Annual Vaccines

• 10-04-2007 5:11 PM

  In reply to Cita

  samshine Joined on 09-10-2007 Denver, CO, USA Posts 408 Points 0

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact There is another danger to not vaccinating for rabies. If your dog ever bit someone and is not current on their rabies vaccine, the person bitten has the option to either start taking the rabies shots, or have your dog put down and their brain tested immediately for rabies. How many parents would opt to have their baby go through a painful series of shots to save the life of the dog that bit them? That's not a gamble I would be willing to take unless I KNEW that my dog needed to avoid the rabies vaccine. We do the puppy series of shots, no corona, no lepto, no kennel cough unless required for puppy kindergarten. Then a booster at one year. After that no more shots except rabies. No kennel cough unless required for boarding.

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• 10-04-2007 6:20 PM

  In reply to samshine

  cakana Joined on 09-10-2007 Cathy in Northern CA Posts 7,006 Points 360

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact samshine: There is another danger to not vaccinating for rabies. If your dog ever bit someone and is not current on their rabies vaccine, the person bitten has the option to either start taking the rabies shots, or have your dog put down and their brain tested immediately for rabies. How many parents would opt to have their baby go through a painful series of shots to save the life of the dog that bit them?  That's an excellent point and I do think that keeping the rabies vaccine current (or doing titers) is the only responsible thing to do and not just because of the licensing issue. ~ Cathy ~

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• 10-04-2007 10:08 PM

  In reply to cakana

  samshine Joined on 09-10-2007 Denver, CO, USA Posts 408 Points 0	Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact cakana:  That's an excellent point and I do think that keeping the rabies vaccine current (or doing titers) is the only responsible thing to do and not just because of the licensing issue. I don't know if titers would be legally acceptable. Anybody know?
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• 10-04-2007 10:15 PM

  In reply to samshine

  cakana Joined on 09-10-2007 Cathy in Northern CA Posts 7,006 Points 360

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact samshine: cakana:  That's an excellent point and I do think that keeping the rabies vaccine current (or doing titers) is the only responsible thing to do and not just because of the licensing issue. I don't know if titers would be legally acceptable. Anybody know?  I sure don't know but I'm betting it'd have a lot to do with the pressure the people affected put on the authorities.  I'd hate to find myself in a position to even dispute it, but I guess you have to weigh the risks.  Altho I'm not willing to get all the extra vaccinations, I'm still getting rabies done. If I were Callie though, I can see where I'd feel differently and be willing to take the chance. ~ Cathy ~

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• 10-05-2007 4:06 PM

  In reply to cakana

  sandra_slayton Joined on 09-10-2007 Ingleside, Texas Posts 3,230 Points 0

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact KayCee got her puppy shots.  No problem.  She got her first annual vax--no problem.  She got her 2ed time annual vax, about age 2 1/2, and 45 minutes later she was covered with huge hives, tummy fire engine red, eyes swelling shut, ears going thickand heavy, lumps that looked like pencil erasures under the skin on her snout, and temp of 106.9.  She had been the last one to see the vet that day, office was closed.  Called the emergency number, they dontacted him and we met him back at the hospital and he already had injections ready.  While waiting on his return call i had given her benadryl and we had wrapped her in a wet towl and was pouring cool water over the towel.  He was about 99.9% sure it was the lepto that she had the reaction to, but wrote on her record cover RABIES

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• 10-05-2007 4:16 PM

  In reply to sandra_slayton

  sandra_slayton Joined on 09-10-2007 Ingleside, Texas Posts 3,230 Points 0

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact KayCee, my now 8 year old golden retriever, got all her puppy vax, no problem.  Got her first year annual vax, no problem.  But 45 minutes after her 2ed set of annuals at about age 2 1/2, she was covred with large, thick hives, her tummy was fire engine red, she had looked like pencils erasers under the skin on her snout. her ears were thick and heavy, eyes swollen almost shut and temp of 106.9.  We had been the last ones to see the vet, office was closed. I put in call to emergency number and while waiting for return call i gave her benadryl and wrapped her in wet towel and we poured cool water over it.  Got the call, met Rickey at hospital and he already had injections ready.   he was 99.9% sure it was the lepto part of the vax, but wrote on her record cover RABIES ONLY and said unless there was a bad outbreak of one of the diseases, she was to only get rabies form there on out.  Our state says every 3 years, but leaves it up to each county and city (town in my case) to decide on how long and both our county and town say every year.  However he gives her the vad and certifies it good for 3 years and says if if have any trouble, sent them to him.  Three years after the reaction--and no vax except the rabies that year, we had a bad outbreak of distemper here and I talked it over with Rickey and we decided to give her a distmper vax.  Gave her benadryl and took her in early, they gave her the injection and kept her in icU all day to keep an eye on her.  She did fine.   Honey gets her vax every 3 yeas--except rabies every year as she has no reason not to (except i don't like it) and she does not get the lepto as my vet has only seen one case of it down here and no other vets have reported it.  Also, no Lyme as no cases have been reported.   And had my Hunter survived his AIHA, he would have never gotten another vax of any kind.

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• 10-05-2007 4:49 PM

  In reply to TAOofGoldyShep

  TAOofGoldyShep Joined on 10-21-2006 Posts 1,315 Points 10	Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact Weeeell, I opted to titer.  Myrika got her rabies vaccine today and she'll get a distemper in a few weeks...from there we will titer.  And, I will titer from now on with Willow and Oakley, as well.
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• 10-06-2007 12:29 AM

  In reply to TAOofGoldyShep

  calliecritturs Joined on 09-10-2007 Central Florida Posts 7,647 Points 2,075

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact My vet (bless his heart) has gotten the county's blessing -- they will issue us a license with  just Dr. B's letter explaining that the titers are extremely high and sufficient and that the dog has a health history that precludes him being able to take vaccines anymore.  BIG HUGE HALLELUJAH!!!  Rabies titers are not common -- they don't even like to turn loose of 'specifics' on the results.  Why?  Because they don't want people to titer instead of vax.  This is ONLY something I'm doing because Billy can NOT be vax'd but we DO want to do pet therapy (which I can't do if he's not licensed).  If you live in one of those areas where they force you to vax annually then that's where I'd get politically active and demand a change in the laws.  Annual shots just don't even make sense when the vax is DESIGNED for a 3 year shot.  (and a killed vax is stupid because it would last less than a year effectively) Areas pass annual rabies vax laws INSTEAD of treating the source of the problem - which typically is wildlife.  Rather than dropping bait and trying to address the problem of rabies in the wildlife it's EASIER to over vax dogs (and SOME vets LOVE the excuse that the dog has to have annual shots to be licensed.)  To answer the above, the $90 for the Kansas titer was JUST for rabies.  They're the only ones, essentially, who DO a rabies titer.  The $90 (and I think that's right) for the distemper/parvo titer sent to Cornell titers both of those.  That's still higher than Antech, but it is a far more specific result than the "pass/fail" you get via Antech. But I did Antech titers for years because it was achievable and I knew my dogs were all likely to pass with flying colors.  Now that I've got one who is so severely immune-compromised we wanted that specific titer (and I'm glad I did because I knew last year we were "borderline" and then this year, after the year of immune-suppression it IS very low -- but at least I was aware it was 'close'). I'm not trying to encourage folks to titer for rabies -- it's too dangerous.  Here in Florida they know that 85 - 90% of the raccoonns ARE rabies carriers.  That's an ugly statistic.  But that's why I had to know how 'close' Billy was -- we drive in our driveway at least once a month and spot a coon nearby.  Our yard is fenced but all I need is a crazy coon raising caine around here.  *sigh*

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• 10-06-2007 2:04 AM

  In reply to calliecritturs

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,642 Points 735

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact Callie, that's a terrifying statistic!!! Who knew there were so many sick raccoons in Florida... Grats on Billy's new license, though :) Way to go! I'm curious what you guys think - the individual versus combo talk got me thinking. I'm fairly sure Rascal got his puppy shots and then regular parvo-distemper-whatever in the standard combo shot with boosters up til he was 2. Does that mean that his immunity will actually decrease over time, since he didn't have the individual shots (which I'm assuming the body processes "better")? In other words, should I have him vaccinated for parvo and distemper individually one more time during his little lifetime to make sure the immunity is "permanent," even though it seems most people believe that immunity is typically "permanent" after 1-2 booster shots?

  Filed under: vaccine, combo shots, individual shots Post Points: 0

• 10-06-2007 5:06 AM

  In reply to TAOofGoldyShep

  Bonita of Bwana Joined on 09-14-2007 Foley , Alabama Posts 1,823 Points 4,850

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact I limit my dog's vaccines following  Dr Jean Dodd's protocol..she understands that we dump sooooo much garbage into our babies we are in effect killing them with love.  I do rabies only to the legal requirement as the connection to cancer is scary,  I forgo lymes, corona and other regional vaccines. We live in the deep South and my fur kids aren't exposed to these very often.  I keep current on parvo and distemper and kennel cough since we show dogs and the possibility of exposure is increased.  All this being said we also follow standard care and precautions, we don't allow nose to nose (or butt) meetings with dogs we don't know. We don't allow them to drink form common water or use "public" potty ex pens. We are religeous about scooping poo and fuss at thoes who don't. We don't share food bowls and we show our own bites. Heartworm preventative is a must but we will not use flea deterents, having a very short coated breed makes it easy to spot them, then we flea comb and bathe.  Great question! Bonita of Bwana AKC Rhodesian Ridgebacks Champions, Therapy Dogs and Awesome Companions

  Filed under: vaccine, rhodesian ridgebacks, Dr Jean Dodds Post Points: 0

• 10-06-2007 8:52 AM

  In reply to TAOofGoldyShep

  Stacita Joined on 08-20-2006 Sacramento, CA Posts 1,580 Points 30

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact I do every three years for a combo shot, (no extras such as lyme, etc.) and every three years for rabies. I do not do them whithin six months of each other. I also give them extra immune boosters for at least six weeks before and after any vaccinations. They get Transfer Factor anyway as part of their daily supplements and I add CAS Options. Floyd is a little past three years on his combo shot, but I'm not going to make an extra appointment. He's at low risk and is due for his physical and blood work in January. He has a history of Mast Cell Cancer and is a rescue dog that was probably over vaccinated in his youth, so I was a bit afraid to do the Rabies last January. However, it just wasn't an option and he did fine. Tasha was 12 weeks when she arrived so only had two sets of puppy vaccinations, then a set a year later.  Wolfgang was about six months old and had only had one set of puppy vaccinations, so he got another set and then the annual at about a year and a half. I didn't know that annual vaccination was not mandatory, so they had a few boosters. Right now, I'm choosing to vaccinate rather than titer, because I'd prefer not to have the titers come back low when they are truly elderly. If it were up to me, I'd probably do the first annual, with immune boosters and try to schedule the rabies and combo at least a couple of months apart.

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• 10-06-2007 9:17 AM

  In reply to Stacita

  Truley Joined on 08-27-2006 Louisville, Ky Posts 1,642 Points 110

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact Kord will be due for his annual shots in November. I will do the 3 years and all the rest. I am doing this for 2 reasons, first he had no issue with taking the vac's over the last year, second, I live in one of the worst dog ordinance cities in the country, I have to have him up to date on shots and registered if I am going to take him anywhere. Louisville recently opened a dog run here in town, while Kord is not a canidate I have heard the Louisville Metro Animal Services have been "staking out" the run and a popular place here in town and checking for compliance, there have even been a few reports of dogs being physically removed from owners because they could not prove they had everything. I do not know if they are true or not, but I am not taking a chance. To add insult to injury, I received a non compliance letter from the city with a bill for $25.50, it was on Babe. They sent me her paperwork back in may and I reported her deceased, I even made a copy for myself, so I filled out this one as well but I wrote in big RED letters just like they did.............. SECOND NOTICE, dog is deceased and I enclosed a copy of my first reply. I hate city politics.

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• 10-06-2007 10:01 AM

  In reply to Truley

  glenmar Joined on 09-10-2007 Northwestern Michigan Posts 11,702 Points 405

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact I've come a long way since the days when we were breeding and starting vaccinating at FIVE weeks with the combo shots cuz that's what we were told to do. I too follow Dr. Dodd's protocal and vac with MLV parvo and distemper only at 9, 12 and between 15-20 weeks.  Rabies are RARELY before 6 months, despite the 4 month law in my state.  If I'm up against the wall, yeah, I WILL lie about the age of the pup before I'll put him at risk of an early rabies.  Then a year later, I do a "booster" of parvo/distemper and titer from there on out.  MI requires rabies every three years so that's not awful and those we do keep up on. A house without fur is not a home. Glenda

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• 10-06-2007 10:25 AM

  In reply to glenmar

  ottoluv Joined on 11-27-2006 So Cal Posts 2,887 Points 520

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact   I follow evidence based vaccination guidelines.  There is no evidence that combo vaccinations are harmful, in fact some that they are actually less likely to cause a reaction as the medium the vaccine is in is frequently implicated with the reaction.  In addition, I do not plan to titer as the literature supports revaccinating every three.  I personally think drawing blood on my dog will be more traumatic then just giving them the freaking shot.  Again there is no good evidence that repeating vaccinations Q3years is detrimental even if the titer is sufficient, we revaccinate high risk people for various things without titers all the time and they don't have any problems with this.  It's all a person preference, depends on what you and your vet are comfortable with and like most things there is no right or wrong answer, but every answer has risk and benefits.  Anyone who tells you their way is the best when there are so many differing opinions should be able to defend it with facts and studies.   The more recent literature has shown many of the old ideas about aquiring of immunity are untrue (such as need for yearly vaccinations, duration of immunity, and ability to aquire active immunity in the face of maternal antibodies) and likely new things will continue to be unearthed via RCT's.  IMO it's reasonable to follow whatever recommendations your vet gives you since it is clearly not a black and white issue.  Requirements should vary by region and PMH.  Here I am stuck in the middle with you I practice societal sanctioned assault

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• 10-06-2007 3:04 PM

  In reply to ottoluv

  Cita Joined on 12-13-2006 CT Posts 4,642 Points 735

  Re: Annual Vaccines Reply Contact Are they different formulas, the "3 year shots" versus "1 year shots"? When I got my dog his vet records showed that he was last vaccinated in 8/06 and was due for shots again in 8/07. I'm curious why then some of you folks are talking about non-rabies shots every 3 years? I know there's a "3 year rabies shot" and you get a choice between that and a "1 year rabies shot," but I'm confused - are they actually different formulas? If so, does anyone know what the difference is? What about parvo and distemper - is there a "3 year option" for those too?

  Filed under: vaccines Post Points: 0