Question about vaccinations

Dee Dee and Hallie · August 28, 2008, 10:56:35 AM

Does anyone know (for sure) how far apart the DHPP vaccinations should be spaced apart when they are broken up and given separately? I left out the L in DHLPP because I won't be giving her the lepto. We're doing the 3 year protocol and the 3 years is up which makes me very nervous. As I understand it vaccinations may not be good for dogs with autoimmune problems, I know Penny is not getting vaccinations anymore so I may chicken out all together and just give her the bordetella and rabies and keep her suspended from a sling in the living room so she doesn't have contact with germs.

I wont' be giving them to her right now because she is having an allergy flare up and that is a bad time to give vaccinations. My vet told me how far apart she recommends the vaccinations to be given which is different from what I heard so thought I'd see if anyone here knows. I could run titers on her but I don't trust that they are totally accurate yet but maybe they've gotten better...my vet is not a fan of titering though.

Merion · August 28, 2008, 12:31:58 PM

My vet wants the shots 3 weeks apart for Doxies. He has seen too many reactions to them.
Merion & the ZZ's

Dee Dee and Hallie · August 28, 2008, 12:58:03 PM

Sigh that is what I had heard at times too but my vet yesterday said that 2-3 weeks apart is actually worse than all at once, something about not having time for the reaction to the first round to settle down yet and then stimulating again at that point is not good. She heard it at a recent seminar they went to.

This is what I hate about things like this, we always get conflicting information and ultimately are the ones to make these important decisions without nearly enough solid evidence!

Roberta · August 29, 2008, 01:05:41 AM

I'm not sure what we get out here, definately not rabies. Both ours got as they have had shots wvery year the new regeem as some don't need to be given every year and the other three every 3 years I think. I always get them an anti histamine shot with jabs as Oliver does have a reaction.
roberta

JetEd73 · September 10, 2008, 07:31:32 AM

My dogs always reacted to the Lepto.....so no Lepto shots for my crew.

Kathleen · September 10, 2008, 04:54:35 PM

My vet doesn't even inquire-she refuses to give lepto to any small breed dog. She says the risk isn't worth the reward - there aren't a lot of lepto cases in our area apparently, as long as you don't live in a wooded area (like up on Mt Rainier).

Still, Winston reacted to the four way shot when he was a puppy, so he still gets benedryl before any vaccinations. I was planning on going the titer route with my guys once they got the initials done, but then my neighbor's dog came down with parvo, so I think I'd rather be safe than sorry :verdict:

Clarese · September 11, 2008, 09:43:02 AM

DD, have you considered titering instead of vaccinating? I've been titering Conrad since he was 1 year old (he is turning 9 in January). He came back low on parvo last year, so I vaccinated for parvo only. He has not been low on any other immunity in 7+ years.

papbouv · September 11, 2008, 11:22:47 AM

I would go with the titering then you know for sure what they need or do not need too much conflicking stories on all vaccinations it is a big mess my vet who is a young vet says three years my sisters vet says everything evey year ??? you just have to do what you think is best if I could afford the titer on everything I sure would go with that.

Dee Dee and Hallie · September 11, 2008, 05:02:19 PM

I am definitely considering titering (HI CLARESE!!!!) but I still don't know enough about it to trust that it is accurate. I googled and asked and googled some more but still hear conflicting reports, my vet does not believe in titering but then she is pretty old school on everything. I did just give her bordetella and we are waiting to do her rabies as her allergies are still flared up a bit, and she has to have rabies. After that I think I will go ahead and titer her and go from there. Who woulda thought vaccinations could be so scary!!

Kathleen did you hear about the new strain of lepto in our area, carried by raccoons (in their urine so if they pee in a puddle and a dog drank from it for instance...sigh). The current lepto I don't believe covers this strain anyway though.

Thanks so much you guys!