In reading Roberta's post, I am thinking about vaccinations again.
I am so confused about vaccinations. Hallie gets the 3 year rabies and the bordetella but has only had her other shots every 3 years. I didn't know they had a 3 year lepto, parvo and distemper as Julia mentioned...I'm even more confused now because I was told no one had done research on how long the old shots lasted and they were finding they lasted up to a lifetime so the yearly vaccinations may be doing more harm in the long run than good. So if this is true, that the original shots lasted for years, why would they make a three year shot for these? Hallie is going on four years with no vaccinations now other than rabies and bordetella and my vet says she wouldn't do any more for her (when I got her from the shelter she got her vaccinations but they didn't know if she already had them so she could have been double vaccinated). I have been considering getting her titered but my vet feels that isn't very accurate. I don't know if she's right though I've also heard otherwise.
I just hate when we have to make important decisions for our kids that we just don't have the information to make. I'd be really interested to hear what you guys all do. I want her protected but I also don't want to be causing immune or other problems for her in the long run by over vaccinating. Also she has allergies so I hate giving her shots she may not need when her immune system is flared up anyway. My vet also says you cannot give individual shots of the lepto, parvo, etc is that true?
Dee Dee, my understanding, based on the research I did awhile back, is that once dogs get the puppy series and their one year booster, they are good for around 6-7 years (results varied-just like people every dog is different), and overvaccination was causing cancer in several breeds.. All of mine have had their puppy series and all but Millie have had their one year boosters (she's due in September). I plan to evaluate the risk of any particular disease and my situation and vaccinate from this point accordingly.
Just as an example, when I lived in Tacoma, my next door neighbor's dog got Parvo. If I was still living there, I would keep current on the Parvo vaccine for sure-and I'm pretty sure you're right that they come in combo vaccines, but you can minimize the combinations you give them. I keep the rabies up to date, because of the law, but if they change the law to reduce the frequency I'll adjust accordingly.
Now, I'm living in the woods, and my dogs are being exposed to woodland creatures pretty regularly (I've got to get the picture from my dad's camera of the groundhog my dogs treed-he looks like a bizarro land Koala), so I am probably going to have them vaccinated for Lepto in the next little bit. I hate it, because they will probably react to it, but I feel it's necessary in my environment.
Thank you Kathleen! My vet mentioned the things in our area at one point so I think that's just what I'll do, get her vaccinated for the main things only and then probably no more. I do worry she may have been double vaccinated when I got her (and I don't know what if any consequences might come from that) but then she's only had 3-4 year boosters since except for bordetella which is every year (even though it only lasts 6 months I've just had it done over the summer months). Her rabies has always been the three year one. Thanks for helping me make that decision, it's so hard to know the right thing to do when it comes to vaccinations since they don't really know for sure all the variables of it.
It sounds like your lucky pups have a wonderful place to explore there! Pictures???
Hate to add to your dilemma some like the vet my sister goes too he is an older vet he gives her Boston Terrier Spike all of the shots every year Rabies included.My vet is a younger woman she & I talked about the vaccinations I went with the every three year shots except Lepto since there are all kinds of critters living in the Cement Block yard behind us. Then Dog Fancy Magazine has different articles about doing Titer's( blood tests to see how much immunity the dog has)My vet recommended the Lepto every year??? Then some say the Titers are not full proof way to check I guess just talk to your vet.Yes it does drive you crazy not knowing which way to go.Some Breeders are not giving thier pupies vaccinations???
Good Luck with your decision
Papbouv
I have been reading more on the net too about this and most articles convince you that yearly vaccinations can cause more harm than good. I especially am concerned with Hallie since she has allergies. Vaccinations do do good though it's pretty alarming some breeders aren't giving puppy shots anymore!!! If enough do that I'll bet we see some of these diseases coming back. There has to be a happy medium somewhere??
I agree 100% now days no one knows what to do you are always hoping you are making the right decision for the fur kids.