3-Year Vaccines

Yay!

I don't think the vaccine is different, just that the protocol is three years.  My vets are very behind the times and want the dogs vaccinated every year.  I mentioned a three year DHLPP and they were like "as far as I know, no one makes a three year version", but it's not a different version, just only done every three years.  I think...

I think you're right.  It amazes me how slow some vets have been in adopting the three-year protocol.  The vet my mother takes her dog to still insists on annual vaccines, while my vet group has been following the three-year protocol for close to five years now.

Yea it's def not a "new" version of the combo vax, but a new protocol via the AAHA I think.  Lies, you can print out the new recommendations from the AAHA site - might be worth showing your vets. :)

 I got the same response from my vet when I said I wasn't going to do but every 3 years. They told me they didn't carry the 3 year vaccine and didn't know who made it. This, from the same people who told me just last month that the 1 year and 3 year rabies vaccines come out of the same bottle. It's up to them to put on the paperwork whether it's good for 1 or 3.

Jezzy isn't going to get vaccinated except when I have to. She has reacted to every shot we've given her, and each reaction just keeps getting worse regardless of the manufacturer or the vaccine. *sigh* I thought we had gotten by with no reaction from her rabies vac in April, but not only did it pull her immune system down to where she got sick (sounded like kennel cough to me, vet said just allergies but we've currently had 4 of the 6 dogs in the house get sick with the same thing), but I found a lump about the size of a larger marble at the injection site. She's healthy except for when we vaccinate her. *shakes head*

Be aware -- this isn't just a difference in what's in the shot or "annual" or "three-year".  The DHLLP is a 'killed' vaccine -- that means it's made out of killed disease cells and, as a result, it gives less long-lasting protection.  That's what originally gave rise to the whole 'annual' vaccine thing -- BECAUSE they knew it didn't last as long and generally they last less than a year ... which is where the "twice a year" idea came from that many vets tried to do.

The "new" protocol is a cocktail of three modified live- or recombitant vaccines.  Distemper, parvo and adenovirus.  I *think* it's the distemper one that is the recombitant vax (which really kinda rocks -- it's extremely safe because it's not the whole 'disease' cell but simply has some of the genetic material withdrawn so it's not the entire disease cell so it can't replicate as the disease).  They don't *have* one for parvo yet ... but it's coming.

However ... these vax (which they are now referring to as "core vaccines";) are far far superior to the annual "killed" vax.  BUT the true kicker is, that they last for far far ***longer*** than just 3 years.  Three years is what they have "tested, studied, proof' for.  But honestly -- if you simply titer after that it's very likely you'll never need to vaccinate again IF that core vax was given to the dog as an adult.

I hate to see people just never bother going back to the vet -- that's not the intent of what I'm saying.  Go ahead and get the titer done and you'll have a darned good idea of how good your dog's immunity is.

Last year Kee titered low on parvo and Luna titered low on distemper -- so they both got a round of the core vax this one time.  Thereafter we'll titer.  Tink got her core vax when she came to us and I'll do another set this summer (vax stresses demodex so much I wanted to wait until the immune system was stronger and I do all that kind of thing in August).  Billy, as most of you know, can never be vax'd again -- I even get a waiver from the State for him on his rabies (literally any vaccine would likely kill him).

But just be aware -- it's not the diseases that are covered that makes the huge difference -- it's the difference between a "killed" vax and a "modified live" or "recombitant" vax that makes the difference in the length of time they are good for.

As someone pointed out above -- rabies vax are ALWAYS modified live vaccines.  There is no such thing as a 'killed' rabies vax.

These are good links for reading about current vaccine research - especially the duration of immunity:

• Dr. Roger's chart on vaccines and the duration of immunity: 
  www.critteradvocacy.org/Canine%20Vaccination%20Guidlines.htm
• An excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines by Dr. Robert Rogers, DVM
  http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/
• 2006 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines For the General Veterinary Practice
  http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/VaccineGuidelines06Revised.pdf
• 2007 Vaccine Guidelines - WSAVA - World Small Animal Veterinary Association 
  http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm
• Lots of articles on vaccination:
  http://www.dogaware.com/misc.html#vaccination

calliecritturs

But just be aware -- it's not the diseases that are covered that makes the huge difference -- it's the difference between a "killed" vax and a "modified live" or "recombitant" vax that makes the difference in the length of time they are good for.

As someone pointed out above -- rabies vax are ALWAYS modified live vaccines.  There is no such thing as a 'killed' rabies vax.

With uncooperative vets it may help to specify that you do not want "killed" vaccines.  That should get you MLV (modified live) or recombitant vaccines whether or not the vet acknowledges that the vaccine produces a longer duration of immunity.  Some vets depend so much on the income from vaccines that they are reluctant to upgrade their protocols.

I would also specify that I wanted the vial label taped/glued into my dog's chart.  That gets you info like the batch number so you can check to see if a severe reaction is due to a bad batch of vaccine.  Vets may not be able to verify the batch number after the fact. 

Personally I also want single-vial vaccines (one dose per vial).  Multiple doses per vial means that multiple needles are stuck into the bottle and that increases the possibility of introducing contaminants/bacteria. 

In fact for any injection, I want the syringe filled and the injection given in front of me.  That decreases the likelihood of a mistake.  [Having caught a nurse about to give me an injection of penicillin, I am extra cautious.  The shot could have sent me into instant anaphylactic shock due to documented allergies.]

Getting copies of the updated pages of the dog's chart at each visit (along with copies of test results) would give you a convenient notebook to take with you on vacation or on a visit to an emergency vet. 

Suggested items for the front page of the dog's chart:

• Absolutely no ProHeart injections (heartworm pesticide).
• No injections that use Thimerasol as a preservative.
• Except in an emergency Carprofen (Rimadyl, etc.) may not be used without prior written permission.
• Ft. Dodge vaccines may be used only with prior written permission.  (Ft. Dodge makes ProHeart.)
• Do not administer killed vaccines without prior written permission. 
• Use only single-vial vaccines and always put the vial label (tape/glue) in the dog's chart. 

ETA:  Added the line above concerning Thimerasol.

stardancnminpin

She has reacted to every shot we've given her, and each reaction just keeps getting worse regardless of the manufacturer or the vaccine.

Have you looked into the preservatives that were in the vaccines?  That could be the problem.

Thimerasol (a preservative that contains mercury) has been pulled out of children's vaccines and is not something that I would want injected into my dog.  However, it is still used in many canine vaccines. 

We've gone to the 3 year schedule. Everyone will be titered at the three year mark and we'll go from there.

 What I find irksome, is the vets here don't give anyone the three year schedule as an option. Most of them choose that schedule for their own dogs, but they dont' inform clients of it unless it is someone with an elderly or ill pet that questions giving vaccinations. Our computer doesn't even recognize that schedule, so I keep getting alerts that elf is due for a vaccine.

(I'm also the only tech in the clinic I work at who does the three year schedule)

grab01

What I find irksome, is the vets here don't give anyone the three year schedule as an option. Most of them choose that schedule for their own dogs, but they dont' inform clients of it unless it is someone with an elderly or ill pet that questions giving vaccinations.

I agree!  A vet putting the bottom line ahead of dogs' health very irksome. 

janet_rose

Have you looked into the preservatives that were in the vaccines?  That could be the problem.

When they did her 1 year boosters, she had a huge reaction to the shot. She had a golf ball sized lump that took 6 months to go away, and another 6 months for the hair to grow back. It was at the injection site. I learned they used Ft. Dodge, so I made sure her next rabies vaccine was Pfizer (3 year).

Between then and now, she had 2 bord vaccines. The first she didn't react to, the second, she literally swelled under my hands days later at the injection site. We were playing/rough housing and I was scratching her neck when it swelled up to her jaw. Only benadryl saved her. She's not had another.

She was due for her rabies this year and we used the Pfizer again. Same vet as the last one, who incidentally, won't use Ft. Dodge. But she reacted to this one as well. We've not done any updates to her DHPP, nor will we unless I have to.

We've always done everything we can to lessen her reaction to the vaccinations, but to no avail. She's 5 this year, so hopefully by the time she's 8 the new 7 year protocol for rabies will be in effect and we won't have to do another for her. I've reached the point I am going to need a vet go to bat for us that she shouldn't be vaccinated, but we haven't found one yet that agrees with me that her reactions are related to the vaccinations. *shakes head*

stardancnminpin

We've always done everything we can to lessen her reaction to the vaccinations

Good luck in finding a vet who will support you! 

Please recognize that switching vaccine suppliers does not necessarily mean that you are switching preservatives.  One has to investigate the individual vaccine, so I hope your vet has done that.

stardancnminpin

Between then and now, she had 2 bord vaccines. The first she didn't react to, the second, she literally swelled under my hands days later at the injection site.

I am sure glad that you were with her when it happened so you could immediately treat her!

Have you considered consulting a holistic vet?  Having a regular and a holistic vet can be the best way to treat some animals.

A holistic vet may be able to give you herbs or treatments (accupuncture?) to minimize vaccine reactions.

 I would love to take her to a holistic vet. Unfortanutely, none are close enough to me to make it a feasible treatment plan.

I did check the ingredients on the Pfizer and it didn't have Thimerasol.