Which Vaccinations?

If she has had a DHPP shot at any time after she was 6 months old, she is most likely protected  for life from distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and parainfluenza.

As for Bordetella, I do not give it because, in my experience, it doesn't work well.  Also, the illness it supposedly prevents is no big deal for a healthy adult dog.

My dogs only get Rabies shots as adults, since those are required by law.

I don't give annual shots either -- I do titer every year for parvo and distemper simply so I have the 'paper' for pet therapy (insitutions need it for their records). 

Billy can't do vaccines ever *ever* because of the IMHA (auto-immune) but I've not done vaccines annually in many years.  Most of the better vet schools aren't recommending it and I follow Dr. Jean Dodd's vaccine protocols. 

I *only* do bordatella because it's required for pet therapy -- it's a pointless shot, that mostly simply depresses the immune system.  It's very similar to humans taking a flu shot.  The problem is that the actual diseases covered by the shot haven't been seen in years.  It's not likely to be a strain of kennel cough that's even around now. 

I do rabies yearly here because its required by state law to be given that way.

I give bordatella because there's at least a couple of times a year that the boys have to be boarded, and it's a requirement at their kennel. Grey also gets groomed there, so he's a frequent visitor.

 The combo vaccine is now every 3 years with my vet; same goes for my cats. Basically, the cats only get rabies yearly now...nothing else unless a few years have passed since their last combo vaccine.

Rabies must be given according to law.  Anything less than 3 year intervals is behind the times.  The AAHA recommends every 3 years, but that is a political compromise.  It is probable that the 1-yr-old shot gives permanent immunity.  A duration of immunity study in under way.

NOTE:  I would not give the rabies shot within 30 days of any other shot.  This one is really hard on their system.

DHPP is distemper, adenovirus (cross protects for hepatitis), parvo, and parainfluenza.  If she has had at least one MLV (Modified Live Vaccine) shot of the first three (at or after 1-year-old), I wouldn't give her any more of those shots.  If you are nervous about that you can titer (blood test) every 3 years.

The MLV parainfluenza shot is good for at least 3 years.  The bordetella shot (killed virus) is good for 1 year.  Both of those are really only needed if your dog is boarded or goes to dog parks.  Together they cover 3 of the 8+ causes of kennel cough (doggie colds and flu).  Internasal doses are available that give localized immunity for both and can be given as late as a week before boarding - good for 6 months.

Talking points for questions for your vet:

• Are rabies shots legally required every two years?  If so, it is only politics keeping it from being three years.
• Has Indy received MLV shots for distemper, adenovirus, parvo, and parainfluenza?  At what age was the last MLV shot given of each?
• Can you get shots (any that you decide to get) without the preservative Thimerosal (mercury)?  That preservative has been removed from all children's vaccines.

Administrative staff or vet techs can probably answer these questions before your appointment.

By 4 years of age many forum members only give the legally required rabies shots.  They titer every 3 years for diseases required to board or to go to dog parks (for the diseases that have titers available).  They may choose to give bordetella shots yearly for dogs with compromised immune systems (no MLV shot available) or dogs that board/go to dog parks.

marlania

I do rabies yearly here because its required by state law to be given that way.

This is just political food dragging.  See this thread under Advocacy for the change efforts that are going on in many places around the country.

Looking at her vet records since I got her (at 3 months old), here is what I show she has had:

August 2004 (4 months old)- Dist/A2/Para/Parvo, Nasal Bordetella, 1 yr. Rabies

January 2006- DHPP 2 yr., Bordetella, 2 yr. Rabies

She is an indoor dog, no kennels, no dog parks, no other dog contact. The only concern I really have is the cats at my parents home (where she visits frequently). Can they spread something to her? They are indoor/outdoor.

marlania

I do rabies yearly here because its required by state law to be given that way.

I would double check this.  This document says that Louisiana permits rabies shots to be given every 3 years. 

This is a Louisiana state site on rabies, but my feeble old computer can't open this pdf. 

Some states have wound up with loopholes in their 3-year rabies laws that allow counties or cities to still require annual shots. 

I'm only doing the minimum I can get by with these days.  Rabies because it's required by law and bordatella because it's required by our doggie day care.  I may not be doing much bordatella soon because the new one that opened near my house is very titer friendly.  I do however, titer.  For me, personally, it makes me feel a little better knowing there's a certain level of immunity present and I would probably re-vaccinate if that level dropped below a certain level that was considered to be protective.  I know there are immunities present that don't show up in a titer that can protect also, but I'm a more concrete, numbers type person and I'd feel better with an adequate titer result. 

It depends on what you, personally, are comfortable with. No one can tell you how to vaccinate your dog - do what you feel you need to do.

I've had Casey since he was about 10 months old. I just did his last vaccines back in Feb/March. He got his DHPPL vaccine, and bord - because he is always coming to work with me (animal shelter) going to the park, petsmart, and we constantly have other dogs coming and going through my house. Getting titers done is a bit more expensive than I can afford right now, so I did vaccinate. Maybe next year we'll titer, but I personally do not feel comfortable with this. I did the 3 year rabies vaccine, as it's the exact same shot as the one year - and reccomended by our vets and county. All my cats just got their 3 year rabies, that's the only vaccine I do for them (they are strictly indoors).

I've seen a few adult dogs come down with parvo, and I do work with dogs that have parvo, so I'm always a bit paraniod about that vaccine. Kennel cough itself is not bad, but if left unattended to, it can escalate very quickly into pneunomia.