shots

jnite

We just got a new puppy and the new vet told us that since he got his shots at 5 weeks that he should get his initials again because he got his initials too soon. Then she said he should have his boosters of course, but she recommended getting another booster after that with rabies if we choose. And then another booster for parvo. Therefore she said he should have 4 shots in total. All of them would include the parvo shot. All of my other dogs had the initials and one booster so I am wondering if this is excessive or if this is the new standards. I live in Alberta, Canada if that makes any difference.

txcollies

That's a huge shot load, imo.

I never give rabies till AT LEAST 6 months, sometimes later. And you should make sure you have at least a month inbetween the rabies shot and the other shots.

craven.44

Normally my vet gives vaccines at 8, 12, and 16 weeks with rabies also given at 16 weeks. If we get a dog that had vaccines prior to 7 weeks, we usually just do the whole series again. Giving vaccines too early interferes with immunity the puppy got from mom. In your case, my vet would vaccinate at 9, 13, and 17 weeks with rabies also given at 17 weeks. That is if the pup had a mother and nursed until 6 weeks. If it is a bottle fed rescue, things change.

txcollies

He gives rabies with their last shot set?

That doesn't strike me as very smart, imo.

craven.44

Every vet I have ever worked with does this. As long as they are over 16 weeks, they all give it at the same time as the lat shot. And 3 year boosters are given with annual combo shots for adult dogs.

txcollies

If I remember correctly, according to the new studies from Jean Dodds, rabies should be given apart from the rest.

*shrugs* I wouldn't know, I give my own shots and I have the say in what they get and when.

Mine never get boosters anymore...

craven.44

I am a pre vet student and I am starting to do research on canine health and such. My goal is to at least be able to do what is best for my own dogs and hopefully that will be able to be carried over to a vet practice if and when I get my DVM. Vaccines are something that I am hesitant to mess with. I would love to not have to give my dogs shots every year, but I am petrified of them getting sick. So, until more research is done and until I get to do my own research, I stick to what my vet knows.

myminpins

This is the latest info:

http://www.ufsheltermedicine.com/new...ine_Vax_GL.pdf

https://secure.aahanet.org/eweb/dyna...cineGuidelines

The completely guidelines are there, as well as explanations and tables.

I WISH I could give my own shots. That's illegal in Canada Sucks...

lulusmom

craven.44, please don't assume that your vet has done one iota of his or her own research on vaccines because it is highly unlikely. I parted ways with my last gp vet because they have refused to adopt the new three year vaccine guidelines. They would not treat my dogs without annual vaccines. The alternative was to get a titer at $150 for each of my four dogs every year. Two of my dogs have pituitary dependent and atypical cushing's as well as hypothryoidism so when pigs fly is when I vaccinate them at all.

If anybody wants to know whose who in vaccine research, start with W. Jean Dodds, DVM and Ronald D. Schultz, PhD. Dr. Schultz served on the task force that developed the 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines. See myminpins post with links to those guidelines.

http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/people/ronald%20d%20schultz
http://www.doglogic.com/vaccination.htm
http://www.dogsadversereactions.com/vDrDodds.html

craven.44

I work for my vet and he knows his stuff. He is not opposed to new guidelines and is very tolerant and accepting of clients' wishes. He just personally recommends annual vaccines if a dog has had no problems with them.

txcollies

I might rethink the whole "my vet knows his stuff" if he recommends annual boosters. ;-)

You can't give your own in Canada? That stinks.

I know of breeders who have been totally vax free for close to 20 years. That's awesome, really. :P

poodleholic

Oh, yeah, real good plan. Let's dump as much poison as possible in one visit. God.

NEVER allow a vet to give Rabies at the same time the other vaccine is being given. Waiting at least 4 weeks.

I follow Dr. Jean Dodd's protocol:

AGE OF PUP VACCINE TYPE

9 - 10 weeks Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV
(e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy DPV)

14 weeks Same as above
16 -18 weeks (optional) Same as above
20 weeks or older Rabies
1 year Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV
1 year Rabies, killed 3-year product
(give 3-4 weeks apart from
distemper/parvovirus booster)

Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus annually thereafter. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request.

Well, you might want to do the opposite of what your vet "knows!"

I have a 27 yr. old cat, the last of a group of 5, all of whom lived into their 20's except for one, who was pts at the age of 19 yrs., 8 mo., due to kidney failure. NONE OF THEM WAS EVER VACCINATED except for their kitten shots. The cats I DID have vaccinated, all died. Young.

myminpins

Nope, you cannot give your own vaccines in Canada. You can't purchase them, you can't bring them over the border - all very illegal. It SUCKS. So I give all my critters one set of puppy shots, maybe two, then a one year booster and that's it for life. I don't do rabies 'cause there isn't any here in Nova Scotia. I don't do heartworm because there isn't any here in Nova Scotia. None of my cats have had a shot in years and years. Suzie is 12 and still fine.

agility collie mom

My vet's protocol is as follows 8, 12, 16 weeks for distemper. Rabies is given at 16 weeks with distemper unless the puppy is under 10lb. Then the owner will bring the puppy back in 2 weeks for the rabies. Once they have had two consecutive years of distemper vaccines then we give tri-annual distemper. First rabies is good for 1 year, after that is good for 3 years. Other vaccines such as Lepto, Lyme and Bordetella are given according to the dog's lifestyle. Our protocol for cats is similar except that the rabies is non-adjuvanted so it is a 1 year as is leukemia (also given as a lifestyle vaccine.) I think that a lot of vets are hesitant to follow this protocol because they are afraid clients will not bring in their animals for wellness check ups every year. We are finding the clients with dogs tend to bring them in for a wellness check every year. However clients with cats are less inclined to do so. Let us know if you do a research paper on vaccines. Good luck in school!

Willowy

That's true....but one of the biggest reasons I don't bring my cats in for a wellness check-up is because I know the vet will push vaccination---I don't vaccinate my adult cats. Kind of a catch-22, I guess.

Luvawolf

Looks like this could be a hot topic.

I took my old cat to the vet one time and had to leave him for some tests. Without my permission the vet (a cow vet, not my usual vet) took it upon himself to vaccinate him when he saw in the records that I had not had him vaccinated in years. It's bad enough that he vaccinated without asking me, but totally irresponsible to vaccinate an old, ill cat. I was jumping up and down mad, and told my regular vet that I never wanted that cow doctor near any of my pets again.

I don't have proof but I have reason to believe the rabies vaccine paralyzed my Lab. I no longer have any of my dogs vaccinated for rabies more than once, and I don't care how many laws I'm breaking. The county won't accept antibody titers. They have fined me for it, but I don't care. I will never subject my babies to anything without researching it thoroughly first. I think that's what hurt the most about losing my Yogi. The fact that I just did what the veterninary community (and vaccine companies) told me to do without giving it any thought at all.

So Craven44, I hope you do research on vaccines when you become a Vet. What we need is more research, and then maybe I will feel come comfortable following the recommendations.

txcollies

Ah, I see there is someone else on here that thinks like me. :P

Good job, good job.

myminpins

Oh, he's not the only one!!!!! I refuse to vaccinate after my dogs get their one year booster period. The only time I'd revaccinate would be if we had to cross the border because then you MUST produce proof of rabies vaccination