[martymonty]

Our lab puppy received a vaccination at 6 weeks and then we brought him home with us just past his 7 weeks birthday. On the vaccination sheet, it says she is to get another shot at 10 weeks, 13 weeks and then at 16 weeks. I was always under the impression that they were to get three shots, not four. I have an appt. at my vets on Wednesday and he said she should be vaccinated again as if she had never been in the first place. I am not sure whether she should have this shot again or move on to the second one. Anyone else ever been through this and what did you do. The shot she had was the Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parinfluenza and the Parvovirus Vaccine

 

[Pai]

Here is the current Vaccine Protocol that is recommended by vet schools now.

If it were me, I would go to the second one. There is no reason why the vet should say you need to restart the schedule as if she had never been vaccinated at all... that is suspicious to me.

 

[trixiegirl]

Valley Vet has a nice puppy shot record you can download and print.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07e78-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5

 

[pawcurious]

These are the guidelines proposed by the American Animal Hospital Association, which is a large scale and reputable source:

http://www.micbrc.org/caninevaccinations.htm

There are two things to keep in mind for the puppy distemper/parvo series (this is not the same as the recommendations for adults):

They should have a minimum of three vaccines. -AND-

The last vaccine should be given between 14 and 16 weeks of age.

If you vaccinate at 6, 10, and 13, you are ending too soon. Maternal antibody from the mother will interfere with a long term immune response, which is why you keep vaccinating until you reach that 14-16 week mark.

 

[txcollies]

I still think that's a little too much. If you give 1 Parvo, and 1 Distemper at about 14 weeks or so, then you should be good to go. One shot gives plenty of immunity. And then you give rabies at 6-8 months.

Mine used to get a PD only three times during a 6 month period, then never again.

 

[pawcurious]

YMMV but those guidelines are based on duration of immunity studies published in scientific literature. I wouldn't take the risk of being underimmunized and being exposed to parvo or distemper.

If you really don't want to do more than three vaccines you could do 4 week intervals. 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks.

 

[huskerfan72]

My wife does dog chores for a local breeder when he's out of town, and he does our vaccines for us. He buys all of his shots online from Valley Vet. They've got a very simple vaccine schedule, but I think it is pretty generic. I think the link is http://www.valleyvet.com/si_dog_vaccine.html.

 

[Trainer]

The only one that the valleyvet vaccine schedule is good for is the vets pocket book. He has scheduled 7 office visits between 3 and 18 weeks. Thats great for his pocket book. He gives 5 parvo shots. Thats rediculous. Parvo shots can give dogs parvo. Everytime he gets an shot he risks coming down with the disease.

The presently accepted vaccine protocol is to get shots at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Thats 3 office visits instead of 7 and 3 shots instead of 7 or more. Over vaccination is a big problem in today's world.

 

[Pai]

A lot of vets still think vaccines have no possible downsides. Nobody forces them to continue their educations after they've graduated, or to read the latest veterinary journals. Most people just accept whatever they say without question anyway.

All the more reason to educate yourself as a customer before you choose a vet!

 

[pawcurious]

A lot of vets still think vaccines have no possible downsides. Nobody forces them to continue their educations after they've graduated, or to read the latest veterinary journals. Most people just accept whatever they say without question anyway.

All the more reason to educate yourself as a customer before you choose a vet!

Actually most states have a pretty demanding continuing education requirement for a veterinary license. Even if I weren't "forced" to be educated I would attend conferences every year and read journals because I think it's important to always keep learning.

I know there are some crummy vets out there as well as some good ones but I find this sweeping generalization pretty offensive.

 

[Pai]

Wasn't aware that saying 'a lot' was a sweeping generalization. It's a fact that the vet industry is very underregulated. It's great when vets go above and beyond what they're required to do, and don't just hang on to outdated beliefs and practices. Unfortunately, I hear so many stories about bad vets, I do not have any illusions about how common poor quality vets are.

Assuming ignorance on their part is more generous of me than saying they're actively scamming their customers. I personally do not believe that most vets are dishonest.

 

[AkiraleShiba]

Actually most states have a pretty demanding continuing education requirement for a veterinary license. Even if I weren't "forced" to be educated I would attend conferences every year and read journals because I think it's important to always keep learning.

I know there are some crummy vets out there as well as some good ones but I find this sweeping generalization pretty offensive.

Well you are a good vet but some seem not to be passionate enough about their practice and dogs !