

For dog owners concerned about over vaccinating their animals...please see this very informative site by Catherine O'Driscoll.....she has written lots of books on the subject and they are a real eye opener to say the least. Her most recent book "shock to the system" is available to buy now and I ordered a copy before Christmas....boy am I glad I did....I won't be giving my dog any more unnecessary boosters...if you would like to order a copy, the details are on Catherines website or for ease I have posted the details below. Please take a moment to read what's on her site or her book....it might just be what saves your animal from unnecessary suffering in the future.

http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/

To order "Shock to the System":
Payment information:

The UK: UK 10.95 plus UK 2.00 postage and packing; total UK 12.95

For all non-UK orders please go to www.dogwise.com
http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=CDN211

UK Payment: by Paypal or by UK cheque to Canine Health Concern, PO Box 7533, Perth, PH2 1AD, UK

For any other assistance email Rob@Carsegray.co.uk

Also take a look at this site.. http://spangler.boromir.wilson-cooke.co.uk/stories.php

mitchell thank you SO much.. i'm going right now to look at the information!

The rabies vaccine I get is good for 3 years. However, the 1st shot needs to be repeated a year after and then it's every 3 yrs.

Sissy just went to the vet for her rabies vaccine two weeks ago. Talk to you vet about the rabies vaccine amount - mine only gave a very small amount, but it is still good for 3 years. The amount the government mandates is for a 20 lb dog.

Also, she told me that after the puppy shots, the distemper is now a 3 year booster, but the Lepto should be given yearly, as should the Bordatella.

She did tell me that new studies have shown that allergic reactions are almost always caused by inflammation around the injection site - not the actual vaccine. This inflammation occurs due to using a needle that is too small and has to be forced into the body, or a needle that has been jostled while in the body. If your pup has had a reaction, they can pretreat with preacautionary steriods to make sure inflammation does not occur and they no longer recommend cat needles.

My vet also told me there are several different strains of Lepto (6 in SE Michigan that are active) and this is one of the most important vaccines for them to get. She also said that titer tests are not reliable and will never suffice as proof of vaccination.

thanks for the info Jodie. nice to hear from someone who JUST went through it.. i'll have to talk to my vet,, because i read every three years.. and then i read that she has to have them every year until she is 3 to get her immune system built up so i'm very confused! but i look forward to getting layla's one year booster in March so i can figure everything out. thanks again for the help!

these things vary by state and location. Jodie mentioned Lepto is very important in her area, however in Jersey we don't give it to small dogs all the time. The borellia vaccine (for lyme disease) is also another one that isn't given here unless you live in a very wooded area. The bordatella vaccine is for kennel cough, and only needs to be given if your dog is around other dogs alot (day care, groomers, parks). The distemper vaccine should be given for the fist couple years to build up the antibodies in the system. Then you can give the vaccines every couple years and get a titer done to check the antibody levels. As for the rabies, this should be given every three years no matter what unless your dogs health is bad and he/she can't take it. then a written letter from your vet has to be submited to the city during licensing time.

No problem hun...if you need to ask any questions then Catherine is more then happy to answer them...I have sent her lots of questions and she has helped me decide..here is one of the questions I sent her and her reply...

I emailed Catherine O'Driscoll.....

Hi Catherine, I have just found your website and I hope it's not too late. I have a Yorkie pup who has had all three of his first years vaccinations with no problems...what I need to know is have I done wrong giving him all three....I realise I can't change what I have done but now I know about vaccinations, I won't be giving him any more. I had a Yorkie previously to my puppy who died at 11 years old from a massive brain tumour...whether the vaccinations were to blame is something we will never know but all my yorkies life was spent at the vets with something wrong...seizures/fits, colitis, impacted anal glands, red itchy eyes, enlarged prostrate, skin problems etc etc...the list goes on. Having had one sickly yorkie I am determined to do things differently and not have any more vaccinations. Any advice would be great as my vet is very persuasive.


Here's her reply....

Hi,
According to some of the top experts, once a dog has had puppy shots, then you don't need to repeat again, ever. According to others, though, the dog will be immune if you vaccinate once after 6 months of age. Other vets say you should vaccinate every three years. And others say you should vaccinate every year. With so much conflicting advice, it doesn't help, does it.
I don't vaccinate my dogs at all. Edward and Daniel, who are now 10, were NEVER vaccinated. They are so much healthier than any dog I have vaccinated. The vet just doesn't see them. Gwinnie is 13 she was vaccinated only as a puppy. She is also very healthy. I gave them homoeopathic nosodes pills that work as a vaccine alternative. None of them ever gets diarrhoea or sickness.
The problems you had with your old Yorkie sound very much like they are vaccine-related. Anything that is inflammatory (such as colitis, itchiness, skin problems, and especially seizures) can be pretty well traced back to vaccines sensitising, or making the individual allergic. There is of course some genetic involvement, but vaccines tend to act as a trigger.
I would suggest you read, research and find out more. Read as many articles on the subject as you can. This will help you stand up against your persuasive vet.
With regard to your puppy, I?d suggest you keep an eye on him. If he starts to get allergies, skin problems ? any inflammatory conditions (itis conditions), then I would suggest you consult a homoeopathic vet to have him treated for vaccine damage. With any luck, he could have escaped damage, though.
With love, and hugs to your puppy.
Catherine

If you would like to email Catherine your questions here is her email address which is also available on her website: catherine@carsegray.co.uk