Titers are good after the initial round of puppy shots. A high titer after those would show that her immune system had a strong response to the vaccines (i.e, they worked). A good distemper/parvo titer is considered a general baseline to determine her overall immunity.
What are your feelings on vaccines?
I was wondering what the general consensus is on here concerning vaccines? Up until about two years ago I'd never given them much thought really...I always just went with what my vet recommended and assumed they knew what was best. I eventually started doing some research into vaccines and can't say that I really liked what I found...
My dogs are a small breed and indoors the majority of the time, I never board them, and I groom them myself. I am now of the feeling that once that have had all of their puppy shots and the first year adult boosters that I only have them vaccinated once every three years (as it's required by law here) for their rabies vaccination and have titer testing done yearly for the rest of their vaccinations. So far, their titer testing has not shown any of their other vaccination levels being low enough that requires "re-vaccination"
I've never had any horribly reverse reactions with any of my dogs concerning vaccines, I just, personally, don't feel good about giving them booster vaccines every year after the research I've done and I'm wondering if I'm in the minority here?
I'm not saying those of you who do vaccinate your dogs yearly are wrong by any means, I think it's a personal decision that you have to make for your own pet...I'm just wondering if there are any other people out there who feel pets are largely being over-vaccinated and have chosen not to vaccinate their pets yearly but to have titer testing done instead?
My dogs are a small breed and indoors the majority of the time, I never board them, and I groom them myself. I am now of the feeling that once that have had all of their puppy shots and the first year adult boosters that I only have them vaccinated once every three years (as it's required by law here) for their rabies vaccination and have titer testing done yearly for the rest of their vaccinations. So far, their titer testing has not shown any of their other vaccination levels being low enough that requires "re-vaccination"
I've never had any horribly reverse reactions with any of my dogs concerning vaccines, I just, personally, don't feel good about giving them booster vaccines every year after the research I've done and I'm wondering if I'm in the minority here?
I'm not saying those of you who do vaccinate your dogs yearly are wrong by any means, I think it's a personal decision that you have to make for your own pet...I'm just wondering if there are any other people out there who feel pets are largely being over-vaccinated and have chosen not to vaccinate their pets yearly but to have titer testing done instead?
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Vets don't even know what is in a vaccine .... they couldn't even tell me if there was gelatin in them.
In the past, I always followed recomended vaccination rules for my dogs. Then when my, indoor only, cat was about 5 I started researching vaccines and opted to quit giving them to him. He lived to be 17 and he died, of all things, lung cancer. (I don't even smoke) Now I have a 2 year old lab who picked up parvo before I could get her vaccinated, thankfully she did survived. But, she has never been vaccinated at all.
I, by no means, have intentionally neglected to have her vaccinated. But, at the same time, have intentionally not taken her outside of the boundaries of home. (Home being 2 1/2 acres of continuos run fun.) It's that I don't really know which vaccines are truely needed, especially now. Now that she's not really a puppy anymore, and has immunities to parvo, can anyone help me to know just what I should vaccinate her against? The more I read the more undecided I get.
Cheers, susan...
I, by no means, have intentionally neglected to have her vaccinated. But, at the same time, have intentionally not taken her outside of the boundaries of home. (Home being 2 1/2 acres of continuos run fun.) It's that I don't really know which vaccines are truely needed, especially now. Now that she's not really a puppy anymore, and has immunities to parvo, can anyone help me to know just what I should vaccinate her against? The more I read the more undecided I get.
Cheers, susan...
I linked to WAVA's recommended protocol on the previous page. It can be hard to read unless you print it out, though, because it's posted sideways.
Critter Advocacy has an easier-to-read write up of a minimal vaccine protocol too.
Critter Advocacy has an easier-to-read write up of a minimal vaccine protocol too.
I think many people don't think about how important vaccines are until a tragedy happens to their pet and regret that they were not given. We just lost a puppy to Parvo and it was devastating. Yes, I do know she was a puppy and there for more susceptible to the disease but I do have two other dogs that I am now constantly worried about them because of the disease still being in my house no matter how much I clean. If you buy your vaccines from a feed store do you think they put it in the fridge right away or in the amount of time they are suppose to so the vaccines stays valid? Some might, but I bet a lot don't. Who would think of not vaccinating their children? Most people would never think about not doing that. I think that all dogs should keep up on their vaccines, and when something devastating happens because someone has not, their mind might just change.
I've always had pups vaccinated, then just just kept up with rabies as required.
Did the same for my 3yr old rescue recently, she'll get a 3yr rabies in Oct though.
Did the same for my 3yr old rescue recently, she'll get a 3yr rabies in Oct though.
I don't think anyone here is against vaccinating their dogs. The issue here is that there is no evidence that lifelong boosters every year are necessary or even healthy. You don't vaccinate a child every year from their baby boosters for the rest of their life either, do you? Do you wonder why that is? Many vets have been questioning the annual vaccination tradition since the 80s, because there is no scientific basis for it.Who would think of not vaccinating their children? Most people would never think about not doing that. I think that all dogs should keep up on their vaccines, and when something devastating happens because someone has not, their mind might just change.
Read some of the other links posted in this thread, because there's lots of evidence that not only are annual vaccinations unnecessary, they can create health problems when they are overdone. You should make health care decisions for you pets based on facts, not fear.
I completely understand where you're coming from.I think many people don't think about how important vaccines are until a tragedy happens to their pet and regret that they were not given.
However, as someone who watched her pup rapidly decline after being talked into a particular vaccine, I can say that the opposite is true for some. After seeing my poor dog become lethargic and feverish within several hours of having that vaccine, I decided I would only give him what the law required from now on.
We each do what we feel is best for our little ones.
I am a little on edge lately about the subject probably because of what happened to me. I am sure that everyone here loves their pets and does what they feel they need to do to take care of them.
Sorry, I just want to make sure I am understanding the Titers test. When this test is done it shows if the levels of vaccines in the dogs system is getting too low? Does the vet administer this test? I get Marley vaccinated yearly as he is always playing with other dogs that I may not know, goes to the groomers semi-regularly and is often let off leash in dog parks and open fields around my house. Ive never really looked into this vaccination debate before.
Titer testing measures the antibody response to a vaccine. A high antibody response means the body has fully responded to the virus, and therefore has developed a proper immunity to the disease. Rabies titers are expensive (because they have to be shipped to a special lab), but most vets can do a Distemper/Parvo Titer on their own, and a high Titer for those two is considered a good benchmark for a dog's overall immunity.Sorry, I just want to make sure I am understanding the Titers test. When this test is done it shows if the levels of vaccines in the dogs system is getting too low? Does the vet administer this test? I get Marley vaccinated yearly as he is always playing with other dogs that I may not know, goes to the groomers semi-regularly and is often let off leash in dog parks and open fields around my house. Ive never really looked into this vaccination debate before.
Here's a good article talking about Titers, as there is a lot of misconceptions about them and what they do.
I have to agree! I am also an advocate for minimal vaccines. Really medication of any kind.My dogs are indoor dogs, they dont get boarded only groomed once every month in the winter and once every three weeks in the summer time because of their fur.I'm a firm believer in minimal vaccines. WAVA and vets like Jean Dodds and Dee Blanco have done great work in trying to educate vets and owners with the newest scientific data.
I think the best way to sum it up is: the immune system of mammals works the same across species. HUMANS do not need yearly boosters for the entirety of their lives, and neither do dogs. Once you find out that the entire tradition of 'yearly shots' was started on ZERO scientific evidence, and that many vets use that just to get people to come in every year for their checkups, things start falling into place.
That, plus all these scary auto-immune vaccinosis diseases I've been reading about. Very disturbing. Overmedicating our pets is as unhealthy as neglecting them -- there has to be balance. Cancer rates and autoimmune diseases in dogs have skyrocked in the past 25 years or so... that alone makes me very wary of putting chemicals into my dog unless they really need it. Most people do not know that things like mercury and formaldehyde are in vaccines. I know certain vaccines have been proven to cause injection-site cancer in cats.
Titer testing is not always properly understood either, though. They actually mean the most only after a puppy has finished their initial round of shots, to see if they had a proper immune response to the vaccines. The're also good for diagnosing certain things like Lepto.
I have had 7 dogs from childhood to now. The 7th being my 10 week old pup and touchwood I havent had to deal with any adverse health issues. In fact I have given them the minimum required in vaccines and kept up with the rabies shots for grooming porposes and tested them regularly for heart worm and spayed and neutered them but thats it.
Pai is absolutely right about titer testing!
I think their bodies should be treated like we treat our own. Over medication can be dangerous for dogs and humans.
Thanx for elaborating Pai. Just out of curiousity what the average cost of the Titer test? Im sure it will range from place to place but im curious.
I would. Okay, i don't have kids, but when I do, I don't think I'll ever vaccinate them. I've never been vaccinated ever and I know tons of people who havn't, and all of them are healthy.Who would think of not vaccinating their children?
Apart from his yearly rabies ones, I don't take my dog for any vaccinations. And his perfectly healthy.
That would be your choice. I don't have to raise your children. This is why things like Polio and Measles are not irradiated in this world and should be. People make their own choices and if someone wants to "gamble" with their kids health it's their choice. Thank god you never got sick because you were not vaccinated. And unless it is a “religious” choice good luck getting them into school. This isn't about people’s children though. I was making a statement and hopefully you understand like I said I lost my dog this week and I was/am venting and upset.I would. Okay, i don't have kids, but when I do, I don't think I'll ever vaccinate them. I've never been vaccinated ever and I know tons of people who havn't, and all of them are healthy.
Apart from his yearly rabies ones, I don't take my dog for any vaccinations. And his perfectly healthy.
I give my dog's health as much importance and my kid.I would. Okay, i don't have kids, but when I do, I don't think I'll ever vaccinate them. I've never been vaccinated ever and I know tons of people who havn't, and all of them are healthy.
Apart from his yearly rabies ones, I don't take my dog for any vaccinations. And his perfectly healthy.
I Do have a child and although I was never vaccinated as a child (my parents are both doctors)and I am perfectly healthy at 32 never had a broken bone or stayed at a hospital for anything other than to deliver my baby. I go for regular check ups every year and have never had any problems small or big.
I have vaccinated my child because we put our children at more risk than we do our pets. They go to school and expose themselves to way more than my dogs and may also make less than smart choices and we arent always able to watch them to catch them. For this reason I believe in vaccination. Look at all the diseases man made and otherwise we have to contend with already...unless vaccination shows direct cause for serious health risks I will vaccinate my children. As far as schools..??? I went to good schools all my life and my non vaccination was never as issue and the only thing I havent had is chicken pox and really at this age if I get it it will be serious whether I am vaccinated or not. So it hardly matters. My husband is a foreign diplomat and we travel a lot in and out of the country and stay in many unusual places as a family. The choice to not vaccinate me was made by my parents who knew well the health risks and they believed at that time the grade of vaccines used caused some types of cancers...They are still practicing docs and they know now that the grade of vaccines are better and hold less risk.
Anyway...I believe in minimal vaccination for dogs and definitely vaccination of my kids.
Blizzard...I would wait till I had a kid if I were you to make that call. You will see it differently when you do the research. The world our kids are a part of is very different from when we were kids and my parents know that and agree. It is a gamble to not vaccinate our kids that is what I strongly believe.
hope I was able to shed some light. Good Luck.
The debate about vaccinating dogs and the debate about vaccinating humans is entirely different, IMO. In most cases, non-vaccinating parents choose not to vaccinate their children at all, but the main debate about pet vaccination is whether it's necessary to vaccinate them more frequently. Though I would choose to vaccinate my child for certain diseases if I ever have kids, I would never allow my child to be vaccinated ANNUALLY for anything. It's not safe for humans and it's not safe for pets.
I definitely think puppies should get their distemper and parvo vaccines series, and a booster after a year is a good idea. After that there is no scientific evidence that further vaccination will do any good, and it will most likely do some harm.
And of course rabies vaccines should be given in accordance with local law, for human health reasons.
I definitely think puppies should get their distemper and parvo vaccines series, and a booster after a year is a good idea. After that there is no scientific evidence that further vaccination will do any good, and it will most likely do some harm.
And of course rabies vaccines should be given in accordance with local law, for human health reasons.
I agree with the your view on annual vaccinations for children or adults. I dont think they are necessary this includes flu shots. Our natural antibodies will take care of safe guarding us. I was referring to the vaccines given to children regularly till the age of 2 which include the entire series. I do not believe in giving my child anything more than that. As for my pup she has had the second series of vaccines and after the completion of her parvo and distemper - she will only be minimally vaccinated for rabies (and only because I take her to the groomers and they require it) I have had very positive experiences with all my dogs with minimal vaccinations and dont see any reason to over vaccinate or medicate uneccessarily.The debate about vaccinating dogs and the debate about vaccinating humans is entirely different, IMO. In most cases, non-vaccinating parents choose not to vaccinate their children at all, but the main debate about pet vaccination is whether it's necessary to vaccinate them more frequently. Though I would choose to vaccinate my child for certain diseases if I ever have kids, I would never allow my child to be vaccinated ANNUALLY for anything. It's not safe for humans and it's not safe for pets.
I definitely think puppies should get their distemper and parvo vaccines series, and a booster after a year is a good idea. After that there is no scientific evidence that further vaccination will do any good, and it will most likely do some harm.
And of course rabies vaccines should be given in accordance with local law, for human health reasons.
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