vaccinations

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vaccinations

Posted : 11/14/2006 3:31:11 AM

My adopted dog is four years old, and she is due for her rabies shot next year. (Philippine laws require a yearly vaccination.) Now, do I have to give her shots for parvovirus, distemper, etc.? She has already had shots for them in May this year before I got her, but since we do not know if her previous owner (if she had any) gave her shots as a puppy, should I still ask my vet to give her the shots?

minimom

Posted : 11/14/2006 9:29:15 AM

First off, I would recommend that you never give the rabies vaccination at the same time as you give the other core vaccines. They should be given several weeks apart. The rabies vaccine is especially hard on a dog's system. Additionally, if your dog has an adverse reaction to a vaccination and you've given several on the same day, you wouldn't be able to narrow down which vaccine caused the reaction. Secondly, it is the immune system which protects a dog from disease (not the vaccination). The purpose of a vaccination is to stimulate the dog's immune system by introducing the virus in non-lethal amounts. So, in answer to your question...if your dog received his core vaccines in May, he does not need them again this soon, regardless of whether he received his puppy shots or not. Even though for decades now we've been told that dogs need yearly boosters...many progressive Vets (as well as the AVMA) now recommend a 3-year booster protocol rather than a 1-year booster protocol. I'm not talking about rabies here...the law is the law and you have to follow whatever the law in your locality requires when it comes to rabies. But for the other vaccines, I wouldn't booster more often than every three years at a minimum. Personally, I no longer vaccinate my dogs at all (except for rabies). I've had my dogs titered (blood tests which show the level of antibodies against certain diseases). Their titer results showed high level of antibodies for both Parvo and Distemper, which indicated to me that their immune systems were functioning properly against those diseases. In fact, it was probably exposure to those diseases (and the proper reaction by their immune system) which resulted in the high titer results since it had been over a year since their last vaccination when I had them titered. Also, I'd recommend contacting your Vet prior to the appointment for his rabies vac and ask what manufacturer they use for their rabies vaccination. Avoid anything manufactured by Ft. Dodge. Ask for the rabies vac manufactured by Merial, if at all possible. I realize that you are in the Phillipines, so I don't know what is available to you...but just putting that out there for you and anyone else who may read this. And last but not least, try to make the appointment for as early in the day as possible (so that the office will still be open for several hours after the vaccination is given). Stick around the Vet's office for as long as possible after the rabies vaccination is given (I'd stay for at least 45 minutes). The most serious reactions usually take place fairly quickly. My youngest dog went into anaphylactic shock after his last rabies vaccination and he most surely would have died had I not still been at the Vet's office. It's also a good idea to always have some benedryl on hand as well.

mondayblues

Posted : 11/15/2006 4:23:19 AM

Thanks for the reply!

We get Merial for our vaccines over here. My vet and I do not want to overvaccinate her either, so we are just giving her the rabies vaccine next year since it's required by law.